I've got both a Scrambler and a honda. I bought the honda first as a pure utility quad and the Scrambler for fun. I am now looking to sell the honda and upgrade to either a Magnum or Sportsman 500cc. I don't mind the couple of extra minutes it takes to lube all of the zerk fittings, I would rather be sure that everything was greased and that I inspected all of the external moving parts.

 

Hey D84, Polaris sells aluminum swingarm skidplates in their new catalog for $99.99, and I think hot seat and DG has 'em, too. I think the only GOOD thing about the disc guard is that it cuts through the mud and ruts, instead of hanging up like other skidplated machines.

 

my dad has a scrambler 400 and after 11 months, the piston blew.It did have a lot of milage on it though, but it still shouldn't have blown up. cost 500 bucks to fix it(canadian money)
4 months later, little "buttons" fell out of the clutch and wore it bad. he had to buy a new clutch
cost: $400. then a front shock blew. and it's hard on gas, and he had to replace the front wheel bearings. the steering is also lose, and he had to replace the tie rod ends twice. He is not hard on his machine either. these problems aside, my dad still likes it for it's plushness, power, and comfort. If you don't put a lot of miles on, I'd say buy one. probably a 500, cause the engine is likly more reliable. heavier though. I don't have anything aganst polaris, I am just saving you trouble in the future...i hope

 

Honda guy...figures!

 

My uncle bought one of the first trailboss 250's from a NAPA store back in the mid 80's when they first come out. Unfortunately for the quad, that was mine and my brother's "learning tool". After backing into a tree and makin the swingarm look more like a "C" then being straight, flattening 3 out of the 4 tires, knocking the battery loose so it got a hole in it from rubbing on the tire, drowning it in the brook behind my grandmothers house(needed the tractor to get it out), and rolling it over a dozen times, that machine (almost 15yrs old) will still(this makes me mad) out do my 00 TBlazer in most instances(cept comfort and looks). Sure the motor's been rebuilt twice(!), a few suspension parts have been replaced(nephew-inflicted damage), and the chain and sprockets have been replaced. Other than that, the only problem with it that wasn't family-induced was that stupid-a$$ set up to change gears.(you know, the pull-out **** on the right side of the motor that always burnt your hand if you weren't watching what you were doing). I must say, THAT was a fourwheeler! That's also what influenced me to buy my own 250, while friends and cousins were going with warriors, raptors, and 400ex's. No I don't keep up on straight aways, but so what. In my heart I know the 15 yr old trailboss 250 can out do 'em all in difficult terrain.(And no, my nephews don't ride my wheeler, as my uncle learned a lesson for me)

 

The Polaris has been great!