I'm starting to think about buying a quad again after not owning one for some time. About 10 years ago I bought a new Scrambler 500 which I really liked. However, I did have the clutch repaired under warrenty and my buddy with the same quad also had his done after it was off warrenty. Another friend with a Sportsman did the same.
I'm looking for a quad to take moose and elk hunting as well as doing some backcountry trail riding and exploring with my wife. I need a quad that will be absolutley reliable and I'm just not sure if Polaris is the way to go. Have they done a better job with their clutches lately? Everything else on the quad was great, I loved the motor, the suspension and the 4wd system. However, I don't know that the Scrambler is the best choice for hunting either,so I'm not sure which models I should be looking at.
Honestly,which are the most reliable quads out there? it seems that the oilfield guys here run mostly Honda's,but that may or may not mean anything.
I don't think I need more power then the Scrambler had,and lighter is better for me if I'm alone and get it stuck or hung up. What would you be looking for if you were in my position?

 

"exploring with my wife"

Do you need an ATV for 2 people?? A "2-up" ATV?

 

It would definitley be nice. I've seen some of the seats/box type things people have attached to their quad and it looks pretty nice and comfy. We used to ride double on my Scrambler and it worked okay, I take it easy when she's with me. I also need to have some racks to put my chainsaw/gas and rifle on and if I remeber correctly the Scrambler racks are pretty small.
How would you feel about dragging stuff with a Scrambler? I did pull a car out of the woods once and also some pretty good size logs but with no low range you had to be careful to keep your speed up and not smoke the belt.

 

The Sportman models are much better suited for hunting and carrying game than the sporty Scrambler..

 

Welcome! If you plan on riding double allot I would recommend a 2up as well for safety!

 

For hauling and occasional passenger I'd recommend the Polaris Sportsman X2. I know have over 2500 miles on it that have been basically trouble free. The X2 has a dump box that can hold 400 lbs. in the rear and can also convert to a passenger seat. It takes about 10 seconds to switch between the two and you don't have to leave any pieces behind whenever you convert between the two. If you want more passenger comfort CanAm, Polaris, and Arctic Cat all make a nice 2-up machine. Try them out. See what would meet your needs the most. I personally wouldn't recommend a Scrambler when you can get almost as much "sportiness" out of single rider machine like the Sportsman and still have racks for gear and elk.

 

"lighter is better for me if I'm alone and get it stuck or hung up"

The lightest 2-up is the Outlander Max 400 weighing in at 680 pounds and I have no doubt it will keep up if not out run any of the other 500s. The Outy Max 500 weighs 704, the 650 weighs 719 and so does the Out Max 800.

The Arctic Cat 2-ups weigh in at 719 lbs for the 450 (I'll be that's a power house), the 550 weighs 749, the 700 - 749 lbs and the 1000 weighs in at 798 lbs.

The Polaris 500 HO touring weighs in at 740 lbs, the 550 EPS Touring 765, the 850 EPS Touring weighs in at 798 pounds and Polaris doesn’t list the specs for the 850 EPS Touring Graphite, I'm sure it's over 800 lbs and all of these are dry weights.

The Polaris 500 HO touring weighs 21 more pounds than a Outlander Max 800 R.

Outlander 800R - 669 lbs
Polaris "value" 800 - 741 lbs, 72 pounds heavier than the Outy

Outlander 400 - 630 pounds
Polaris "value" 400 - 688 pounds, 58 pounds heavier than the Outy 400 and even 19 pounds heavier than the Outy 800 R.

If weight really is a concern I think you can quit looking at both Polaris and Arctic Cat, they are the two heavy weights in the ATV industry.

I've ridden a 2009 Outlander Max 800 and a 2011 Polaris 850 EPS Touring and to me the Outy felt a lot more nimble.

 

regardless of what you get don't forget the winch

 

And, as Specta has learned, don't buy an off name brand...

 

I see a advantage in weight if its a light sport ATV but on a Utility ATV? I know my friends 660 Grizzly and 500 foreman weigh 100 lbs lighter then my 500H.O but you can,t feel a 600 lb ATV being lighter then a 700lb.there all heavy.

You can man handle 600lbs.

How is getting a 600lb atv unstuck easier than one that weighs 800lbs, they both need to be winched or towed out and the winch does not care if the ATV or side by side is 1200lbs.
The lightest ATV we ride with is a 460lb 2wd 300 Kawaski Lakota,and when it get stuck we have to tow it out,the guy is not getting it out on his own muscle power.
My 500 feels like a lighter ride then the 500 Foreman due to the suspension being so much better at soaking it up over the rough stuff.