<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: rancher55



The 850 XP is the BEST quad on the market. The other manufactures will have to do some serious catching up to compete with the overall quality of the XP line.







That is a pretty bold statement! IMO I think my Grizz is a better overall machine than any Polaris I have owned or ridden but I would never be so biased to say so.



Everyone who owns a certain machine will say theres is better than someone elses but because one machine works for you does not mean it will work for someone else! My best advice is try riding a few differant brands and go with the one that works for you! All machines accomplish the same thing getting you from point A to point B there is just differant designs and ways of accomplishing that goal!</end quote></div>

No offense intended Dodge57Hemi!
The grizz. was my 2nd. choice when I bought my XP, It's just MY opinion that the 850 XP is a better overall machine! The steering on the 850 even without the power steering is VERY easy! I can turn the bars while it's sitting still! With one hand! It's my opinion that Yamaha does have some catching up to do! And I hope they do catch up! The Grizz is an awesome bike!

 

in the gizzlys defense i believe from what i READ that thier eps is better &gt;&gt;&gt;........Does that help dodge57hemi??

and as for the shifter i seem to park my *** in the rear while i ride i find it better??!!while on a motocross bike i ride on the tank is that how y'all ride an atv?&gt;???to me it feels weird??i find it harder to swing the rear that way??!INPUT would be appreciated?!

 

Hey Dodge57hemi, I' had two 5.7 hemis in a 03 ram 2500 QCSB and an 06 Megacab 2500 great trucks has not been anything I couldn't pull. The day I went in to purchase another 4-wheeler, I had made up my mind that I was getting a yamaha Grizzly or my third honda rubi or rin. I already have 2 rubi's and wanted to try something different. I hit the showroom floor and there they were al side by side set up like I want them. The honda was a 09 rincon EFI with moose rm3 plow, warn rt30 winch, windsheild, rearview mirrors. The Yamaha was set up the same way with it being a 09 550 efi with EPS. There happened to be another beast in the mix. Enter the 09 Polaris 550 xp with all the same equipment in the polaris name plus front storage box, rear rack extender, and the only pod light of the bunch. Beside the other two this looked better fit and finish wise, looked heavier duty, and in my opinion was more comfortable to sit on. As an added bonus, it came with decent looking rims and tires. So I payed $1500 more for the package than the griz would have cost. One of my freinds has a 700 griz with Eps and wants to trade with me for the smaller engined 550 XP. I said NO!! I cant attest to the durability yet but almost two months of commercial snow removal and so far so good. The only prob was the throttle cable jacket broke causing it to rev when you turned the bars. The prob was fixed Quickly and right so I'm Happy with the XP.

 

DavidXP it think what is meant by better is the feedback through the EPS. From a reliability standpoint my dealer told me of some issues on the yamaha unit. The dealer is even partial to yamaha. He told me that Honda's system and Popo's systems are proven automotive designed the Yamaha is a different system design. Just what the dealer said.

 

I haven't owned a bunch of atv's to have that perspective, however i've ridin and been around them most of my life and when it came to purchase a new atv this year i decided to do some research. I went and bought a Quad Magazine Buyers Guide which just so happened to be out on the stands.. I read through it and then proceeded to look up some forums. I've found that Quad Magazine did a really good job of just addressing each atv w/o alot of bias bs. As for the forums they were very helpful as well.
I really do believe that all of the atv's out there they all have their plus's and minus.. Can Am, Kawi, and Honda didn't seem to stand out much.. each one had more minus than pluses for my list.
Yamaha, Suzuki, and Polaris seemed to stand out more on the plus side for me. Yamaha and Suzuki have great 4wd systems, are very reliable, and more than capable of getting the job done for me.
As for the Polaris XP it stood out the most. Everything is very well thought out! Checking and changing fluids is easier. No taking off a bunch of plastic screws just to check oil. Three lights instead of two, The information pod is easy to ready, The seat is way more comfortable over the Suzuki's and Yamaha's. The suspension is top notch and comfortable. I definetly like the EPS. Though I cant say that one is better than the other. I think that comes down to personal feel.
Now the only thing that stands out in my mind since its a new machine is the reliability. From what i've read from a few posters it sounds like its good so far..
Sorry for the book here but i thought id share my opinion of this very nice machine.
I'd also like to say to Polaris that you really did a great job! Thanks for approving on a past design and making it better!
Sorry if i hurt any ones feelings for not choosing their brand of machine. No disrespect, just a difference in opinion.

 

HIGHOCTANE, I will admit I do avoid the deep mud if possible, its trouble waiting to happen on a long ride, that being said I do ride in wet conditions. I was shocked when we got up the morning after a 220 mile ride and my quad was the only one without a flat, tires are the first thing I replace I have a shed full of stock tires. I will be in WV at the end of the month and it will be wet so I hope I don't regret not replacing the tires. In the past I have bought tires and rims together, I don't want to efect my offset if at all possible do you know a good combination.

 

Well tire choice question always get alot of different opinions...the terrathons are ok for a stock tire,and better than what alot of other manufactures use. But I guess the old PXTs spoiled us..they were alot better than the Terrathons. I say go ahead and try them for yourself..but just be prepared to not be impressed on wet terrain.

Even though the Terrathons may not be as bad as the cheap paper thin tires that come on some machines I look at it this way.. tires are a pretty important part of how a machine performs. If you have one of the best machines money can buy, why have it's abilities limited by running less that stellar tires? That's also why I can't understand why manufactures don't match the tires to the machine..come out with these awesome machines and put crap tires on them..I guess because we buy them and stack the crap tires in the shed..lol

General trail riding I like the Bighorns and have wanted to try the Terracrosses as they look like they would be a good trail tire, but have not. You can run an 11" tire on the stock wheels out back but you either need 1" spacers or to bend the sway bar a little. I have a "how-to" of sorts posted here on bending the sway bar for 11" tire clearance. I have mine bent and have had no ill effects from doing it. You can't even tell it is done by looking at it,and as much as the link angle changes with suspension movement anyway,a little change in the angle doen't affect it at all. Clearance up front is not a problem.

 

I thought the tires on the back were 11 inches stock??? How are the bighorns in the mud?? Also, HO what did you do to prep your new shifter for paint??

 

Sorry HO, I see they are 10 inch.

 

The Bighorns are OK in the mud,better than the Terrathons for sure and thin mud coated trails will be no problem for the Bighorns. But if you do ride in mud alot I would suggest XTRs. They are rough at slow speeds on black top,ie you can feel the lugs hitting the surface. But they smooth out pretty nice about about 15mph up..on trail they are just slightly rougher than Bighorns IMO..it is amazing how they smooth out as soon as you leave pavement.
I've not tried them on climbing rocky terrain but I hear they do pretty good.
The XTRs are really my all around favorite tire,but due to the slight roughness I tend to suggest Bighorns or the like for strictly trail riding..most guys look at the XTR an see a mudtire..but it really is a good tire for just about anything,with slight emphasis on mud.
A side note..I haven't ridden in any deep snow but reviews seem to be 50/50 on which one is better in the snow..some say XTRs some say Horns.

If possible I would have the shiter powder coated. I just sanded,cleaned with alcohol and painted mine,so far it is holding up OK..but it is showing some wear and likely won't last too long. I really didn't like the looks of the shifter so I just painted it real quick to see if that might make it look better,otherwise it was going in the drawer lol. I have access to a powder coater..just didn't feel like driving an hour to get it coated only to decide I didn't like it still.