From their SEC Filings for Year 2003/2004: calendar year 2003 the industry grew six percent with approximately 1,041,000 ATVs sold worldwide.

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/...04-010370&nad=

quoted from Polaris and Honda SEC filings: (I read multi-filings to get this data and comfirm the rankings)

Honda #1 in total ATV sales world wide (upper 20% of market share)
Polaris / Yamaha #2 in total ATV sales world wide (tied lower 20% of market share)
(polaris was trending down in Q4 2004 while Yamaha was flat in Q4)
Suzuki #4 in total ATV sales world wide (Upper single digits of market share)
Kawasaki #5 in total ATV sales world wide (Upper single digits of market share)
Arctic Cat #6 in total ATV sales world wide (Mid single digits of market share)
Bombardier #7 in total ATV sales world wide (<5% of market share)
John Deere #8 in total ATV sales world wide (<1% of market share)

Polaris and Honda both relize in their reports that the Polaris Sportman Series is the highest selling single line of ATVs in 2002/2003/2004.

Also Polaris and Honda have an similar consumer demographic acording to their SEC filings.

 

The polaris sportsman line also seems to have more models than any other line, unless you call all of honda's sport quads the "sport trax" line.

Thank you for the information, I appreciate someone providing truthful input to a topic such as this.

 

i knew honda was the top. if anything yamaha will take #1 before polaris

 

IMO if you read what Honda and Polaris talked about with thier consumer demographic studies acording to their SEC filings. They have the same customer base ... 30 to 40 year olds with $65000.00 yearly income. Where as Yamaha said their consumer demographic was the 18 to 28 year olds with $20000.00 yearly income. With that said IMO Honda and Polaris doesn't have anything to fear from Yamaha, as they are going after a completly different consumer with much less money to spend.

 

yeah and who said they spend there whole yearly income on quads. that obviously dosent mean much by where yamaha stands

 

I remember when polaris first came out with ATV's. A salesman at the local Suzuki dealer told me that Polaris were cheap garbage and would never be mainstream. Well, I live in NY, and there are roughly two Polaris dealers up here to every Honda dealer, every Yamaha dealer, Suzuki, Kawasaki, yada yada yada. That same salesman works for the same dealer some 19 years later, and guess what, they have added Honda, Yam, and Polaris to the lineup. There must be quite a few Polaris fans out there somewhere? Or maybe most people hate them because they can't spell Ploaris?

 

I had read it some time ago. OF course , that don't make it true, but I did read that they out sold all other brands combined. It could be that they were talking about the utility quad line. So, I am afraid I don't have a source of proof and will now eat my words!!!!

 

it was just a comment on their customer base ... not that yamaha buyiers would spend all their money on ATV's ... IMO yamaha was going after an untapped market and has made it to tier for second place in the ATV market. It would seam that Polaris and Honda may need to make some changes and go after that market also.

 

As I posted earlier, I am willing to EAT my words since I didn't do the research first. That's munching you hear in the background.

Back then, I may have mis=read the information... And It is possible they were touting their Utility Quad Line as "outselling the other brands" combined.
In either case, I apologize for popping off before doing my homework....!!!!

 

hey, the bashing is just as bad over in the snowmobile forums, some people just don't understand that all manufactures make good rides and also have some with problems. it's just the way it is. sometimes when they come up with a new idea i think they rush it into the market so they can have an edge. it doesn't always work out. i love my polaris but i know it's not perfect. i've had 4 polaris's from a 93 to a 03 and only had 1 big problem(starter on 01 500). i ride with all other brands except suzuki and we've all had minor probs. o/k i feel better now!!