Ok,
1st off I am a great Polaris Fan. I own a 99 Magnum 500 and I love it, I ride mostly trails and some rather rugged ones, hear in Alberta and British Columbia. I am in the market for a new machine, now I really like the looks and most of the features of the new 700, I was rather disapointed to still see no downhill 4wd lock up though, although the Magnum RMK last year had it?.....anyway I have not heard a whole lot good about the 700 I hear has no more power, or very little more than the 500 HO? is this true. I have a brother that has a Praire 650 and it is really nice but I want somthing different I have been interested in the Grizzly, can anyone that has a 700 or been out with one of these shed some light ?
Any feedback much appreciated.
Joel

 

I don't own a 700, nor a 500 HO. I've seen a bunch of riders switch from the 700 to 500HO. The 500 is a solid bike with good power. The 700 is good but needs a few things worked out on it.

 

i rode beside a 500 ho today, and it was close in acceleration, but after 50 or so... i was far ahead, but then mine isn't stock and the 500 was suppose to be. i haven't had any problems with mine, but have also heard all the negetive comments about this machine! dealers around here are selling them as fast as they can get them, that says something[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

my dealer can't stock enough of them to! the demand is strong.
as a previous owner of a 500 h.o., i can tell you that i notice a few major differences.
here it goes:
1- i feel that i sit quite high on the 700. it seems to have a very high center of gravity. it feels tipsy.
2- i notice the right hand fender gets very hot from the exhaust. if you plan on carrying a passenger who is wearing shorts, they will complain that their leg is burning on the fender.
3- traveling down a rocky trail i notice a clunking noise comming from the transmission or drivetrain.
4-even when the ATV is warm, it has a funny idle to it. i KNOW that it's supposed to idle like this, but it sounds like engine skip.
5- low range does some high engine revving compared to my 500 in low.
6. i find the exhaust note to be to damn LOUD. i'm used to carring-on a conversation with my passenger and the 500 H.O. was a quiet ATV. the 700 has this loud, baratone,blast to it that makes it both very loud in the woods and almost impossible to communicate with a passenger.

powerwise? i don't drive full speed nor will i ever. off the line and mid-range power is excellent, and so was my old 500H.O..

i like the re-designed new front end 4X4.

enough for now,
-MT

 

i was a 700 owner for about 4 months,,,there is no replacement for power,,the 700 has lots of that,,,but on the down side it is a new machine and need some work..the water pump kept leaking even after it was fixed twice,,and yes it throws off alot of heat,,,i was getting about 5 miles to the gallon.........i traded the 700 for my 500ho freedom..and i love it,,its my 5 polaris machine,,,i can see myself getting another 700 in 2 or 3 yrs. when they have all the bugs out of them,,,

the 500 is an all around machine........

 

My last Quad was a 97 400 Explorer, my 700 compared to it is:faster from start to finish in high rangethe 400 can go easily 10 mph faster in low range ( 25mph with 700 )the 700 feels heavier but can easily wheely the front end over obstaclesso far I get around 75 miles per tank on the 700, which is about the same distance I would get out of my 400 ( tank slightly larger on 700 )Ride is better on the 700 ( but the 400 was no slouch either)No chains on the 700 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]No back up recoil on 700 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]Belt noise not an issue on the 700 ( 400 was loud )better stock tires on 700no front hubs on 700 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
well I'm running out of time, but before I go I would not suggest the 660 Griz. I ride with one and:It's louderfloor boards are weakhas a rev limiter that will not allow you to pull someone out in reversehas some over heating under the gas tank issuesthe fact that it is so well shrouded in around the engine, it chokes out on steam created when you hit water or mud and get stuck. It looks like it's on fire lol. But on a serious note it loses all it's power until the steam clears.
Hope this helps

 

Never had any of the problems McDrifter stated w/ my 660. FYI