Relatively new to riding. Relatively old to life. Thinking about outlander max 850xt for long runs. Any thoughts/opinions vs Polaris or Cat?

 

Just sold of my 2014 cat it was a great machine but due to lack of dealer support in my area and it was starting to get KM out i missed a season of riding due to repairs and waiting for parts.. Cat has went through so many changes over the years i was not banking on them being around for any length of time so i did not go to another dealer for a new one.. Polaris have a nice ride but riding with guys that have em they are just not reliable and to much plastic on them... They usually end up in the middle of the pack so we can make sure they make it out.. Just purchased a 850 last year and love it. Should have went can am first i would have still been riding the old one... The suspension is super plush and i had to put in spring spacers as i was bottoming out. THey tend to run hot some people don't mind some people gripe i did not mind the heat but i got a tuner and tuned mine much better now... Also went aftermarket skid plate for some extra protection... So riding used to be a issue with my cat as it did not have the power to turn the tires once they got loaded up with snow... the can am goes through it like nothing..LOL

 

Thanks for the info. Which brand of skid plates did you go with? Was the install relatively painless?

 

I went with iron baltic skids top quality, super fast shipping... Easy install just bank on a afternoon of tinkering around to install as their are lots on bolts... i installed everything snug then went back and put locktight on every bolt and tightened up. Most people winch the machine strait up to do it but i don't trust my life by a winch cable, i made a set of ramps up my trailer and then jacked up the rear and blocked it up so i could easily lay under it and work safely.

 

Have had one Polaris 2-up, a Polaris Sportsaman X2 500. Only gripe I had with it was the power when running with guys who had 700+ cc machines. Went to a Can-Am Outlander Max XT-P 650. Was great machine that my brother is now using. Only upgraded to have more power when in the mountains out West. Now have the Outlander Max 1000r Limited. Gobs of power as soon as you hit the throttle. I've liked both of my Outlanders. The big thing for me was that Can-Am's Max had more room than a Sportsman Touring when you have the passenger seat installed. I liked the ride of regular Sportsman quads better. They just soak up the bumps better than any Can-Am I've been on. That said, the Max has a nice enough ride that I don't get too beat up, even with nerve damage in my back. I've done up to 165 miles in one day and could still walk. Can-Am CVT transmission is louder than the Polaris counterpart. Has a high pitched whine. I just tell people it's the turbo kicking in. I have Ricochet skid plates under my quad. Worth the extra dollars. I've always felt the Polaris frame is a little tougher than Can-Ams, so the skid plates are good peace of mind. We haven't had many breakdowns over the years. Mostly tires. A couple hiccups like dead battery. (It was around the time to replace them) Torn axle boots on both brands in rugged New England riding.

My ideal quad would have the Can-Am's rear rack space, the front storage options on the Polaris, the Polaris ride, Can-Am Rotax engine, Polaris CVT, and the Can-Am power steering which lets you choose how much assistance you want. Polaris' system can give you a little less trail feel in my mind.

 

you have been lucky with the polaris frame... they tend to break in 1/2... happened to one of the people i ride with and iv seen several other reports of it