[QUOTE=TLC;2810069]Mid bore vs big bore it what I meant. I doubt a XP550 is miles ahead of a 550 AC, or even a match for a 750 KQ and SP800, so yes price comes into play. The rule of thumb is big bore cost more then Mid bore that goes for PWC,Sleds,motorcycles even lawn tractors.
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If you are simply comparing raw power & speed, then you are probably right. If you are comparing overall performance, ride, handling etc - I think the XP IS comparible to the KQ and even the SP800 and is worth considering.

 

It's more like Chevy selling 5.3 liter motored Silverado's for almost the same price as the ones with the 6.0 liter . The xp chassis is really, really good. It outhandles the old Sportsman platform, which includes the SP800, nicely. Way better ergo's, too. I've driven a KQ700, and thought it was pretty nice, but I didn't drive it enough to have a real opinion of it. Obviously the 750's and 800's are going to be faster, but not everyone wants or needs that kind of power.

Buy what you want. The 550XP is not a bad choice if you can afford it.

 

Another reason for choosing the 550 over the 850 is that, in some states, atv's are limited to 800cc displacement.

 

My god people a 550 should not cost as much as a 750. The KQ 750 has ever option available and is a highly rated big bore ATV that no 550 belongs in the same price range with.

Where talking ATVs here not fighter jets or BMW vs Ford, no one has that much of a technological edge over each other in ATVs.

I have nothing against the XP550 but price it in the category it belongs in.

 

Yeah,

I said that too, untill I switched from an '04 500 HO ATP to an 08 Sportsman 800 EFI HO. I always said 500 HO with 34-35 HP is PLENTY, don't need anymore. Then I had to replace the ATP and rode an 800 EFI. NO comparison, the extra 20 horses is huge. Maybe it's just the kind of riding I do, which is pretty technical, but the extra HP is NEVER unwelcome. Only problem is the 800 is even more thirsty than the 500. Just have to upgrade my 2.5 gallon can too a 5 gallon can.

I test drove a 550 XP last year and while it's a nice bike and faster than a 500 HO, I ended up going with the 800 EFI. There were a couple things I didn't like about the XP.
1: Very pronounced front end dive under hard braking.
2: No storage.
3: Sounds even weirder than the 800 EFI.

Q
Q

 

For those of you that have purchased the 550 XP, how much did you end up paying for it? I have a 2004.5 700 with only 450 miles on it that I thought about selling in order to buy one of these but I can't justify it if it's going to cost me another $3000.00 on top of that. I briefly checked out the XP and I liked what I saw especially the power steering which I know my wife would appreciate.
Thanks.
Bob

 

For the hard dive under braking you should have tried it with the shocks turned up a little..
And while offtopic...I'll mention it is funny you talk about the extra 20 HP being huge...the 850 has 16-20(depending on whose numbers you go by) over the 800..just thought I'd throw that out there. lol.

 

I paid $6999 for mine back in january. I paid $6500 for my 03 rubicon. I only paid 5999 for my 06 rubicon with a plow and warn 3000# winch. Just have to watch for deals. My 09 550 XP came with G2 plow 3500# polaris winch, rear view mirrors, rear rack extender, front storage lock n ride, and lock n ride windsheild. got everything for 8250.

 

[QUOTE=BlueManQuad;2810229] Thats my point, a big bore is comparabible to the 550 in ride, handling etc , but has much more power. That why mid bores usally cost less not the same or more then big bores.

Now I,m just talkiing 550 around here in my town, the new XP550 may not sell for the same price as a big bore else where.

 

[quote=TLC;2811910]TLC, are you tallking about MSRP or actual negotiated sell price?. From what Ive seen, most quads when you compare the equipment option for option are close (within a few hundred dollars) in MSRP. With the XP you get aluminum 14" wheels with a heavier radial tire rather than other manufatures 12" steel with "baloon" tires (bias ply) just for example.