So my friend got the XP850, wow was that spendy lol!!! But anyway he came to "break it in" yesterday, so the two of us and two others head out for a ride! Riding he seems to like it we having fun all day! We stoped at a slow hilly spot that has sort of a track in and around with a bunch of small little fun hills to ride over! We ride around for a bit and stop, he tells me to give it a try i am hesitant (ok like.009 sec hesitation lol) but i am like ok lets see how bad i want one! From the first blip of the throttle i have a smile on my face WOW! I love my SP but wow do i want an XP lol! Power stearing is AMAZZING you dont miss it when on one with out but when u do have it, it is supper nice! I also notticed somthing wrong with mine but going to do another thread for it! But ya come mon or tue i am going to go to dealer and try out the 550 and see if i like it as much as the 850 I can NOT afford the 850 hell i cant afford the 550 lol but wld be posible Thats all i have to say, if u have the ability to try out an XP with power stearing give it a try you will be shocked IMO!!!

 

I concur ..... rode both of mine today and they sure are sweet!

 

I like em w/o the power steering too, they are an amazing machine!

 

I can't wait to get my tracks completely off, and the tires back on. First 5 seconds I rode one in the dealer lot, I knew I had to have one. And to think, I was very close to jumped on a Grizz 700.

Spent hours today removing the tracks, cleaning, painting the scared a-arms, greasing, changing fluids. Can't wait to get it off the jack stands. Put close to 300 snow miles on it since January.

 

So does the 550 run as smooth as the 850? Or do you notice a big diff between the two? I know the 850 will have more everything but does the 550 feel as "good"?

 

MN: Obviously I have no idea of your financial situation.....If you were that enamored with the 850, save some more money and get what you feel you "need". You're going to own it for years and the last thing you want is to be questioning your decision. Can you last one more season with what you have.....or buy a used 850 on Ebay or Craigslist? Certainly there will be a number of them for sale in the coming months for whatever reason. -Take a 550 for a ride....Really nice bike too.

Keep in mind the 550 has a better range. Don't think it's gets tons better milage, but definitely better range. Not necessarily concerned about the cost of gas, or the CO2 output, but it's the range. My 850 with EPS only has a 4.5 gallon tank and it seems to suck it up real quick. Something to think about anyway.

 

Just took my 850XP out for the first time today. Put 27 miles on it, lotsa mud. Even with no power steering, it handles and steers way better than my old 05 SP 500HO. I can't believe the power on tap! Can you say wheel spin?? I've never driven one with ADC on it either, works really well. Plus it may be the best sounding stock quad out there.

 

I'm sure it slurps the gas with the tracks on.

The 850 gets pretty good mileage considering the engine size. It's almost twice as good on fuel compared to the 800 HO.

 

Tracks just consume fuel wholesale.

Really.....Mileage is twice as good as an 800HO. Hoping to get some more range with the tires and wheels.

 

I don't think that there is much difference in mileage between the 550 and the 850. From what I've read it's only 1 or 2 miles per gallon difference. The non EPS has the larger fuel tank so you would probably get more miles per tank with a non EPS 850 than you would with an EPS 550. Go for the 850 you won't be sorry and you won't have to upgrade any time soon.
Dave