I recently sold my Kawasaki 300 Prairie and am looking to upgrade. Eventhough I have had the ATV for 5 years, I'm really new to the sport. I only use the ATV to drag a beach around a lake and move snow off my drive way with minor trail riding. In 5 years I put around 250 miles on the ATV.

I have the oportinuty to purchase a 2005 Demo Polaris 500 ATP for $5,000. I was ready to buy a 2006 Yamaha 450 Kodiac prior to finding this opportinuty. Can anyone offer me any opinions on the choises. Power or speed is not a bid factor. The main reason I'm looking for an upgrade is so I do not get stuck in the beach.

Thanks

Dorff.

 

I work at a place that sells them both so will be as honest as I can considering I own 3 polaris ATVs.

I wouldnt be scared of a 500 ATP. It has a great engine and solid platform. The rear axle can be locked solid or left in turf mode. This makes it easy to steer on dry ground and it won't tear up a lawn when in turf mode. The polaris 4x4 or AWD as they call, it is easy to use, just flip a switch fron 2 to 4 and the AWD engages when the rear wheels loose traction. The rear box is rated at 400# compared to 200# for the largest ATVs, except the MV7.

All in all the 500 ATP, although not the most popular polaris of all time, will be a good machine for most people looking for a general purpose quad. Just keep it in low when pulling and keep up on service.

Sounds like $5000 is a good price.

The Kodiak 450 is a great machine, and if I was going to buy my wife another ATV it would be this one. It has a 421cc liquid cooled engine that starts great in cold weather and high and low in the trans. Yamaha has a great 4x4 system with a 2x4 mode, a 4x4, and a 4x4 lock. This locks the front diff solid like the rear which is great on loose ground and mud, but won't do much for pulling, as it makes it tough to steer. The kodiak is a smaller platform than the 500 ATP and has independent rear susspension which makes for a nice ride.

The kodiak is smaller at just under 600#s and the ATP must be at least 750.

Both are easy to run and reliable and should do what you need them to do.

 

--Not trying to steal this thread but...--

Trailhound, do you work at the dealer in Marshall?

 

Thanks for the info. I think I'll go with Polaris.