Hi Everyone, I've been out of the 4x4 atv scene for a long time and have decided it's time to get back into it with my family. However with so many great quad's on the market I'm having a really hard time choosing what quad I will be the most happy with. I will primarily be on the trail's carrying the wife from time to time, but am not afraid to play in the mud if the oportunity arises. Horsepower, Handling & Reliabilty are probably the most important to me. A friend of mine work's at a Honda dealership and is pulling me toward's the Honda Rincon 680...the price is attractive but I've gotten very mixed review's when looking into this model. I'm very opened minded to any brand....preferbly 700 or bigger. Any recomendation's/comment's would be great!

 

Well your 2 qualifying factors of horsepower and 700cc + eliminates Honda. Plus I wouldn't want to go playing in the mud on a Rincon either.

I personally ride a Polaris SP700 and am totally happy (especially given the deal I got on it).

But it is hard to take opinions from someone who basically rides one machine. Most are going to say they really like it or they would be onto something else, right?

I recommend you go ride something before you buy into it.

 

If carrying passengers there are a handful of states that require 2-up machines. There are only 3 makes that produce them. Arctic Cat, CanAm, and Polaris. They all carry 700 plus cc machines that range from 700-1000 ccs. Polaris tend to ride the nicest as far as rider comfort goes. CanAm tends to be fastest per cc and have a good ride also. I don't know as much about Arctic Cat other than they have a nice box for when you ride 2-up and need some storage. Polaris also has a machine called the Sportsman X2. Pre-2010 models were available in 500, 700, and 800cc models. The 2010 model is a 550cc. The X2 has a dump bed on the back that is great for carrying gear. It also converts to a passenger seat when you want to bring someone along for the ride. The passenger seat is not as comfortable on the X2 as it is on the other are. All of these makers also offer power steering now. Those who have it mostly say they wouldn't go back to a quad without it.