I am planning to buy my first ATV in the near future, and am looking for some input. I've been lurking on these forums for some time, and mostly based on what I've read here, plus some magazine time, pretty well settled on these 2 machines. Let me give you an idea of what I'm dealing with, and you can help me decide.

A large portion of my riding will be playing, we (will be) living on 20 acres, adjacent to many acres of forest service and BLM property. Most of this riding will be on fairly tight, steep trails. If you know North Idaho, you'll appreciate that flat lands are hard to find. A portion of my riding will also be on forest service roads as well. OK, so I'll be playing a fair amount of the time, but the justification for the machine is work. I'll be plowing about 3/8 of a mile of driveway, and for at least 4 months of the year the plow will be on the front of the rig. I'm thinking I need as capabile a machine as I can get for this much road, hence a fairly high-end machine for a first timer. I'll be doing some log skidding, and am considering building a tank that I can bolt to the rear rack to haul 20gallons or so of water for firefighting (wildlands). In addition, I want a machine with fairly easy steering, so my wife can handle it too. I've pretty well decided on IRS for ground clearance, 4 wheel contact with the ground and smoothness of ride.

So which bike? I had kind of ruled out the Polarises (Polari?) due to the reliability comments I've seen here. It sounds like the AC has the smoothest ride and best ability over technical terrain of any rig out there, as well as being very tough. However, I'm not sure I want to be playing catch up anytime I ride with someone else-sounds like the AC's are about the slowest of the 500+ CC machines out there (with the possible exception of the Traxtor). From what I gather the Griz rides nearly as well as the AC, with considerably more power and a locker front diff as well. I'm not sure how big a deal the locker is, but I'm thinking it ought to help while plowing. There is also a more conveniently located dealer for the Yammie.

So, how is the durability on the Griz, under working conditions? I understand the CV joints are pretty massive on the AC, but don't know much about the Griz. I'm a little concerned that the Yammie is 65 lbs or so lighter than the AC, that much of a weight loss must sacrifice strength somewhere. I'm also a little concerned with the cute LCD display-looks like it belongs on a Gameboy (though pretty cool!) rather than on a machine that is going to be operated in the dirt and mud. Am I going to rip up a Griz the first time I try to pull a load or move some weight around?

Any thoughts or input is appreciated.

Thanks.

Brian

 

Hey brianidaho,
Well, first I would like to congradulate you on doing good research (these forums are the best place to get a "feeling" of what the different models will be like). Dealers are there to sell and make money, so you have to go somewhere like these forums to get the "real deal".

You really can't go wrong with the 2 choices you've narrowed it down to, I love both machines (not that way guys :-). So, from this point on, you won't be disappointed. See my unbiased review of the 500i.

One thing you could do, is go to the Yamaha and Arctic Cat dealers nearest to you, and see what your gut says about that particular dealer. Maybe you don't even have an Arctic Cat dealer near by or the Yamaha dealer is a jerk, you won't know until you check. Also, I always ask to go into "the back" and talk shop with the mechanics. What problems have they seen, what models don't they see at all......

Also, I think it is important to know what features are important to you and which are not. For example a negative for me on the Grizz was all the electronics (lcd, push button this and that). For me these were negatives, BUT for a lot of other people these are Positives. I also really wanted a manual (I just plain like to shift, but that's me). To get a manual, I gave up not having a locked diff (since Grizz is only auto and the AC500i's don't have locked diffs). I still have yet to "3 wheel", but plan on getting an after market locker when they come out (along the same lines I have a winch, I won't need it much, but when I do need it, I want to have it).

The thing I have come to find on the trails with other riders, is that the AC500i might be slower (top speed and acceleration), but I can go through the trails faster, because of the balance/GC/suspension. And on a lot of trails that we all ride on, top speed is never an issue anyway. The Grizz660 is the closest other ATV out there that I have ridden to the ride of my 500i (the next closest was the SP700). So again, you can't go wrong with either. I would definately say, that the AC has more rugged C/V joints, A arms, and frame. But again, this may be a negative for you (a lot of people like Yamaha being lighter, and actually pick on the AC for being too heavy).

I've always loved yamaha engines (since my first yz125 dirt bike), so don't take the next sentence wrong yami guys. The suzuki 500 engine and tranny have been used in ATV's since 88 or 89 in the quadzillas. These setups have been refined to virtually problem free status over the years, 13 years is a long time to refine (plus there's a lot of parts and knowledge out there). I have full confidence that Yamaha did it right with this 660, but it is newer, and it is just an unknown.

I can go all night, but what is important for you to recognize from all this babling, is that these are some of the things that I used in determining which ATV to go with. Many of the things that I view as positive, MANY other people view as a negative. Most likely you will have to do what I did and compromise. There most likely will be some option that you won't be able to get (ex: I really wanted a locker, but I also wanted a manual). For me price was not an issue, but the AC was cheaper $6599 included TAX, ATV, Destination, & 2500 warn winch. The grizz was going to cost me (6999-ATV, 500-TAX, 350-Dest, 69-winch. Total of ~7520).

I wish you the best of luck, and hope you enjoy riding which ever you choose. But you will be very happy with either ATV.

 

Brianidaho,

I have had my Griz for about 4 months and I can tell you that, from what you mentioned, you would be very happy with the Griz.

I use mine to plow my driveway and it does a great job. My drive way is steep and fairly long and I haven't had a problem, even with out the use of chains (yet).

I have also converted a flat bed snowmobile trailer to a 8x8 utility trailer by building 4' walls out of 2x8's. I have hauled the trailer full of wood with my machine w/o a problem and the trailer has to be close to 2,000 lbs when it's loaded with wood. Sure, the rear end squats and the front tires get light, but it was been pulling loads that large with out a problem.

I have also used mine as a skidder and to pull out fallen trees and it's worked like a charm.

As far as trail riding goes, that is the Griz really shines. I have been riding with a few guys who have SP500s and one guys has a 00'AC 500. We always have to wait for the AC. We also have to put up with the AC owner bitching about his machine not being able to keep us with us. Last week the guy sold his AC for a used SP500....

AC's have great reputations for work, but there is no comparison between the Griz and AC in a when trail riding - night and day differences...

I know what you have ruled out Polaris', but the SP 700 might be worth considering, I certainly did. Also, if IRS is not a requirement, the 650 certainly has the engine to work hard and it's as good as any trail machine out there.

 

TrailRaker I don't doubt that a 2000 ACT based AC didn't keep up with you in the trails. I have riden with a Grizz660 and 2 Poles. In a drag race they will beat me, and top speed they will beat me. But they did not keep up with me on very technical trail that I was not even familiar with. The articulation on the new 2002 i models is completely different from the older ACT models. My grizz friend was completely impressed with the articulation of my ATV.

Flex info on the new 2002 i models

My 2002 Arctic Cat 500i manual's website

There's a place for top speed and acceleration, and the sports quads are made for that. For the types of ORV parks and mountain trail systems I've been on articulation, hill climbing, and rock climbing were the most important, not top speed and acceleration.

 

Raker, you wrote, "AC's have great reputations for work, but there is no comparison between the Griz and AC in a when trail riding - night and day differences"

AHHHHHhhhhhh, please go ride a new 2002 i model on a technical trail, and then come back an apologize. You obviously have not ridden, nor been informed on the new i models..

he he he

 

Rides for fun,

Good point, I didn't mean to stereotype all ACs....

As I mentioned in my post, the AC that my friend owns is a 00' and doesn't have IRS, so I would agree that the 02' "i" models are much better equipped.... arguably, the best suspension set up available. His machine has two shock absorbers with the "floating" swing arm.

As far as riding goes, as soon as the trail smoothes outs, his AC gets left behind and I'm pretty sure that would be the case with either the 00' or the 02'.
T
hat was the only point that I was trying to make and it was in reference to Brianidaho's comments that he's not sure he wants to play catch up (I'm assuming on the fire roads).

 

Quote from a Bud commercial, "TRUE, true!"

 

hey all'
i can give my 2 cents twards this. if your desiting to buy the ac or the griz, then it is not too hard of a choise. you want to do 80 percent work, or funnin? If you want to use it for mostly funning around, then its simple, the grizzly! having drivven with them i can tell you, there is nothing an ac can do that a grizzly cant do better! now, the ac might ride a little better, but the grizzly aint like riding a tank either! the towing, hauling, and plowing doesn't have a higher rating than the grizzly either. these are differant machines all together. the grizzly has an ausome suspencion, along with the ac. now, i am not trying to be hard on the ac, maybe the best quad made, but not in the catagory of the grizzly. if the drivers are equal, then in NO conditions, can a ac loose the grizzly, but the grizzly can loose the ac in most conditions. i know i will be getting some heat over this one, and i am in NO way trying to be hard on the ac. it is truly a great quad, but not in the same catigory as the grizzly.


my pictures

 

Well, I got to spend a few hours with a dealer that carries Cat, Yamaha, Polaris and Honda. I went back and forth between the Griz and 500i many times, and it still isn't an easy call (didn't ride either yet though). My impression of the "beefyness" of the frame and suspension is that they were very close, with a slight nod to the AC. Biggest difference was the front upper a-arms-the Griz has stamped steel, vs welded tubing on the AC. I also liked the foot rests (floorboards) better on the AC; nice heavy open steel grate, vs plastic. The tranny vents of the AC looks like it would make a great submarine-they looked to be way up near where the handlebars exit the front fender assy.

For most everything else I preferred the Griz. The AC speedo looks like it was put on as an afterthought, and looks to be pretty exposed and vulnerable in the event of a rollover. The Griz's instruments are nicely tucked in and protected. Pushbutton 4wd and diff lock look nice to me, also seemed to be done very cleanly. The seat release and storage box on the AC also seemed to be a bit of an afterthought as well. I also prefer the dual brake system of the Griz, I ride street and dirt bikes, and like the control you get this way. I don't know if I could get used to grabbing a brake lever on the left handlebar. Also, I like the park feature of the Yamaha tranny (does this just engage a brake, or does it lock the tranny?). The AC system looks like it will take 2 hands to engage the PB. Lots of hills around here, it seems to me that this is something I will actually use.

The smart choice would probably be the AC-it looks to be a bit simpler and slightly heavier duty. However the extra power and the "cool" factor of the Griz have swung me-I wanted to think I was more mature than that-right! I'm sure both would do well, but have decided to go with the Griz. There is a Yamaha dealer closer to where I will be, that is willing to deal slightly on the Griz, and he has a very good reputation. The nearest Arctic dealer is quite a bit farther away, and wouldn't deal on the AC-wants list. Puts both bikes at the same price, I think the Griz is more rig for the same money. After riding both street and dirt bikes, as well as sleds, I know I have the need for speed, I think I'll be happier with the performance of the Griz.

This dealer also had a SP 700 in stock. Man, this thing is built massive. I'd consider it, but I'm somewhat turned off on Polaris both due to the reliability comments on these forums, and from this dealers comments. He said they have never replaced an AC belt, and only 1 or 2 Yamahas. They just picked up Polaris this year, and claim they have done around 30 belts so far He aslo said they have sold around 30 Griz's this year, but have been unable to sell their 1 SP 700. Of course this is from the salesman, maybe they make more commission from Yamaha. The other factor is that we will be riding a lot of hills in the snow-I don't think I want 2wd engine braking under these conditions. Lots of speculation on my part based on no first hand experience.

I have some plans for building some custom racks for mounting the chain saw, ax, pick, etc for trail maintenance and general forest management around my place. I'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks for all the input. I need to line up the wife and cash now......

Brian

 

brianidaho:
Sounds like you made a well-informed decision and did your homework. If it makes you feel better, if both bikes were the same price like you say, I would definately get the Grizz also. (And yes I do own an AC) I can't believe they want list for the AC. I haven't really priced them, but I'd say the AC would be $500-$800 cheaper around here. Maybe it's because I'm closer to Minnesota or something [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Good luck with your purchase, and plowing that snow!