i Bought a 500HO last year and Love it But the Wife wants it so I agreed to if I can get a new Big Boy...So should it be the 800HO or the 850XP??? I do alot of mud/water ridding..How are the CV's holding up on the xp's???Anyone know?? I have a good dealer that will cover about anything when I tear it up..I know the CV's are the same from a 500 through 800.. Had no problems since I had 2 bad CV's on the rear of my 500...Just wanting more power...Anyone??? I'm gonna be turning them 29.5 Laws also.. Anyone have both bikes or have had or rode both bikes??

 

well, i cant help with the cv's, but i have owned both. the 800 is a nice machine, tough, good power, nice ride, but my 850 is all that and more.

there are a few issues with the 850, the biggest being the recall on the front end. the 850 is quite a bit more powerful and the power hooks up alot better IMO, though the lower low gear in the 800 could be handy if you are hauling or towing alot.

one thing i absolutely love about the 850 is its quiet, i mean no rattles or noises, clunks or anything compared to the 800. the 800 sounded and rattled and clunked like a $5 piece of crap. the clunking was typical drivetrain noise.

the ride is alot better on the 850 esp with the EPS. fuel mileage is a little worse than the 800 but i only have about 50-60 miles on mine so far but plan on a weekend trip to West va here in 2 weeks.

if you want flat out power, better ride, better handeling, EPS, then the 850 is for you.

if you want a machine that pretty much has all the kinks worked out, that is still quite powerful and with a decent ride then the 800 would what you want.

oh yea, they dont make 29.5 laws in 14" wheel sizes, the 850 can only run 14" wheels. just a heads up.

Try to ride both if you can, and if you like both, id go with whatever the best deal you can get. good luck with your decision.

 

It would be clutched and all the goodies..exhaust and all that gotta be loud ya know...So the 800 is very reliable?? and why cant u put a 12" rim on the xp?? its the same bolt pattern..And my 500 is a very noisy Bike...Hows the xp in water? with the electronics??

 

If I were in your shoes and about to by a new big bore, I'd go with the 800. Simply b/c of the fact that to me it seems like every other day there's some problem with those xp's. I know it's b/c they're new and have to get all the "kinks" worked out. But I don't have time to be taking my wheeler to the dealer all the time 4 recalls, and the 800's are a good solid, proven, tried and true big bore atv. 12'' wheels don't fit on the xp's b/c of the brake caliper's.

 

Or wait till the 2011's come out, by then all "kinks" should/better be worked out! Both these replies are only my opinion though, the xp's are great bikes, just need a little more fine tuning done in Minnesota. I probably would have bought an xp when they first came out if I could've afforded it!LOL! Sometimes being broke is a blessing! Who knew? LOL!

 

the 800 is a little more waterproof stock than the 850, but that doesnt bother me, because im not going to treat a $10k atv like a submarine, but thats just me.

you cant run 12" wheels do to the xp's brake setup.

so far havent heard of any problems with the electronics. the ball joints on the front have a reacall on the 09- certain 2010 models. mine supposedly didnt fall into the recall dates.

i wouldnt let the few kinks in the xp diswade you from buying one. there are plenty of people out there who havent had any or relatively few problems out of them.

like i said, i dont have to many miles on mine but hopefully ill put 100+ in 2 weeks on it. but yes, my 08 800 was very noisey, drivetrain clunk, heat shield rattles, plastic rattling. that may not be a big deal to some, but it irritated me.

both are good machines but the 850 will walk the 800 in power and suspension.

 

true, i waited for 2010 hoping they would fix most of the issues, they seemed to make some better, but im still keeping an eye out on the front end.

yea, only reason i got it this go round was because i was tired of my buddy sending pics of his grizzly. really didnt have the cash but credit wasnt a problem LOL

 

I haven't had a problem with my 850. It did have the pcv valve replaced under recall, but it's an early build (Sep 08) and didn't fall under the recall for balljoints. I've driven them both and can say they are both great machines, but the XP is more refined in ride and handling, and it has better power delivery, maybe due to the rolled IRS, maybe due to the roller clutch. I do miss the front storage of the old Sportsman chassis though. Maybe I'll buy the add on front box for my XP someday. Drive both if you can, and decide for yourself.

 

Gonna work on it Wednesday