for power, ride, & storage go with the sportsman, for light weight go grizz.

 

Personally for me the storage makes the bike. What good is going for a full day, and having to wear a backpack to put your stuff in?? When we go out, usually I'm nominated to carry EVERYONES stuff. Between 2 Polaris bikes we carried 6 peoples stuff for the day. Water, beer, food, tools, spare parts etc for 6 guys stuffed into 2 bikes. That's what I really like about the Polaris over everything else.

 

ok I'm confused. TLC produced a link that had a very nice comparison of several nice atv's. (thanks) What is confusing to me is how the polaris won their overall comparison. I don't see how a limited slip AWD system can out perform a full diff 4wd lock in rock crawling. Heck, i don't see how it could outperform a locking 4wd in any 4wd application accept cornering?

Also, the "little" yamaha held it's own in that testing. I wonder what would happen if I blind folded my wife and stepped up to the griz 660? If the "lil griz" put up such a fight against the 500's the 660 MUST be overwhelmingly superior. Yes? No?

(crazysteve I plan on looking at your link today...thanks bro!)

 

From what I seen, the Polaris suspension handles better at speed. For most people, especially someone that has not ridden a large IRS machine much, the difference is pretty small. I would not make that my soul reason for buying or not buying one brand or the other. Like many have said, go test drive them. If you want the best test, find a place that has an old rail road bed. A spot like that is where they will really shine in a test drive. In a parking lot, I doubt you will not tell much difference in an AC and Polaris.

 

I think it boils down to you making your own decision when you get a chance to ride them. All you are going to get on forums is fanboys fighting each other. The AC has it's strengths and so does the Popo, the real questions is: what features are important to you?

When you get back to the states, go test riding and decide then, you won't get very far reading opinions in threads like this. Check out each forum, you will learn more by reading the other threads than you will be straight up asking.

Happy shopping! (buy an Arctic Cat) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

FYI - you want an independent review of ATV's
The ATV Guide 2007- by Robert Jette'
He comes out with a new one every year. I found this very helpful when looking at different ATV models

http://atv.off-road.com/atv/ar...leDetail.jsp?id=192229

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: buckaroo50

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: polaris5610



the Sportsman 500 will out perform just about any 500 class machine. they are VERY reliable ATVs mine has never (knock on wood) been in the shop. it has 3395 miles on it. i just do the normal oil changes, and ride normal and it treats me great. i've owned a lot of machines in the past and the sp 500 so far has been my fav.</end quote></div>



Wow that is a pretty bold statement - 'that the Sportsman will outperform about any 500'. Is this from personal experience or something a salesman said.

What measurement are you using and what conditions are you talking about? "Out perform" - what, when, where, how, why?

Are you talking about drag racing, top speed, towing. Will it negotiate deeper mud and water, will it climb bigger obstacles, can it travel over smaller bumps faster without the machine bouncing all over the place and track true and straight.

I do have a question - if the suspension is so good and they handle so well then why do they need a sway bar? Sway bars deprive articulation and limit wheel travel.

I will add my comment, I have seen many Sportsman's in action and although they are an adequate bike they are by no means 'king of the hill'.

There is no one single machine that can do it all and do it best in all categories.</end quote></div>

I stand behind what I've said. The Sportsman 500 is a very proven choice. It has had all the bugs worked out, and does well in almost any situation. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the SP500 the best selling ATV in the world for a number of years? I'm not knocking AC, they are also a good choice, I just like the 500 better. I've had experience with them both, so I feel I can make that statement. Take it for what it's worth, don't let it hurt your feelings...after all it's just a opinion and everyone has one....

 

Well im not sure if im much help but i just bought a 2005 Scrambler 500 4x4 on thursday and have been very impressed with its power and ease of operation, i had a 2001 Scrammy as well and had nothing but good luck with it. I would definately go with the Polaris.

 

I realize everyone has their favorite brands and I'm not about to knock any of them, but I will say a Can Am 500 will perform better and provide a lot more "giddy-up" as you put it than either the Grizzly or Sportsman. Neither can beat the power of the v-twin Rotax 500, and the quality is at least as good as if not better than any others. As a matter of fact, the 2008's are better yet!! My second pick would be the Grizzly.

 

Yet again someone throws another machine in the mixer. I (almost ashamed) had never even heard of Can-Am until I joined this post, and even still thought they were a "racing" atv? Rookies...whadya do?