My wife and I are thinking about buying an Outlander Max XT for her, but to share with me and ride together, and in the future, I would get a second ATV for myself and she would have the Max. Is the MAX good for a solo rider? Advantages/Disadvantages for a solo rider? Any comparisons to an Arctic Cat 400 ? Thanks for your time.

 

The Max is an excellent 1 or 2 person atv. Advantage is better ride and off camber stability. Dis. 6" longer. Compare to an AC 400? The 400 CA will run circles around it.

 

I test rode an 09 last month and loved it (500cc) you didn't even know you had a rider. The MAX is 9inches longer than a standard. 650cc and up have a better front suspension. Next year the 2010 will have power steering and improvements to the front diff and a bigger magneto (400 watt to 650watt).

 

I have had my 06 max 800 for 3 1/2 years, IMO, I would take a max over the single seat any day and I VERY seldom ride double. They do take slightly a little bit more room to turn but I have never had a problem following single seats out on the trail. If your going with one of the bigger bore machines the extended wheelbase really helps keep the front end planted on a hard take off and the stability of the max is a ton better between the single seat.

The Max is 8" longer.
Length of the outlander is 86", wheelbase 51"
Outlander Max length is 94", wheelbase 59"

 

I have had my 06 max 800 for 3 1/2 years, IMO, I would take a max over the single seat any day and I VERY seldom ride double. They do take slightly a little bit more room to turn but I have never had a problem following single seats out on the trail. If your going with one of the bigger bore machines the extended wheelbase really helps keep the front end planted on a hard take off and the stability of the max is a ton better between the single seat.

The Max is 8" longer.
Length of the outlander is 86", wheelbase 51"
Outlander Max length is 94", wheelbase 59"

 

got an 09 650 maxx and with 2 on it still rides great and i ride solo most of the time and it is just a blast and is great in the mud and very reliable.

 

After owning one for 5 years (I still do...for now), I come out on the other side of this. If you plan on buying 2 quads eventually anyhow, you'll be much happier on a single seater. The extra wheelbase becomes a pain in the butt to maneuver around after awhile. It's especially irritating when your riding buddies can whip around in a tight circle to get a change of direction going and you have to do a remake of the Austin Powers golf cart scene to catch up. Coupled with the famous "Outlander hump" and the frustration level gets really high.

The extra wheelbase does help the stability on hillclimbs when you're riding solo, but with a passenger- chances are you aren't going up those steep inclines anyway, so it's a wash.

Furthermore, my extra seating is going to waste anyway since my fiancee says the ride on the back is too uncomfortable.

In short the Outlander is a pretty good quad, but I'd recommend the single seater.