jeez...cant you just feel the love?

lol

 

Just joined, I have to agree that those video's are a joke. its like they dont even try to hide the fact that the guy riding the "other" machine is being a tottal dolt and doing everything he can to make it look bad. They are all good machines. I was completely sold on the can-am 800 after a few test rides, ( a little over a year ago ) and was even more enthused when I heard that the 09 model was getting a power boost. But.... about a year ago when My brother was looking to buy a new machine I insistted that he ride the can-am before purchasing the sportsman 800 he was looking at. We went to the dealer and he hopped on a spanking new outlander 800, but I did not see the **** eating grin on his face when he returned that I had expierianced/expected. I had told him that if he just cobbed it the front would come up and he would probly have to back out of it to keep from going over ( as was My expieriance a few months prior ) but he came back and said " doesnt run any better than the polaris, I couldnt even get the front end off the ground" in disbelife I climbed aboard. same result, it wasnt the pissed off tourque monster I remembered. I asked the dealer what the deal was and was informed that they had de-tuned them cause too many people were crashing them on test rides, bummer, no-sale. So now its a year later and my turn to buy a machine, after riding My brothers sportsman quite a few times I have grown to like it, alot. Yea its heavy, and that is a big deal to me, but it rides fantastic, has great power and is quite useable. But still, I was still leaning to the outlander, 120lbs lighter and more power just seemed like a better deal. Hold the phone, whats this, new 850xp? After much internal debate I am going to buy the new popo 850. I like the innovations, the narower seat, the new and highly touted suspention, the quality wheels&tires, the (long overdue) roller clutch and yes, the EPS. Sorry if that makes Me less of a man but power stearing just makes the machine that much more of a pleasure to ride. Fact of the matter is If the can-am had EPS I would probly have bought it. I still belive the can-am has more power, hence the 10sec. "tie" in the polaris vid. The yamaha is a great machine, I love the fact that is is light, but for Me the power where its at, My brothers sportsman is the 2up unit and thus it weighs a ton, but riding it you woulnt know it. If the yamaha had a motor that was even in the same class as the other two I probly wouldv'e taken a closer look at it, but it doesn't so while the "perfect" machine ( for me ) is yet to be built, Ill deal with the extra weight of the 850. besides, load any machine up with a fully dressed rider, all his hunting gear, a couple of rifles and a dead elk and that extra weight sudenly doesnt mean as much from one machine to another.
Joe

 

Welcome Joey, well written 1st post.
I noticed you mentioned the new tires on the XP. That is 1 of 2 beefs I have with the XP..the tires and lack of standard front storage. Polaris went with a tire less aggressive than the PXT's. I know they have to find a balance, and that is what I like a good all around tire. But the "Terrathons" look like street tires and initial reports are that they do not preform very well off the hard pack in light mud. Uhhg, don't even have it yet and worried about having to find tires. Otherwise I am excited as a kid at Christmas and think the Xp will be awesome. Hopefully next year will see different tires and standard front storage. Then I will feel like I did my part as a guinea pig,lol. Mine should be here this week. Again welcome to the site,alot of knowledge here.

 

I totaly agree with you to each man his own! One of the biggest dissapointment with new Popo I dont like is that polaris has allways had a nice storge system built in and why do they now go away from that I dont know. Now you have to buy a box that blocks the front headlamp to have any kind of storage IMO that is a bad design. I also love the fact of how they build a quad with such a nice frame under it but why cant they use a lighter stronger material like the others do. I would rather spend more on a quad built with better materials that makes it lighter and more stronger than it already is.

Since I have bought my yamaha I can tell you the build quality and mateials used are twice that of a Polaris. All parts including the plastic fastenes are top notch!

The XP looks like a good machine much better that the old Sportsmans but I will wait before I make my final decision on Polaris quality!

 

Dodge57hemi,
Rest assured I'll give an honest opinion on the quality,fit and finish once I have mine and can really check it out. 1st impression says it is alot better. I know a litle about fit and finish, I have worked oneverything from Mercedes Benz's to Suzuki vehicles and numerous aircraft from OLD to the new "state of the art" Osprey as well. I do disagree the foreign bikes are made from STRONGER and lighter materials. I know there are stronger and lighter materials but those bikes do not use them IMO. My 08 is STRONG as they come IMO. Yes fit and finish isn't top notch, but it is strong.

 

Your 08 uses the same frame as my 04 and I know they are built like a tank and that is great if you want a work quad but for play it just to heavy and stiff. You know what I am talking about, use the same design with lets say T-3 aluminum or something better than steel that wont rust and I would be a happy camper even at a $12000 price tag that woud make my dream quad! So far the closest quad to this IMO is Grizz and poss Suzuki's KQ!

By the way congrats on the new purchase hope it turns out to be a great quad!

 

Well it is a utility machine lol,but yes I know what you mean. I don't think you could build the machine you want for 12,000 though. Heck I paid 15K for a twin turbo kit for my mustang lol. I can picture a machine that weighs 500 lbs, has 100+ horsepower and is nearly indestructable,easily tows 2000 lbs and still is extremely reliable but unforutnately has a $20,000+ price tag....Yes it can be done..but the market isn't there unfortunately. I'm not rich but I might just buy such a machine lol.

 

Thanks guys. I have to agree that in this day and age a 700+ lb machine is an insult. I find it interesting that an outlander 500 costs $7500, and the 800 is $9000, why? does it realy cost $1500 more to machine a bigger piston and longer stroke? I highly doubt it. other than bore and stroke the machines are basically identicle, so why the extra $1500? cause I'll pay it. Given that the profit margin on these top of the line models would apear to be quite a bit more that the lesser engined but otherwise identicle machines it would be nice if they put that money twards making the machine lighter rather that paying for a bunch of hokey videos.

 

Joey,
I wonder how many more warranty claims are made on the larger displacement machines? Could that be part of the reason for the higher cost, an 800cc engine is more likely to break parts than a 500? I'm not saying that is the case,just speculating.

 

Joey,
I wonder how many more warranty claims are made on the larger displacement machines? Could that be part of the reason for the higher cost, an 800cc engine is more likely to break parts than a 500? I'm not saying that is the case,just speculating.