To the honda lovers, the foreman compared to the magnum has half the ground clearange, half the rack capacity, less towing capacity, less hitch capacity, a crappy cooling system, less horsepower, lass torque, less speed, less acceleration, worse brakes, a suspension system and a 4 wheel drive system that cringes at the sight of a polaris model, and frankly is stripped down for how much they cost. why does the foreman get its but kicked in every shoot out they are in in dirtwheels magazine? For example: Kodiak, kaw 400, suzuki 500, etc. They can't even compare to the magnum so they never have shoot outs! Even the "might grizzly" can't beat the magnum. The only hope I see for Honda I see is the new Rubicon, and that still has there crappy 4 wheel drive system.

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The only reason a Honda cringes at the sight of a Polaris is that the Honda is sick and tired of towing the Polaris's home after they break! Another plus for the Hondas is that the EBS on the Hondas works on both the front and rear drivetrains, unlike Polaris!

[This message has been edited by YamaHonda (edited 11-05-1999).]

[This message has been edited by YamaHonda (edited 11-05-1999).]

 

The only reason the EBS works all 4 wheels on the Honda is because it is not a switchable 4x4 system.I'll take Polaris AWD system with it's 2wd EBS system ANYDAY over the Honda's continually-non switchable 4x3 system.What differance does it make if you Honda guys tow the Polaris guys home,Polaris is allways pulling you guys out of the mud all the time.Either way,THE TOW STRAPS ARE USED.----just my opionion-GOOD DAY-----BILL

 

Time will tell and Honda will out perform Polaris hands down for dependability and resale value . I have owned 13 ATVs of all different makes and Honda has always ended up being the best . After the bikes are a couple of years old then tell me which one you think is the better built bike . PS. Have fun with your belts and chain .

 

Gabby,What chain????? I drive a Magnum 500... And plus I'd rather be able to replace a 20 dollar belt than a 500 dollar transmission and atleast I have the choice of lubricating my shaft drive system unlike the hondas which are all encloseed so will eventually fall apart.

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Gee, Where is a moderator when you need one ?

I really had a tough time trying to decide wheather or not to post back to this. It just screams "I'm a juvenile who has no idea how to act in public".

But, in the interest of humor...

"To the honda lovers"
I guess that's those of us who post here.

"the foreman compared to the magnum has half the ground clearange"
Let's see, both have 25" tires and solid rear axles.... So that kinda sounds like about the SAME clearance to me. Perhaps you have the Sportsman and don't know it.


"half the rack capacity"
Let's see - Magnum has 180r/90f and 450 has 132r/66f.... Now, unless this is some kind of "new" math, neither of the Magnum numbers are twice the Honda's...

"less towing capacity"
Hey... Got one right!

"less hitch capacity"
Mag has ... 35lbs.... OOOOoooo

"a crappy cooling system"
Hmmm, Yes folks, All the Phd's at Honda obviously do not have the expertise and knowledge of engines that our local expert has. Why, there is obviously 450's all over the world that are just sitting there and overheating.

"less horsepower"
Guess this comes from a much larger engine, huh?

"lass torque"
Would this be in reference to a lady?

"less speed, less acceleration"
Yeah...

"worse brakes"
I've never seen a "brake-off" before...

"a suspension system"
No... Say it isn't so

"and a 4 wheel drive system that cringes at the sight of a polaris model"
Gee - The whole time I was pulling the Polaris, I never realized my quad was cringing... I guess I need to get off my quad next time and have a look - Does anybody out there know what a cringing quad looks like?

"and frankly is stripped down for how much they cost. why does the foreman get its but kicked in every shoot out they are in in dirtwheels magazine?
For example: Kodiak, kaw 400, suzuki 500, etc. They can't even compare to the magnum so they never have shoot outs!"
Well now - which way do you want it - Getting kicked or not having one at all?

"Even the "might grizzly" can't beat the magnum."
Can't beat it how? Doing what?

"The only hope I see for Honda I see is the new Rubicon, and that still has there crappy 4 wheel drive system."
I'll notify Honda right away! They are doomed! Please, tell us when and where you have ridden the Rubicon so as to evaluate the 4 wheel drive system???

I think a bit more time needs to be spent in English and Math. I hope your riding skills exceeds your writing skills.

I'm sorry.

Happy Trails... I know I'm laughing

 

Bill,

I don't think that is totally true. I believe the Kodiak and the Griz both have switchable 2wd/4wd and their engine braking works in both modes.

True?

Happy Trails

 

Oh, funny you should mention replacing a trans Mag500... A bud of mine with a 6 month and 1 week old Sportsman had to do just that... And it actually runs about $750. No, Polaris didn't cover a dime of it... Surprised?

I'll let you know when I have to replace mine.

 

The 500 magnum is supposed to be and look like a reliable quad. Heard of no probleme since. My opinions are that I prefere the 4wd of polaris quads. I like how it works and I think that it provide more traction than the one on honda. If you have one front wheel in the air, you re stuck with 2 wheel drive with limited slip. I think it sucks. I prefere liquid cooled to air cooled. The magnum is more sport, better suspension, more towing capacity, more ground clearance... I don`t know what you have against the magnum, I think it`s a greeaaat quad. The electric shift on the honda seems to cause more probleme than the automatic on the polaris. I don`t know why you still think that the honda 450 is better !?! The only think would be reliability but the magnum seems to have a good record. Sometime I just don't get it.

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Sylvain Belec 400 scrambler - 225 moto4

 

Mag500- I'm guessing your strong points of replacing a $20 belt over a $500 transmission have been well researched. Well, have you been around the ATV world for more than 3 years? Polaris's weren't even popular bikes 4 years ago, mainly because they were all made like crap. I'd compare it to a bottle rocket or even one of those expensive fireworks. Its nice and fast and neat to look at and have your friends see and then all of a sudden Bang!!! there's nothing left of it anymore. Tell me now, is the regular geared transmission of the honda something that has had to be replaced very often? Of all the people I have ever known personally in my life, most of whom have owned Honda's, nobody ever had to have a transmission rebuild, and this isn't on like 96 model 300's either. I'm talking like 85-87 fourtrax 250's and the earlier 300's. Take any pre-1995 polaris and try to tell me that some major part on it hasn't gone out. Transmission especially. Polaris is a lot better nowdays, but get real. You can't even think of comparing a PVT tranny with a regular one in reliability terms. The only advantages, if any, of the PVT are for mud runs and "ease of use" - which isn't exactly something thats relevant to anyone interested enough in ATVs to be on a forum about them.
Then you talk about being able to lubricate you drive shaft. Well I tell you one thing buddy, You'd better! Otherwise it will last about as long as one of those baby sea turtles on its way to the ocean! They are made to be greased, which is good, but not good if you don't grease them. Hondas are sealed and again, tell me how many times this has become a problem to anyone? Nothing gets in anyway. I can say that in the long run, you will encounter far more instances of Polaris's breaking down as a result of someone not doing the lubricating than you will find of a sealed honda going out on its own. Hey, sorry but thats just the way it is. The polaris wins the war in all that cool crap like speed, ride, turning, and that stuff. I admit it! They are great to ride, but You can never honestly say that they are put together better than the Hondas. I know it just burns your *** too, because no matter what you post on here, you know in your heart that its true. Thats the thing about most Polaris owners. They know that the only thing keeping them from saying that Polaris makes the ultimate quad is that reliability factor. Sorry man, Honda wins this one, and will keep doing it despite what anyone thinks. Get ready for the Rubicon, because after it comes out, the only bragging point you're going to have left is that age old "3 Wheel drive" bit that Polaris Loyalists cling to like Linus to a blanket. Good day sir.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*