Ive had the Sportsman for about a month---great running machine plenty of power--now I got a friend selling his 02 Loaded silver Grizz with 150 miles on it. I do mostly extreme trail riding to my hunting stand up here in AK and thats about it. The Polaris has gotten me through every nasty thing Ive thrown at it with no probs---will the Grizz be the same? I did a search on Grizz topics and found a ton of stuff on them overheating, sputtering, and breakng axels---is this what Im in for? My Polaris has 11XX miles on it and runs great any suggestions without doging one brand would be appreciated---Dave

 

The 02 should have the good axles. It was the 03 model year from what I understand that had the bad axles. You will find that the people that usually break the axles are the ones that have larger tires like myself (haven't broke one yet though) or when a person is hard on the gas when they jump,or spinning in a mud hole and catch traction. The 04 models have the heavier axles. The heating problems can be remedied with the cooling kit that yamaha has issued. I have ridden with a 700 sportsman and can speak from experience that in the mud they are so close in mud capabilities that we generally take turns pulling each other out. As for hunting I have pulled a 1600 lb bull moose with a 55" spread with ease. I wouldn't be afraid to own either machine. The 500 will have a little less power but is still more than capable. Remeber that you will always read the complaints. For everyone that bitchs about a problem with a machine, no matter what brand, there are 100 people that are out there that don't have a problem.

 

bump for any other opinions

 

some people have those problems not everyone, if i were you id look into the kodiak, cheaper, reliable and can go through some tough $h!t but so can the griz