I've got an 09 Grizz 700 w/EPS and I like it a lot. It has decent enough power to have a blast on, but I would be hard pressed to think it would keep up with an 850. The notion that the 550 xp would keep up with the 700 grizz in a race is also BS, unless your friends 700 isn't set up right. In my own experience, racing my 700 grizz and 08 Po Po 800 side by side, there's very little difference in power. The Po Po has slightly better low end punch but roll on acceleration at 5-10 mph and the Po Po struggles to get by, the weight difference no doubt playing a huge factor.

Terb, why are you apologizing?? Somehow I don't think anyone's feelings are hurt. lol

 

I didn't mind the review that much. I don't agree with all of it, but the only basis I am going on was when I test-rode the 2009 850 and 700 on the same day. I preferred the XP over the Grizz. but that's just me. Really the only hard part in ruling out the Yamaha to me was thinking that it was going to be more realiable in the long run than my PoPo. The Grizz. also felt too small for me (I'm 6'5" 250lbs.) and the handle bars kept getting in the way on tight turns. My arms/hands kept bumping into my body but not so with the Polaris. It comes down to preference I guess.

 

I totally disagree with the trailer hitch review. I've had 4 friends with Yamahas that have had their trailer hitches fail and leave them stranded while hunting up north. My buddies 660 broke his and the one we borrowed off another guy. I had to pull my trailer plus his out with my 600. When I looked at the 2009 Yamahas they still had the same piece of crap for a hitch. The metal is poor quality and then they drill two bolt holes though it to fasten leaving such a small amount of material that they are weak. My buddy had that funny little "I just plugged the toilet look on his face" when he looked back to see his trailer was still in the big muddy section and his trailer ball and half his hitch were still attached to it. I'll take the 1 inch receiver hitch any day. Two inch would be better, I agree with that part..
Dave

 

As far as tires go there is only ten to fifteen dollars difference is Mudlite XTR's when you compare the the 14's to the 12's and even less when you look at 27's in both rim sizes. Availability is good on either one. I think your picking fly **** out of pepper there. My 850 will stand up on end given full throttle from a stand still with the 27 inch Mudlites. If your standing and give it the gas it will sit you down pretty quick. Hopefully my buddy with the 700 Grizzly ends up going on our hunting trip this year. They have a long gravel airstrip up there. You know where that's going to lead.
Take good care
Dave

 

terb
You got a much better and understanding response from the guys at Grizzly Central. There is no perfect quad. I have had 2 Arctic Cats,2 Bomb 400's, a Scrammy 500, and now a 700 Grizzly. There are things that all of these quads did that I wish the Grizz would do, and there are things the Grizz can do that the others could not.
I rode the 850 once and was impressed. If I bought one I'm sure, after a few months that I would be unhappy with something. I am, by no means brand loyal.

 

You know whats funny? Is that you can have the same brand but different wheelers, make/models and/or years and you could do a similar report. So much for the brand comparisons. -- Just another way to look at it!

That said, if I were comparing these two bikes, make/model and year I may want to read a report like this. Opinions vary and to each his own I reckon!

Cheers,

R'

 

I knew where that Guy was going by the second Comparison, I have a 500 Sportsman and the only thing a grizzly does better is go faster, The yamaha quality Sucks overall on everything just like it always has, Starter clutch broken drivelines and cheap flimsy plastic.

 

Like a few others said, it all comes down to preference. I'm not gonna bash the Grizz cuz they are a nice machine but I know from experience that i can do circles around my buddies on them all day long. They modded theirs and ended up breaking axles(among other things). That's not to say you won't run in to issues with a Popo because any machine that is taken out and hammered on regularly is gonna break. Love how these threads change direction so quickly. That's why I keep coming here. Great forum!!!

 

Terb has some valid points, but I would NEVER take a Griz over an XP. That's just my opinion, but the Griz is a toy compared to the XP.

 

I was stating the 550 keeps up to the 700 like the 700 keeps up to the 850.