i have another post on what to buy for an atv. im 5'11" and 240lbs. it will be used mostly for riding trails and deer hunting but mostly ridden for fun. im looking at the yamaha grizzly 450 4x4 irs, kawasaki prairie 360 4x4, suzuki kq 450, or the polaris sportsman 450 . if i talk to the dealers and co-workers, they tell me to steer clear of the polaris because they have too much plastic, weigh too much, and dont have the quality like the japanese machines. are polaris worth the money? do they have good longevity? im wanting to make one purchase and be happy with it. i dont want to buy an atv, then have to upgrade in a few years. can anyone give me an honest comparison and info? thanks...Tim

 

In 1994 I bought my first POLARIS quad after years of dirt bike/ street bike riding, racing and then a crash that left me with a bum leg, so I needed a quad. In 5600 miles I put on 3 sets of brakes, 2 sets of tires and one new piston and bore job, the piston needed from riding in deep water to much. Also I still have the original belt, 3000 miles on it before I thought it needed replacing, I keep it for a spare.

In 2001 I bought a new 2000 Polaris 500 Magnum 4x4 and after 800 miles and no problems I wanted to go faster, so in late 2001 I bought a new Kaw 650 Prairie and a new 400 Prairie for my boy. Sold the 400 because it seemed geared to low and was just to much utility, rode the 650 for 4000 miles and had 3 belts and some new plastic.
Now I have the Polaris models listed below, bought a new 2000 Polaris 400 Scrambler, rode for 3 yrs and sold without problems, then bought the 2003 Polaris 400 and been riding for 3 years without problems, same belt and chain, been to Glamis twice, pull trailmower with it, and have the Alcohol Polaris for scary fun !!!!! for going way to fast, pulling wheelies at 70+ mph, and blowing away the competition when they come around here.

Now I want a KAWASAKI 700 PRAIRIE after all the quads I had and have been on.

In North Dakota where we hunt our guide has Polaris 500-600 Sportsman 4x4 with over 20K miles on each, his neighbor had a 300 Kawasaki with 36K miles on it.

I would buy another POLARIS without hesitation. But right now I want a Kawasaki.........

good luck

 

all i can tell you is that our sp.450 is great w/330 miles on it. its the wifes bike and is good for her plenty of power and very comfee to her. i know the the pr/360 is very under powered and isnt true awd like the sp.

 

SP450 all the way!

I concur with Stendori!
I'm 350 lbs and 6'. Plenty
of power, speed and great
for accessories.

I'd just recently hunted on it
during our muzzle-loader season.
Unfortunatley no deer to drag out
this time but this ATV moved two of
our TWO-MAN (450 lbs rated) ladder
stands in dense pines woods on hunting
property, I've taken it close to 50 mph
(Open stretches) and seriously how much
faster can you really go on any trail (With trees,
rocks, bumps, ditches, roots)? Unless your Farming,
circuit racing, or someother mega-utility
use, I can't see needing anything
above a 450/500 cc class except
bragging rights! My extra cash has
went to accessories, hop-ups and
maintenance. My wife enjoyed 4-wheel'in
with mine, I bought her one, now we go
trail'in together.

Cheers,

R'

 

a dealer told me today that the biggest repair on the polaris is the cv boots. he said they easily get torn by sticks. he said that to prevent the tears, one should buy the skid plates to protect them. is this true? would the yamaha 450 grizzly be a wiser choice?