so as the title states, I would like to know how the owners of both feel about the differences of the two. I'm finding myself in a hole, trying to decide which I would be happier with so I'd like to hear comments on the following topics:
roll and pitch angles, top speed, gas mileage, weight transfer, overall fun factor. Feel free to offer other comments. These were just my major inquiries and if I missed them covered in another thread, sorry.

 

sorry about the double thread, shitty work pc

 

I'm new to quads, but I've got a 2010 550 XP w/ EPS and can put my $0.02 in:

After 40 hours/~350 miles, I get 20-23 mpg, which is about what I've read from other folks. I've also read that the 850 gets 1-2 mpg less, but goes about 10 mph faster. I've topped mine out at 63 mph on a gravel road about 2 weeks ago. It took a while to get there, too! That said, If I wanted to run around at 75 mph, I wouldn't be doing it on a Sportsman, I'd go for something in the racing class.

It didn't take long to where I've been able to handle all the horsepower the 550 has and I've briefly wondered if I shouldn't have gone with the 850, but really, it serves it's purposes well, has a HUGE fun factor and frankly, I couldn't justify the extra $$ for the 850 unless I needed the extra HP for hauling larger logs when making firewood, which so far, has not been the case. I may change my mind when I start to plow this winter but everyone with 09's have told me this will NOT be the case.

Not sure how the twin on the 850 would change the weight distribution from the 550, but the 550 seems to be well-balanced. All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with my 550 and LOVE the EPS!!

 

thanks seismic, very informative, anyone with an 850 care to chime in?

 

2009 Polaris Sportsman XP 850 & 550 Review

 

The 550 will tow of push as much as a 850 power to the wheels while in low range they lose traction before wheel tuning power. Even a 300 king quad in low range would snap a axle or CV joint before running out of wheel turning power.

 

thanks for the link tlc, I read that article already but I felt like they still left out a bit about the riding difference. I'm an aggressive trail rider and I know that a 500 class can crawl a 45% roll with little effort and had ho problem doing the same 45% as a pitch climb. If the 850 can handle the same, I would love to hear the testimonials.

 

I am not sure what a 45% roll is, or 45% as a pitch climb, but I can say my 850 does not climb very steep hills as comfortably as my 500 HO did. I attribute that to a very different front end geometry, and oh, 34 or so more HP. There is one hill where we ride, however, that the 500HO would never be able to creep up in low, and the 850 will crawl up in low at around 3 MPH with no body english required. I have ridden a 550 for about 5 minutes down an access road to where I hunt, and I let the 550's owner drive my 850 down the same road. The 550 seemed like nothing more than a slower 850 with a little more vibration at idle and just above. The guy driving my 850 reported to me that it felt the same until he goosed it, and then he immediatly noticed the difference.

 

I meant 45* as in the angle, stupid pc changed it. so now knowing that and the fact i won't go slow up hills, lol, how do you rate the two?

 

The biggest difference between the two is noticeable only in mud and snow. Wheel speed makes all the difference in the world. My 850 will go through snow and mud that will amaze most ATV riders. The ability to maintain wheel speed when the going gets deep makes a huge difference. If you ride mostly dry trails, the extra weight and power of the 850 doesn't really help. For example, I have a 250 Xplorer that has been in places I would never take the 850, very steep and lots of side hills. But no atv should have been in some of those places (yes I have rolled it more than once). But in the snow, sand, and mud the 250 is very limited.