Well- it is- it's an "inline twin" not a "V twin"

The rotax is an off-set (I believe) V twin.
The polaris is set up like a jetski engine, straight in line with the crank

 

Bg....I realize some of the differences , what we are looking at is the machines in the $7k price range that are new. I don't see any other choices out there

 

Hmm- not too many big bores in that range new - personally, if it was me, I'd spend the extra $500 - $600 and by the xp 550 model with all the upgrades. Or, I'd find a gently barley used 2010 / 2011 xp 850.

 

Well that's my bil's decision...he has mind set on a brand new machine. I'm not against the idea as I'm sick of working on his machine.

 

Okay, then I was correct. In-line and parallel are the same thing.

 

Look, I know what all the differences are. I have one of each sitting in my garage, and ride them often. I also know for a fact that other than the power steering the difference between the two different suspensions in front is minimal to the rider. I live and ride in nothing but rocky terrain. I know what I am talking about. Disagree if you like, but you are wrong. I live it, I don't read about it and watch videos about the two different machines. No way would I pay the extra money for a 550 now that the 570 is coming out. 570 is going to be a better machine for less money. If you want an XP, get the 850. Otherwise don't waste your money on a 550 now.

 

BobX2, Beergut didn't mean anything by it as far as you go. He's had plenty of seat time on both McPherson front end, and the XP platforms. It's just his opinion. He didn't intend it as a slam or anything. -Moderator.

 

bob- what on earth are you talking about?
you live it? you don't watch videos about it?

I also 'lived' it- I owned a 2006 sportsman 800, and a 2009 xp850... and rode it in extremely rocky terrain in the northeast-

you either don't fully understand the differences between the xp & sportsman line up (see video below) or you're just kidding yourself by ignoring it.

comparing the xp 550 and the sportsman 570 is like comparing a camaro & a corvette! there are no similarities between the two other than they are both made by polaris and have 4 wheels!
you may choose to ignore these hard facts, and continue saying the sportsman rides like the xp- but you'd be 100% wrong with your assessment-

coil over struts dont ride like, or physically behave like double a-arms and shocks-they just dont, on any terrain! the steering components and the entire chassis is different; from the placement of the ball joints & tie rods and how the suspension compresses over terrain to the rear mounted cvt! the entire fuel map is different between the two models-

the whole reason the xp line up exists and was engineered was to correct all the negative aspects of the sportsman line! So yes, whether you feel it or believe it, there is a huge major difference between the xp and the sportsman models!

once you say theres no difference between the two atvs, you've lost all credibility in your assessment. I'll leave it at that. and move on...

 

here's a good vid on why it's worth the little extra $$ to get the xp model over the sportsman- and how it rides differently.

 

I have to correct a mistake in an earlier post- I ment to say it was an "in-line twin", not a "v-twin"

have rotax stuck in the brain