Arrrghh! I come to read some info. in the Honda forum and you guys are here too. Good grief, get a life. Seems you Honda guys have the HATERS bugging you too. They must creep around bashing any quad that is better than theirs. They have been in the Yamaha forum bashing the Raptor all week. I go in there looking for good stories,information,etc...and all I see is this useless quad bashing. I for one like the 400ex,yes I have a Raptor and I still like other quads, amazing huh guys? My advice to everyone is to ignore these wannabe's because there is no doubt they are just fishing for arguments.

 

"Polaris not good for anything"
I'd love to see your single purpose race machine go on anything but groomed trails without getting stuck.
And I'll be even more impressed to see it pull a ford bronco up a dirt road on a slight incline.

Thats all you guys with these machine think about is racing, about 85% don't even race who are on this forum. You probably live near mountain trails and I bet you've had to cut a ride short cuz you could'nt make here or got stuck in the mud there. Forget about riding in the winter unless you want to be pulled out of the 2" inches of snow your struggling to get out from before someone see's you.

2000 SCRAMBLER 400 2X4

SCRAMDADDY400

 

I wasn't trying to start a pissing contest. It just gets tiresome that everytime a Polaris is mentioned in the Honda forum, or a Honda mentioned in the Polaris forum, the attacks start. I guess we should only ride with other like brand quads when we ride. Then we would all be happier, wouldn't we. All brands have recalls, chaulk that up to the idiots on the assembly line most of the time. I seem to remember one recall because both brake pads were installed on the same side of the rotor. Manufacturer defect? Of course not. Every time I ride, there are at least four different brands of quads there, and we don't stand around and put down each others quads.

As far as mortgages go, I didn't feel like paying for the house three times before I owned it. The measly tax credit the government gives you just didn't add up.

 

An Xpress was basically a 2wd Xplorer, or you could think of it as a more utility version of the 2wd 400 scrambler, with racks & a hitch.
I agree they needed to think thru their names better. The Xplorer was a 400cc 2 stroke. Then they came up with the Xplorer 500 which was a 4 stroke. I think they re-named it the Sportsman because they were confusing people (Xplorer 300 & 400 were chain-drive 2 strokes, 500 a shaft drive 4 stroke).
At least now (except for the Scrambler 400 & 500) all the machines in one 'family' (Xplorer, Sportsman, Magnum, etc.) are all very similar except for displacement.
I used to have an Xpress & my brother still does. They were pretty well built machines, at least the later ones were. I traded mine in at 7500 miles (needed overhaul) and my brother's has 5000 miles and so far all he needs is a new belt (still going with the old - barely) and he lost the spring thingy that releases the parking brake automatically (you have to release it with your 'free' hand). We do alot of spirited trail riding, but not much mud deeper than the footrests.
I now have an Xplorer, which is just like my Xpress was in almost every way except it is 4wd and a little heavier because of it.
There are a few little refinements or updates because it is a few years newer, but the basic machine is the same.

As for Polaris reliability, I will have to admit they have a checkered past. Some will run almost forever, and others seem to have no end of troubles. It varied a lot from model to model.
In my opinion, the new ones are gaining rapidly with any other machines for initial quality, but it may still be a few years before they prove if they will be as reliable as others long-term.

So far so good for me, though. I have over 3500 miles with zero breakdowns.
I also have a Honda that has somewhat more use that has only suffered a dead battery so far. I guess it would have to be a toss up which is more reliable, although I have to give the Honda the edge as it has more use.

 

If the quadfather is so sold on Polaris reliability then why would he buy a Yamaha utility quad? I'm scratching my head.

 

Rancheres:

Quite simply, I liked the Yamaha utility quads the best. I had a Suzuki, and a 99 Yamaha Big Bear. Once I got the automatic Polaris, I was sold on the auto trannys. Then the new Kodiak came out, I rode it, I bought it. I also tried to buy my friends used EX 400, but got beat to it.

 

i have been a loyal honda man longer than i can rember. i was riding a Z50 before i could pedal my own bike!! i have owned several honda motocrossers and streetbikes. i just bought a polaris scrambler though....i will tell you one thing if i have to fix stuff all the time it will be down the road and i will own a new 400 ex!! i bought the scrambler cuz i like to play in the mud and snow, ice fish, hunt and so on! i also like reverse! time will tell!!

 

Instead of scrambler, try the yamaha wolverine. This quad is also a sport 4wd. I had a 400 scrambler and it was alot of fun in the snow and on the ice. This thing was a blast all studded up. It's not really fair to compare a 4wd and a 2wd. the 400ex will out run, out wheelie, and out jump a polaris, but it won't go through more snow or mud. once again it comes down to what conditions you ride in. If money is no concern (ha ha), buy a 400ex and a rubicon. 400ex all sport and rubicon all work.

 

I went and looked at the Wolverine yesterday. It is definately not as sporty as a Scrambler... just like a Scrambler is not as sporty as a 400ex.

Thats life...ride what you can!

 

I think you scratch more than just your head.LOL.

2000 SCRAMBLER 400 2X4

SCRAMDADDY400