GE4x4,
The hard shifting gets better as the linkage starts to break in, at about 300 to 400 miles of use. The front suspension is too stiff, not too soft (for me). Will keep my eye on the connectors.

MiWolverine,
Was the Outlander 800 a 2007 model, or a left over 2006? That was a good price on the Outlander if it was a 2007. Congratulations on the Grizzly 700 by the way, they are incredible ATVs. I would answer your question, but its pretty obvious I chose a Grizzly 700 as well. There is more than power to think about when choosing a utility quad, and although the Grizzly 700 isn't at the top of the food chain in power, it is really close, and all of the other details are dialed in very well on the Grizzly 700. It is the overall package that is tops in my mind with the Grizzly 700.

3TV

 

The new grizz seems to be a fine machine indeed and it would be a tough choice to pick between the two. You really couldn't go wrong with either one. It's just a matter of personal preference and what is right for your personal requirements.

I've been doing my own research on big bore ATVs as I'm going to purchase late this fall or winter hopefully. It's a daunting task to try to wade through all the crap and figure out which one is right for you and your riding style and particular needs. In the end you have to try to get your butt on the seat and ride them in the actual conditions in which you will be using them. The problem is that doing that is next to impossible unless you can arrange for someone you know who has one you would like to buy to loan you theirs. The dealers need a program where you can rent them or something.

Anyway.

I've had a pretty good amount of seat time on the outlander 800 and was really impressed with it. Not just the power but the way the whole package worked together. I went into thinking I wouldn't like it but I did. A lot, with a few minor exceptions. In all of the on-line research I did I haven't seen any systemic problems as far as frames went. A couple of unsubstantiated stories but nothing that would signal a serious defect like the KQ reverse issue, air filter issue or BF front end issues etc. that you hear about. The problems that did come up appeared to be fairly minor and were corrected fairly quickly the speedo and winch issue, the front spring switch out requests etc. The friend I borrowed the Outty from for evaluation purposes said his dealer was right on top of his recall issues with the speedo and winch thing. As for the frame, if his hasn't broken I know I won't break it. He's a sport quad guy and has jumped and beat the poor thing unmercifully and it hasn't broken and didn't show any signs of distress that i could see. I checked out the frame and underside and it looked pretty sturdy to me. Odd way to build a frame and assemble an ATV but I see their logic and it does seem to work very well once skid plates are installed. It shouldn't be subjected to much frame bashing terrain without skids. Can-Am shouldn't have let it go without them. Bad move. The power? Massive and usable everywhere from off idle to top end. Enough said. Probably my top choice right now if I had to buy an ATV today but I haven't got seat time on a new grizz yet.

The guys I know personally who have been riding new grizzly are raving about them. They say they're awfully nice. A very very refined machine. No, it's not raw hair on fire powerhouse like the outlander 800 but it is a very well thought out comfortable solid ATV. Nice and quick and nimble and just does everything well. Spanks everything else in the 700 class they tell me. That's coming from one of the guys who is a rabid KQ fanatic.

I'm really torn. I loved the 800. It was far better than the BF 750. Was everything I wished the KQ was. It was a joy to use on slow trails. It handled like a dream and rode great and with all that power you could put the whole ATV where ever you wanted it and it would do any work I asked it. I really liked the old grizz and almost bought one but really wanted EFI and needed some extra power. Now I know if I get some seat time on that new grizz I'm really going to have a tough time choosing.

It's a good time for our sport when manufacturers are building ATVs so good it's that hard to choose between them isn't it?

 

what do i know but I would love to have an update on the grizz's power steering system and the new 700 perfomance

 

Im not to sure if it was an 07 or 06. Im thinking it was an 06 as hard as he was trying to get rid of it. But I wasn't very interested at the time, so I didn't ask to many questions.

 

MiWolverine, doesn't really matter what any of our opinions are. What matters is if you're happy with the decision. Both are fine machines, and you probably would have been happy with either.

If you would have asked the same question in the Can-Am and the Yamaha sections, I'll bet you'd have gotten totally different answers.

So, you shouldn't worry about the "what if's" but now it's time for "what mods". [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]