Another option if you not in a big hurry is the new Bombardier Outlander will have the 650 in it - lots of power and a really good ride.

If not I would also recommend any SP or Grizzly. I personally have always liked the SP 500 better than the SP 700.

Edit: the AC650 rides pretty good also as an option. I have been very impressed with 400 Outlander ride, but it noticably lacking in power comparatively.

 

I personally would pick the prairie 700, but if you are dead set on IRS I would then go with the Arctic Cat 650. It is everything the prairie 650 was plus 14 inches of ground clearance and around 11 inches of suspension travel. It IS the king of the mud, bar none! From most of the polarises i have seen and dealt with there are to many problems and breakages. I have personally seen three 700 sportsmans break their front axles and drive units in thick deep mud. I have seen a couple of smoked belts, auto clutches and front bushings go. and of course most have developed moisture in the gauge lenses. Its the little things that count, and the sportsman's have to many little annoying problems also that go wrong.

 

Yeah the sportsman or a ford f150 they ride about the same. The ford has a wind shield and abs.

 

Bill I can beat them any place through the woods through the snow uphill downhill sidehill mudboug ( they due kick my but in the sled pulls But I could add 200LBS to my quad and stay with them ) get a clue.

 

I suggest we all find out the answer to this question the "hard" way!!!!!!

 

Well said. I live in extreme Northern California, almost to Oregon (8 miles south), and the terrain up here warrants the handling and performance of the praire. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Hay lockres Il give you the chance to show me just how bad that praire is.Il be in northern California the whole month of july.Do you know where happy camp CA. is ?

 

I can say that the Bom does pull good in the 1,000 pound class, but as the classes get heavier it doesn't do as well.

I think the prairie and the grizz has the best 4x4 diff lock, for pulling, there is no kicking in and out.

Not doubt the pol 700 has lots of power, but traction during pulling, is an issue.

If people are talking pure stock, the way they came from the factory, here is how I would rate them for pulling.
1. polaris, better tires, higher hitch height, and heavy.
2. bom, weight, tires, and locking system.
3. grizz, tires and hitch height.
4. prairie, poor tires and no weight.

If they're are allowed to add weight and raise the hitch height, change tires, so all bikes are equal, here how I rate them. This is how most pull rules are, 14 inch hitch height and 1,000 lb, 1100 lb, 1200 lb and sometimes open weight classes.

1 prairie
2. grizz
3.polaris
4. bom

Advantages that the prairie and grizz have over polaris and bom is they have more weight they can add and placement of that weight.

These are just my opinions of what I see in general, it doesn't mean that a grizz, Pol, or Bom couldn't be modded to pull better than the rest.

I do know that the grizz can't use tires like I have on, I have lent mine out to two grizzes, both cut off the front drive shaft, their first pull.

If you want a good ride, lots of power, get a Pol, grizz or Artic Cat.

If you want a tank, go anywhere, work horse get a Bom.

If you want a do everything, good realibality and power, get a Prairie.

 

Thanks Shotgun. Being new to this thread, I don't want to make anyone mad, but most of the posts seem to be directed at justifying their own purchase or bashing someone else's. Yours and a couple of others have been very helpful. I still haven't decided anything other than the fact that I should add the Arctic Cat 650 to my list of choices. The only problem is that I don't know anyone who has one for me to ride. I am still leaning toward the IRS to save some wear on my bones. My next question is this - if I do make the journey to TN to buy the Polaris, will I have trouble getting a local dealer to service my machine?

 

I don't know much about the Ac either, I have never seem one run or pull. but with the motor alone, it will be a contender.

I will say, the Polaris' that I had in the past, were not as realible as the Prairie I now have, so service might be an issue, but keep in mind what I was doing with my Polaris'.