Bill
I think everyone has response and performance confused!!
Surely,in a drag race ..horsepower,wieght/traction ratio is different than what a "trials" competition would call for.What most Polaris riders seem to want is performance at a higher rpm and at a higher ground speed.Honda and Cats" develope their HP. at a lower rpm...naturally we get our butts kicked in a drag race.
Its not whos better ..its up to each indivdual and their riding style and terrain most encountered

2001 autocat 500

 

You might wish to consider aftermarket shocks for your 450, the ride improvement is marked. Cheaper than trading or selling and rebuying.

 

the rubicon and the rincon that has come out now and all other wheelers i looked at have plastic out front, i have pused alot wheelers through holes with the metal front rack on my foreman and its been submerged more times than you have fingers and it always comes out the other side....never had any trouble thus far love the new 2wd/4wd

 

rubicons rincons and all others have plastic up front i've pushed many wheelers through mud holes in front of me with the metal rack on front of my foreman