I thought my mind was set on the brute force but now I see that polaris has released thier 800 fuel injected twin. It is about a grand more, but from what I understand you have to add tires and wheels to the brute to improve the handling. From what I have heard the power is pretty even , though the polaris weighs more.. I have been through 3 quads in the past 5 years trying to find that perfect fit , so i don't want to make another mistake... any suggestions? thanks..

 

Test drive them both and hopefully that will show which one you like more. Compare the specs on both. Lastly, a good dealer might influence your decision too. Not sure where you can get the cheapest BF, but on the Polaris, it's hard to beat these guys...

http://www.polarisofchattanooga.com/

MSRP\ their price
2004 Sportsman 400 $5899 $4799
2004 Sportsman 700 Twin EFI $7899 $6299
2005 Military Vehicle $9699 $8499
2005 Sportsman (6x6) $7699 $6799
2005 Sportsman 400 $5999 $4999
2005 Sportsman 500 H.O. $6699 $5599
2005 Sportsman 600 Twin $6999 $5799
2005 Sportsman 700 Twin $7299 $5999
2005 Sportsman 700 Twin EFI $7899 $6499
2005 Sportsman 800 Twin EFI $8599 $7999

 

Ahh- a fellow illinoisian, to be honest with ya, I think Kawasaki committed the unpardonable when they concieved the Brute Force, just the name sounds off as h3ll. But anyways- I'm stilll biased as h3ll and I'd say that the Brute is still superior to the Polaris. Somehow Polaris just can't shed the weight, and due also to the fact that it is feul injected, because we are still in teh infancy of FI with quads. SO I would vouch for the Brute.

 

The weight is what scares me away from Polaris. I think their quads would eprform a whole lot more like their overseas counterparts if they weren't so darned HEAVY. I got a real good buddy that rides a Polaris Sportsman 400. I have spent mroe time on that quad than any other I have ever ridden. It rides like a dream but it's got a power curve like a Freightliner. Just TOTALLY gutless. Suspension is wonderful and actually handles quite well even considering the weight. The thing weighs 100lbs. more than my BF750! Which really bites when you are out in the middle of the woods all by yourself and you attempt to cross a stream with very inconsistent high banks and the Polaris 4WD system finds it's characteristic BAD trait precisely at the wrong moment and sends the thing curling over on it's side then upside down. Getting out from underneath a 700lbs. quad is a chore enough. Rolling it back over proved impossible and took a long walk and a small crew of buddies for a return walk to roll it over again. I aint never rolled the BF so I can't give an honest assesment of what it takes to right a 600lbs. quad but logic would tell you that it MUST be easier.

I know what yer thinkin' there..."I aint plannin' on rollin' my new quad, bro!" Truth is...I sure didn't plan on rollin' that one either. Bad situations have a tendency to creep right up on you. The Polaris utility line up are unsurpassed in suspension for IRS machines hands down. But in my opinion the 4WD system and managing all that weight in a tight spot is gonna cause you some trouble at a very inconvenient time, not to mention the belt problems. I recommend...as MY dollars have already indicated...go with the BF. I won't fault you if you buy Polaris, they do have their strong points no doubt. But if you do...be REAL careful when you ride alone.

God bless,

-BunnMan

 

I've never ever been a fan of Polaris. i don't know much about their new machines but Oh MY GOD!! Their older machines aren't that good. I mean, come on!! Chain driven fourwheel drive!!! Thats just askin for trouble right there. Im just goin by what we get in the shop and we get a lot of Polaris's. They rattle soo much that the jets in the carbs fall out and turn into brass shreddings. Not ******* them, just tellin what i see first hand. But thats just a few. But those are the worse we see. Like i said, don't know much about the newer Polaris's. I heard they are awesome, specially the fuel injected one. But I would go with the Kawi, but yet again I bleed green.