i'm lookin to get a new bike , i've owned a yammy for 10yrs with no problems. now we are doing alot of trail riding
and the wife would rather ride with me then drive. so i'm think ing about the polaris x2 500. it has everything i need ,i really like the dump bed and the fold down rear seat. this model is longer then most ,but comes with a turf mode for easyer steering on grass and in tight places. anyone own one ? do they hold up well? they sure aren't cheap.

 

Well let me tell you I have two Yamaha sleds 1994 v-max and 1988 570 Exciter for the wife.....Which she will not part with to up-grade....LOL....We both love the Yamaha's sleds.......Never let us down on the trail!!!Very Dependable sleds!!!

However...when I started to look for quads..........Yamaha Did not have the features and options that Polaris had!!!.........I still wanted to buy Yamaha quads.......But the same price range here in Canada......I needed to look at the 450 Kodiak (2006)
Some of the cons on this compared to the Sportsman 450 are:
1. Front disc brakes
2.lighting(polaris has one of the best out there right now!!)
3.not much storage
4.price
5.kick back effect on the handle bars!!
6.width is 43" compared to the 450 Sportsman at 48'.
7.wheelbase also is 48.5 polaris is at 50.5...
8.double a arms in front ...Polaris=Macpherson struts........

Remember I bought two so the price differance was huge!!!!!!

People at work that had drum brakes told me to stay away from them if I can.........Lots of service later on!!!.......Hope that helps........The 500 riders seem to be very happy with the power.........But like most people always want more......My 450 is enough for me and the wife.....I have no need want more power..........Yet!!!!!!!........Caper............

 

!.Sorry Rear drum brakes..............OOPS........

 

Just looked it up and the 450 yamaha Kodiak does have the disc all around........it was the 350 brun that has the rear drum.......... sorry again.........I was looking at so many quads...back then...LOl..

 

As an owner of two polaris atvs I have had no problem with them but if I were looking for a two up I would look into an Arctic Cat, I sat on one and found it very comfortable for both riders. How it rides is another matter I don't know if you can beat a Polaris also not sure if the back dumps.

 

Hello vsrwshooter, I have an X2 500efi and love it. I've not been easy on it and it has held up very well. Been up rocky hills, through headlight deep water/mudholes, in the snow and out on a frozen beaver pond. It does great. It is long so a skimobile trailer is probably better because of the length. My quad rubs a little on my ATV trailer made by Thule. The AWD system is fantastic and crawls over or through about anything. You have to find very deep and sticky mud to stop it or very deep snow. I've driven with myself at 340 lbs. and passengers up to 200 lbs. without a problem. Handling is a little softer with a passenger but the rear shocks are adjustable. I've towed up to 2500 lbs. one time. It did it but I wouldn't do it over any distance. I have towed a 3x5 trailer full of firewood with the back box filled also and it does it without a problem. Just waiting for good weather to do fluid changes. I have 50 hard hours and about 250 miles on it so far. The newer X2s solved a rattle problem that was in the seat like mine has. Doesn't really bother me. I get about 18-20 mpg or so in mixed driving. With a 6 gallon tank you can go all day. I also hear they made the seat a little softer. My 06 could be a little more comfortable, but I haven't had any complaints from passengers. The turf mode helps to keep scrub down on your lawn unless you push it. Also, good on hard pack or the pavement I have to go on to get to the trail system I ride. Hope this helps.

 

moosehenden , what kinda top end speed are you getting?

i really think as far as technology honda and yamaha have fallin behind on atv's they just don't offer what the rest do. my yammy is a 97 kodiak man shift and probly one of the toghest bikes i've seen. my only complaint is brakes.

the artic cat is a nice atv, but the tvr, thats there 2 seater you must remove the rear seat and install the dumpbed
and the bikes are about the same price ,but you have to buy the dumpbed seperate at 400.00.

 

I have an 07 X2 Deluxe 500 with which I am very pleased and highly recommend. The only thing that has been a problem is the gas gauge, which will be covered under warranty.

I only have 80 miles on it, mixed riding. The last 44 were over gravel roads riding 25-30 mph generally and I got 23.33 mpg during that trip. I've hit a top speed of 56 mph or so, but haven't pushed it to go faster (maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't).

If you do a lot of steep riding, get the Deluxe model, which has the WONDERFUL 4 wheel engine braking, ADC.

Smooth riding, lots of power whether one passenger or two. It suits my present needs perfectly.

 

srwshooter, I think my top speed is probably around mid 50s tops. I don't have too many places where I ride that I can open it up and see what its limits are. I've been out on a frozen beaver pond this past (present) winter and got it up to 52-53 before I ran out of pond. It is about 3/10ths of a mile long. I didn't clock how long it took to get to that speed as it was on ice with about 6" of snow to make things interesting.