I just read the latest issue of ATV Action, the one with the big bore shootout, and frackly I don't like it. These magazines can't keep their story straight, many times they contridict themselves. Like they said the Rubicon has the LEAST amount of engine compresion breaking, that means the WORST but yet somehow the Rubicon won on that one. Then they said that the Sportsman has heavy steering and a bigger turning radius which will cause you to access the reverse lever more on this machine,(of course they have to make it sound worse than it really is). Then they said the Rubicon had the best handling. Later on, on handling, they had the sportsman had the second best handling, Wait a sec, just a second ago they said it was heavy and had the bigger turning radius, What Bull****. Then if you notice all of the major catagories at the end the sportsman won and the Rubicon won all the ones that really doesn't matter, And yet the Rubicon still won. Then they go on to say the Rubicon Narrowly lost the drag race to the sportsman, approx. 1.25 seconds behind, well they said the suzuki got blown away and it was only 1.5 seconds behind,wow, big difference.
This happens every time, I think these magazines have there favorites, but we all know that the Sportsman is the best, atleast we know how to ride, not like little girls like the magazine test riders, who are these guys anyway, are they supposed to be good at what they do?

 

There are viewpoints from all sides. For the Rubicon, they mentioned that they preferred D2 to D1, which is interesting, as D1 is the "perfromance" mode. Makes me wonder which mode they used in the drag races. Secondly, compression braking, as any Ruby owner will tell you, is weak in D2 mode, as compared to D1 or Low. So if they preferred D2, and did the downhill compression testing in D2, it would explain their comments, and don't reflect it's true capabilities. Do other bikes lose out similiarly, like the Sportmans, when the tester is not as familiar with the bikes, like us full-time owners? Heck, yes! Plus, you can't affect opinions. Does the Polaris turn heavy? What's the point of comparison? Another ute owner may have a different response to that, compared to a sport ATV rider. He thinks it's heavy, you may think others are twitchy! Was it fair? Who knows? Do you care? Probably, and probably more than you should. You're from Ohio, let's get together and compare. Maybe, we'll have so much fun, it won't matter whose bike steers the lightest, or is the best handling. Most likely, we'll still prefer our own bikes. Who will have the best bike, and far better skill and intelligence? It's always the same answer. We do! Who is driving an abolutely ill-handling pig of a machine? The other guy!
P.S. The answers stays the same, regardless of whose mouth the words are coming out of. Plus, that other guy? He ain't all there, ya know? Something funny going on in his noggin. (Now, this is each guy talking to ther other): Hey, want to ride again next weekend? (I'll show you what a POS you're riding, you $#*%). Okay, 9am at the trailhead sounds good! See ya then (ya freak!)! Jeez, I don't know why I met him here this weekend...............can't wait till next weekend, though! I'll show him!

Okay, so I rambled on again! Sorry! Anyway, Polarisman3210, let me know if you ever want to meet and ride. I'll be glad to go riding with you. Where do you ride?

 

The Rubicon had such a butt kicking in the first shootout by Dirtwheels that Honda must of got on the phone with them.Than ATV action made it the winner on this shootout,I hear both Magazines have the same publisher.

I liked the part where they said the low range of the SP was geared to low for tail riding,and they write these reviews for a living?

 

Does it seem resonable that one of the catagories for an atv, should be its 4 wheel drive ability? Since the very essence of an atv is 4 wheeling. I think it is resonable that it should be one of the
primary catagories. However, I personally, have yet to see this catagory tested/listed in any review. Since this is one of polaris's primary best achievements. I believe then that all atv reviews are inacurate and serve no usefull purpose. I believe that the reason it is not used is because polaris atv's would always have to get a high mark for it and thus would win far too many
reviews to suite any atv magazines political needs. rangerchet

 

I agree Rangerchet 100 percent. I do not buy the mags or read the mags, i talk to owners most will give you the low down.

 

I said it before in another post. They lose thier credabilty when they are dressed in full motocross gear trying to see how much air they can get on a 600 lb. plus utility machine.
I want to see them pull a load of irrigation pipe threw a muddy field, haul a trailer full of fire wood up a snow cover hill, or get a bull elk out of the mountains.
These are UTILITY machines and advertised as so.

 

Tim1, they are the same publisher....heck they even have the same website. It is Hi-Torque Publications. Here is the site: http://www.hi-torque.com/subscribe.asp

 

Amen! You guys are right on. Get out there.. In a helmet, some Wolverine boots, Wranglers, and work gloves, load them down, and drag them through the mud!! How hard is it!!!!

 

So what if they are somewhat biased. Just imagine yourself doing a shoot-out between your personal favorite brand and all the other ones. There's no way you wouldn't show some favortism. I know I would. Just take it for what it's worth and enjoy the other good stuff they include.

 

The topic of bias in evaluating quads by the magazines was discussed in the "Other ATV Topics" section. By the replies so far I think we all agree.