I am in the market for an atv. Need to sell my street bike first, but when I do...LOOK OUT! I've been looking at the Polaris Trailboss and the Yamaha Wolverine. I Plan on doing mostly trail riding and maybe some lite duty work. My buddy has a Kaw Prarie 400 4x4 and I want to be able to keep up with him. I've heard that the Polaris extremely high maintenance but I like the automatic. Can anyone give me some sound buying advise???

 

With Polaris,seems like you either get a good one or you get a bad one.I've owned two brand new Polaris 4x4s.One was a 99 500cc Sportsman,and now,I own a 2000 400cc two stroke Xplorer.

The Sportsman had every problem you could imagine.The Xplorer has a very reliable engine but the rest of the quad is quite troublesome and in the shop for repairs ALL THE TIME.

Polaris ATVs have very poor resale value,especially the ones WITHOUT a low range like the TrailBoss you mentioned.You'll ABSOLUTELY need Low Range for the light work you mentioned,or you'll be replacing BELTS ALOT!My close friend has two 2000 model TrailBoss,in GREAT shape,and he cant find anyone to buy the things for 2 grand each.The dealership he bought them from dont even want them.If it sounds like im shying you AWAY from Polaris,I am!Remember,I am the owner of two brand new Polaris ATVs and I am giving you MY HONEST opinion.You asked for sound advice,I gave you MINE!Others may differ with their opinions and thats OK!

How much do you plan on spending for an ATV?Do you want a 4x4 or can a 2wd ATV work out?Remeber,if you want to keep up with your buddies 4x4,its best you be on a 4x4 to.

Bill

 

I have owned GENERAL MOTORS cars and trucks for the past 21 years I think around 9 or so,and out of that many 2 of them was nothing but trouble.I had them back to the dealer so many times that G.M. bought one of them back because of all the problems with it.I can say that even after all my problems I still own two of there products and I am very happy with them,and by no means did I ever think that there cars and trucks would be flawless.I also bought a radio controlled car one time from a hobby shop that you had to build in a kit for about $200.00 the last thing the sales person told me before I left the store was that the car was not a TANK nor was it a SUBMARINE so the advice given here was it AIN't un-breakable and it AIN'T water proof.I have owned 5 A.T.V'S in the last 12 years 2 KAWASAKI and 3 POLARIS yes I had something go wrong with all of them at one time or another,but I did not think just because it was a POLARIS or a KAWASAKI that these machines were junk or that I would tell everybody not to buy a machine because of my past problems.If the truth be known proably 90% of the problems that I had was due to poor maint. on my part,and the fact that I abused the crap out of them in other words I had my self to blame not the machines or the manufactures.I think every body has proably had something they dont like about a specific brand or model even I have issues with my 2002 H.O. POLARIS that Im not thrilled about but,I will say that out of all the machines I have owned the POLARIS A.T.V's are far superior than any I have rode or have seen out riding.Just think if every time us POLARIS junkies pulled a HONDA or a YAMAHA or even a KAWASAKI out of the mud that if we thought these brands were junk just because they couldnt make it across a mud hole then this wouldnt be a fair judgement on our part! now would it.JUST KIDDING Hon. Yam. & Kaw. guys but the truth is no mater what you buy if you dont take care of it: It wont take care of you! just my 2 cents worth. PS. I would buy a POLARIS over all of them.

 

Dont let the maintanace issue turn you away from Polaris.Yes they are high maintanance but in return you get the best ride the best 4x4 the most ground clearance.I would recommend either a 400xplorer(if you dont mind a 2stroke)or a 400 Sportsman(if you dont need engine braking or lots of power)it is reallt a 425 and a very dependable engine.I have both of these and i am very pleased with them.The 2stroke has the power and is set up for mud and the 425 is great for trails.this is just from my experiance hope it helps you.

 

I agree,the Xplorer is a great mudder.However,it will require ALOT of maintenance on the chain and sprockets if you chose to mud alot?

My Sportsman was an excellant ride,but today,there are ATVs that ride every bit as good.My friend Jeff's brand new 660 Grizz has every feature that the Polaris has,and more.It steers tighter and easier,it is 100lbs lighter,and has a handlebar mounted switch that allows the rider to select 4wd,or differential LOCK,something Polaris cant claim.It rides every bit as good as any Polaris I've ever been on.The new Grizz is also MUCH faster in every catogorie vs a 500HO Sportsman and boasts the same ground clearance..The new Artic Cat 4x4 500i lacks a few of Polaris features,but it has IRS,12 inches of ground clearance and deleivers a great ride also.Honda will soon be releasing their new IRS 4x4 Rincon.I have not rode this ATV,but it should ride well with the addition of IRS.

Concider all aspects including maintenance when making your selection.Test ride each ATV you are interested in.Than based upon your observations and mindset,make the choice that best fits YOUR needs and wants.

Best of luck,
Bill

 

Yes, the Polaris machines are higher maintanence. But all that REALLY means is there are zerks to grease, and in some cases chains to lube and adjust. It isn't like you have to do a teardown and rebuild every weekend or anything like that.
I have great respect for Muddy, and have no doubts about his sincerity. I, however have no qualms about recommending an Xplorer 400. Keep in mind his riding style includes half burying his machine in mud, and mine does not. I don't AVOID mud, it is just that 80 or 90% of my riding consists of geneally dry trails, and most of the mud I do go through, rarely gets deeper than the axle. I don't think I was in mud deeper than the floorboards more than 8 or 10 times since I had the machine.
I put a lot of miles on mine, between 2000 and 2500 a year, and have over5200 miles on my '99 Xplorer, with no breakdowns yet. I have replaced some worn parts, and just recently did a $200 top end job, but have never had anything actually fail yet.
I take good care of my machine, as far as greasing it, and changing the hub, tranny, and counterbalance oil. I am kind of lax about washing it, except for rinsing off the chain and brake disks/calipers after going through mud over 6 or 8 inches deep. Washing it every time it gets dirty is kind of futile, when you use your machine for trailing cows a lot - and it isn't really dirt either, if you know what I mean.

My only recommendation to you, is test drive the machine, and do your best to choose one that suits your riding style.
Do you like to go FAST, or want a comfy ride? Do you haul or tow a lot of stuff? Do you ride double? Will kids be driving your machine? All this and more are important factors. All I would say is unless all you plan to do is trail ride, choose one with low range. The belts will last much longer if you tow or haul stuff in Low.

 

Thanks for all the input so far. As far as what I want to spend...that depends on what I get out of my street bike. I really don't want to spend anymore than $4000. I'll definiately be buying something used. My buddy with the 4x4 insists that anything other than 4x4 and automatic is a waste of money. However, I've had other friends, who own 2x4's tell me that they've gone through anything that their riding partner's w/4x4's have gone through. I live in northeastern Ohio and we really don't get all that much snow. In fact it's on;y snowed once so far this year. We do get a lot of rain and mud. I know for sure that I want an automatic. That's the only thing that's steering me away from the Wolverine.
Anyway thanks again for all the input.

 

DONT!!!

 

Polaris seems to have marginally more reliablity problems than the other manufacturers, but if you can turn a wrench and practice a little TLC, a Polaris should hold up fine. I've had hondas, yamahas, a kawasaki, and 2 polaris machines........and all required a little wrench turning.

As far as the 2x4 or 4x4........guys always seem to be loyal to what they own as a sign of pride. There are instances where a 2x4 will make it where a 4x4 can go, but there are many more places that a 4x4 can go that a 2x4 will not. Common sense will tell you this. Go for the 4x4 and you will be pleased.

By the way, I owned a '99 Sportsman 500, and now a 2001 Xplorer 400. Both have had minor problems (neither has left me stranded), but my next purchase will most likely be another Polaris.........if that tells you anything. I am currently very happy with the Xplorer 400.

Waylan

 

Bikercop30,
If I were you, I'd definately get a 4x4. The Wolverine isn't a bad quad at all. If you come across one that's a couple years old for a good price, go for it. But, if you want a Polaris, and want to keep up with buddies, look for a new or used Magnum 500. A brand new Magnum is definately over $4000, but if were you, I'd just wait until you have enough for a good 4x4. You don't want to go out and buy a quad and wish you had something bigger, better, or an automatic. Just my opinion. I dunno if I was any help or not.

P.S.
Northeast Ohio gets a he// of alot of snow! Youngstown is too far south of Lake Erie to get any lake effect, but us here near Cleveland and ESPECIALLY in Lake and Ashtabula County usually get pounded. This year we haven't been lucky with lake effect. We only got 2-3 inches of snow, which is unusual. I can't wait for the winds to shift our way so New York can take a break from the snow and let us get pounded!