Bottom line is that a quad is only good when it is running. A CanAm 800 sitting in the shop is worth less than a 250 cc quad that is running. I love to ride not because a machine has a ton of power or can go through serious mud (although these make the ride more fun), but because of the people I ride with. If I can't go riding because my quad is broken, I am missing out. If I am out riding and break, my day is ruined. I have to get towed back and go home thinking about how much cash it will take to fix the quad. Therefore, the power, the ride, the bogging, hill climbing, etc. are nowhere close to as important as reliability. Last summer a group of 5 went trail riding. 3 Polaris and 2 Yamahas. A couple hours later the two Yamahas were towing two of the Polaris quads back and the third Polaris quad had been overheating all day (despite a perfectly clean radiator). I am not a brand basher, but I would take a 400 cc Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda over a 800cc Polaris because of the reliability. I like to ride my toys, not work on them.

 

The 660 grizzly is a more exspensive ATV than the 500 H.O . so if there in both the same condition and the same price ,I would chose the Yamaha.

 

Yea, you're just trying to start trouble. Let us know when you are really seriously interested in owning a quad or buying something. Otherwise, it's a waste of time.

 

The Two machine really are not very comparable one is a "Mid bore" class the other is a considered a "Big bore". The 500 H.O is closer relater to the 450 Grizzly or 550 Grizzly.

A Sportsman 700 vs a Grizzly 660 is more like it.

 

Comparing atv's is hard. Not one of them is great at everything. Its what is best for you for the majority of the type of riding "you" do. On the reliability part, most problems I see is how "unreliable" the owner is in maintance and such, like keeping good fuel in it and draining the old. For me, I like smaller, more nimble quads cause I ride in some heavy woods, (making my own trails) with several deep creek crossings. One thing I look at also is, if the quad ended up on top of me, could I kick it off. Some of those big bores are very heavy. Last and back to the reliable thing, since this is posted on the "Yamaha" thread area, I see lotsa busted down yamas, sooo.

 

For traction,once a ATV has high ground clearance (IRS), low range and True AWD (Diff lock) no atv has anything over another, it would come down to who has the best tires not machine.

 

Holly old thread batman!

 

change the comparison , a new 660 or 700 griz to a new 550 xp sportsman I watched the 550 out pull both of them at the atv pulls last summer might out run them too, definately will out ride them