The only thing I don't like about that KQ is the plastic under armour. I would like to see it come out of the factory with something a little harder then that. Just me though...

 

What a Video! Put the same tires on the KQ and I think it would pull the sled, I think the KQ has Dunflops which are JUNK (another 160 lbs would help even more). The speed test should be with the KQ in regular 4x4 mode not dif lock (Polaris can go faster but their front dif isn't locked in until there is rear wheel slip). The one front tire blocked test would have been different if the KQ had better tires.

Marketing is a great thing. If you compared apples to apples Polaris would have to loose some weight unless they are competing with utility tractors. All brands have their unique abilities. A marketing guy has to show the products best examples.

 

Funny how manufacturers like to get all cocky.

The drag race was a retarded comparison. Turn off the KQ's differential lock and run them... that 160lb difference will show itself at least until they hit the end of top gear where the higher geared of the two will pull away. And you don't "always" need to use the overide feature as they say.... it can be handy, but using it to beat on the machine when you're stuck just increases your chances of breaking something. I'll muddy up my shoes and push the thing before risking a breakdown. $30 for a pair of shoes versus potentially 10-20 times that amount for broken parts, hmm...... The things polaris don't point out is their problematic hubs and lack of decent engine braking. And the single lever brakes are a PITA when traversing steep down-hill paths. I'm not sure how polaris has addressed these issues in the new models, but those things have always been a problem for my friends that own polarises. I'm not bashing polaris, they are good machines. So are about all the other ones on the market for their intended audience, and they all have their pros and cons. In most cases, the aftermarket can fill the void in performance between every machine in each class... intakes, exhausts, jet kits, lift kits, bigger tires, big bore kits, camshafts, diff lockers, etc etc.

(rant on)
In the past few years, the emphasis has been on getting bigger and more powerful machines to the market as quickly as possible. And the results of this "race" shows itself in the vast amount of manufacturer recalls and problem posts on the message boards (bad brakes, engine problems, broken axles, trannies, gears, etc). Back in the 90s when the development of ATVs was much slower, you didn't hear of near as many problems from any ATV. Perhaps it's time for the manufactures to tone the power wars down a little and focus on making better quality machines with stronger and more durable drivetrain designs. And the foriegn manufactuers need to get rid of the stupid 275kg weight limit, they are having to cut too much weight out of the frames and drivetrains (making them weaker) just so they can cram bigger engines in them. Comparing my old ~606lb dry weight 99 KQ to a brute force, grizzly, 700 KQ, etc (which are all close to the same weight).... there is a substantial difference in the frames, racks, plastics, and suspension parts; my KQ is much more beefy and it has been as tough as a tank in all the crap i've put it through.

IMO, anything more than 40hp/40lb-ft torque in a sport/utility quad is just for bragging rights and those with money to burn (most 650cc ATVs are around 40hp, +/- a couple). And all this talk about top speeds and needing to go faster than 50mph on these things is nuts. A crash at 30mph on an ATV is more than enough to kill you even with the best saftey equipment. A friend of mine was hospitalized with a broken back and collar bone after a head on collision with a tree on the trails (got into some gravel and lost steering response). Good thing he had a helmet on or the tree would have ripped off the right side of his face. And it makes me sick to see some parents out there buying their 14, 15, 16 year old kids these 500cc+ ATVs... it's just too much power for them to responsibly handle.

It's been a long 2 weeks, sorry for venting.

 

Im glad to see, that not evryone in America falls for marketing and propaganda.

Of course they are going to rig the tests, so theirs looks better. Dont you think they would be fired by Polaris if they came back after making the video, and say they couldnt find anything the polaris did better? And that Bomb comericial is the same way...of course the bomb looks better, they bought and paid for the video. Do you real think the guys making the film are interested in the full truth...or just their view?

What they should have done, is a real world test...something people would actually do. Like say for instance, backing your boat trailer up a slope in your yard, when the grass has dew on it. Any quad with 4wd on command wouldnt have a problem, but all the polaris's would be chewing up the sod.

Or coming down a steep hill, with an inexperienced rider, and having a tree or two to avoid...lets face it, ...it doesnt get more real than that . Weve all done it once on a Polaris...and come away thinking how it could have been better. Then we get on another quad which has all wheel engine braking, and see how easily it can be done.

The point is, marketing works in America, and as long as it does, were gonna see more of these types of ads.

 

Simple, Polaris propaganda! Tires are wrong,weight of rider is slight,etc.etc.....If you buy that video,I have some gold bullion that I want to sell you at half price... AWD is slower if the Quad is in 2 wheel drive!!!

 

They put the king quad in 4x4 cause they knew that it would beat the polaris in 2wd.

 

I say no way to that video. I got to ride one of the new king quads not to long ago and there is no way the Polaris is gonna put anything over on it. My old 500 quadrunner will darn near beat my buddy's new Polaris 700.

 

There's no company on the planet that's going to put out a vid to make a product look bad.

That's given... but there seems to be allot of Polaris haters here...

For farm work, I'll take the Sportsman 700 over the KQ every time.

If I was looking for a trail machine I think I'd take the King.

 

That video is nothing more than a tape to show first time buyers or loyal Polaris customers what a great ATV they have when they buy a Polaris,thats it....Now get an independant company to do some honest testing and watch how fast things change in that video.

Ah,but what manufacture is going to do that these days?

 

Just watching that video you can tell its BS. I never believe any manufacturer based video. Like that video with the Bombadiar (sp). Notice how they think there quad is best at EVERYTHING? There is no way it can be good at everything over the other competition. It's just BS. There trying to get us average joes to go out and buy there product. I'm glad theres people out there that have enough brains to realize that its total BS. I only buy stuff that I like. Not what the "tests or reviews" say. Someone might say that the polaris is better than the KQ. Other people will say different. Its all opinions. Someone might feel more comfortable on the KQ, as the other person might think differently. I just wish these "TESTS" would have average people talking about there product. Instead of the manufacturers raving about there own products even if half the stuff they say isn't true. Never listen to what the manufacturers have to say, go out and test drive a few quads and buy the one that fits you best. My .02