I owned a sportsman 800 and sold it because of poor placement of radiator and overheating issues. My son got an RZR. I recently rode a friends 850 xp with esp, what a difference, it seemed awesome to me. will change trail feel, will definitely cut down on fatigue for those 100 mile days. I was impressed!

 

With the twitchy behaviour on the EPS would you be at a disadvantage on the rock technical trails?

Also, does the new XP's have a better turning radius?

Thx,

R'

 

My first quad was an '05 Popo 700 carbed. I loved the power but hated the cold weather running of the quad. I then added an '07 Yami Grizzly 700 EPS, primarily 'cuz I wanted EFI but had read so much about the EPS I was swayed - sight unseen. WOW! What a difference EPS makes! All is well and good until the 850XP comes out. I gotta get rid of the '05 SP700 - the carbed Popo sucks here in New Hampshire with the extreme temp differences summer to winter - being that I ride year round. I'd posted many times that I'll never own a non-eps quad again.
Then comes the 850XP. The non-eps version is several months ahead of the eps version. I gotta have it - I get the first one sold here in NH.
Fast forward a couple months. I ride the non-EPS XP. TB (my wife) rides the Yami EPS. She complains about the traction on the Yami. I buy a set of Bighorns on a new set of rims for her. On our first ride out after her new wheels are installed, we go on a decent ride (over 100 miles on snow) after about 90 miles headed back to the truck she's bitchin' about bein' tired & can't make it back ('bout 20 miles left). I swap quads - give her my 850XP. Well we ain't a mile up the trail & she's tellin' me (communicators) that I gotta buy her an XP.
Long story short - the XP was not quite as easy to steer as the Yami 700 EPS but the overall ride was far better. We then test drove the EPS XP & both decided independantly that we liked the non-EPS XP better. TB had her own 850 XP 6 days after that ride.
Now, I have since upgraded my tires on my 850 XP to Bighorns. There is clearly a difference in traction - better - and also in steering - worse - than the stock Xp. My XP with Bighorns clearly blow away my '05 SP 700 in ever aspect. BUT, the ease of steering is NOT as easy as the Yami or even the XP stock.
The point is, do your homework. My XP non-eps with the Bighorns does NOT steer as easily as the stock Griz, but it does steer way better than just about any other option. but it DOES steer better than just about anything else out there.
Would my Xp with Bighorns be better WITH EPS? A valid arguement. I can't say yes or no. My XP with or without big tires is absolutely better than my SP700 without EPS.
I hope I haven't confused you!!

BMQ

 

No confusion here! I thought I joined the echelon when I became a member of the 800
club. Now ya XP owners are pouring your hypnotic powers on me to join the biggest PoPo XP cult (Well you might give the RZR Enthusiast a run for the money).

I'm confused as H3LL!

R'

 

blueman, are the bighorns on stock wheels?

Nice write up. I liked how you compared all the quads.

 

Thanks for taking the time to write that up BMQ

 

Tried them both, bought the non-EPS. I just couldn't feel the front end at all with the EPS unit, felt like I didn't know what the wheels were doing. The non-EPS unit is very easy to steer (except when sitting still), and I can feel exactly what's happening in rocks and ruts. I just didn't think I could get used to the lack of feedback to my hands on the EPS unit. Maybe they did TOO good a job of making it easy to steer. Ha.