A quick google search showed the Sportsman XP 850 as atv of the year quite a few times including atvmagazine.

If there was a Vtwin in the Griz, my view would be different.

In Jacobs review, the Griz lost out to the XP550 in the 500-700 class.

 

Well when I first even looked at some quads they were Yamaha and Suzuki. My area SUX for ATV dealerships as to why I had to travel across state to get the service, pricing and product that I like. Again not sure if those terrible dealerships represent Yamaha but they know where they could stick it!

My point is even IF they were the most superior QUAD in every catagory (which they're NOT!) I wouldn't buy it from Hostile, greedy, dishonest salespeople especially as overpriced as they are in my area (can't speak for anyone else). If you like Yammys all power to ya, great, thats cool! But Polaris is JUST as good and in some areas better. IMO

The pressure is on both companies and the other brands too, to try to outdue each other year after year with their new products.

Maybe if more people raced Polaris quads/bikes the ATV sport/utils the Polaris name would resignate more in the off road community, IMO again!

Regards,

R'

 

Any "award", is worthless in my opinion without long term testing and reliability. Finding a great dealer is far more important. If the quads that dealer sells happen to be a quad with a better quality track record... so much the better.

 

Very good point. What good is any ATV if in the long-term the thing is prone to breaking down? I would like to see a 1 year test where the 4 wheeler is put through the normal wear and tear that a real-world scenario would put it through. That's why it's probably best to wait when a new model comes out (but I didn't....it was a gamble).

 

I thought I'd put in my 2 cents on this subject. First off I'm not a "brand loyal" rider. I had 2 06 Sportsman 450's (now just 1), and have a 09 Grizzly 700EPS. Bought both new and I ride pretty aggresive, and I didn't have many problems with the Polaris except for the popular "mud in the radiator" problem which haunted me after every ride. I just wish I had gone with the 500 EFI because I always had starting issues with the carb. Other then those couple of "bumps in the road" I really liked the machine alot. Easy to handle and VERY comfortable.

Now as for the 09 Grizzly. What can I say but completely love it! Not a single problem at all in the (almost) first year. In fact the more I ride the more I love it. It to is very comfortable and just fun to throw it around as well as the "right now" throttle response. The power is addidicting. (i know theres others out there with more power)

So as for the "1 year test", I've been reading about broken axels and broken belts in the 850XPs. But nothing breaking on the newer Grizzlies. hhmmm... Sounds like the "1 year tests" have already been done. And let me add the Grizzly owners that post on this site hardly even mentioned that the Grizz took top honors on that shootout.

I've riden the XPs and they are awesome machines. I will be trading the 06 450 for the 550xp for my girlfriend this spring. I guess what I'm trying to say is just because your Popo didn't win first place in a shootout doesn't mean you all have to run around with your panties in a bunch. Its ok to be valnurable.

 

If you really want to look at it that way, Who was the first to have a automatic transmission (that is now offered by every manufacturer) who was the first one to have fully independant rear suspension (again now offered by every manufacturer)
Not knocking down any manufacturer but just cuz they come out with something new dosn't make them the best. As far as DW goes, it is all about the $$$ if you look there mags are 75% advertisement and from what I see mostly towards the Race/Sport quad and mostly Yamaha and Suzuki. That is the last magazine I will ever take 4X4 advice

 

Not to add anymore LOGS to the fire but wasn't Polaris ATV's the first to engineer true ALL WHEEL DRIVE? Anyways point taken, but I think all the major brands have their product highlights. Lets face it, they are all pretty good! But when most of these quads possess most of the same features then it will be then I feel it comes down to other factors like price, color, ergonmics, look, accessories etc. etc.

I have to be honest I really like our storage comparments but I have to admit I think that Arctic Cat has the best bar racks for front and back and I really like their SpeedRack accessory system. Would I own one again? I don't know maybe if I came to really like a certain model that woo'd me and there wasn't the same choices in the Polaris Lines.

But at the moment I am enjoying my Polaris and just want to ride more and improve just a little a few things, its all ENJOYING what you like, mag review or NOT! And I still plan in a few weeks to go and do a test ride on the SP550 and 850 with and without EPS. We shall see...:-)

R'

 

Hey guys, I just want to add a few things that were mention about my reviews and information.

I do not have sponsors on my site. I take "zero" advertisements fees. On occasion I may receive free products to test, but I pay for 90% of the items. My preferred company page are companies that I have personally tested or used and I am 100% behind them. For every one company that wants to be featured on that page there are 100 companies that are not. I am very selective. I can't tell you how many companies have given me a free product test for me to only send it back after testing, and letting them know I can't get behind it. I ll post the review on my main paid mag site, and not on my free public preview page.

As far as testing and giving opinions on the different quads and SxS. I have personally taken my own money and purchased nearly every mid and big bore quad out there to test. I have tested them from zero to 3,000 miles and even more miles on some quads, in every terrain possible. I know it may sound sometimes like I come across as a know it all on these machines, but guys I am just stating the facts. When you ride these machines day in and day out side by side you know where they stack up. I don't answer or receive money from any of the manufactures.

One reason why people put a lot of weight into my reviews whether its tires or machines is because of the extensive time I take in doing these reviews, without sponsors and it all types of terrain. Guys, you will be hard pressed to find anyone that rides more than I do, in all different types of terrain, all across the country.

Guys, I hate the typical mainstream mag reviews. When you live and die by your sponsors you are not going to be critical of them. More importantly when you are flown out to an exotic location to test a machine for a day or weekend, there is no way you are going to provide a great thorough review.

Case in point. Can Am contacted me this past spring to meet them in AZ to test their new SxS Commander 1000. They told me they wanted an independent perspective and a magazine not tied to any manufactures. That is why they contacted. I went out there did the review for one day, and took back what I could. Guys, I ll be honest it was not my best review. One day of riding in desert terrain is not enough to provide a quality review that would live up to my standards. Since I could not take any pictures or videos it made my review even weaker. However, I worked with what I could, and touch upon the big ticket items. Bottom line if you want quality review it requires a lot of seat time in various terrain.

I just wanted to share this information, and believe me my opinion is not the all be end all, but when you lay out the facts in an unbias manner I hope my review and perspective shines through.

As far as the Pit Bull tires. Listen I have 8 sets of Maxxis Bighorns, and they have been my #1 trail tire for the last 8 years. I had a chance to test the Pit Bulls, and I was blown away. They far surpass the Bighorns, and people who have bought them concur. They are the next #1 All Terrain/Trail Tire, if they were not, I would not be getting behind them as much as I have.

As far as machines. After testing and riding nearly every machine out there, and 10yrs of testing. The Can Am and Polaris are your two top machines. Then you have your mid machines Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha. Bottom machines are Arctic and Honda.

I just wanted to share that.

 

I think ATV enthusiasts get a bit to caught up in which quad or brand is the best. The best big bore depends a lot on type of rider and intended use. Do not get me wrong brand loyalty is good, but the people I trust the least often have the strongest opinions about a specific make of machines. I do wish that DW and other magazines defined a specific "Criteria" for best big bore and then rated machines accordingly.

I really like the Grizzly, I have ridden it many times my brother owns one. The EPS is amazing and makes long rides much more enjoyable. My biggest problem with the Grizz is the seat, it is not comfortable and can be very painful when riding with a passenger or down many hills.