I am buying a 2011 quad. Picking it up next weekend. It is either the 500 Spotsman or the 550 Griz. The griz is about 2G more so that is the reason I am leaning towards the Polaris. I like the idea of EFI but not sure I like to the tune of 2G. I am getting a winch and plow with the bike and will use it to hunt, plow my driveway, haul fire wood and a little trail riding. Although is will see mud I am not going bogging with it and I am pretty meticulous with my toys as far as maintenance and routine upkeep.

I am looking for opinions on why I want the Griz over the Sportsman and, considering my use, what you recomend?

Thanks - Bob Urban

 

$2000 for a ATV with only a 50cc motor advantage? Seems a little pricey.

Even when my friend bought a larger 660 Grizzly it was not $2000 more than a SP500.

The 550 does not even have much of a power advantage over the 500.

Arctic Cat Mud Pro 950__65.8hp
Sportsman 850 EFI______69.1hp
Can-Am Outlander 800___71.0 hp
Sportsman 800_________50.1 hp
Kawasaki BF750EFI______49.8hp
Kawasaki BF750 Carb____50.1 hp
Suzuki KQ700___________48.5 hp
Yamaha Grizzly 700______45.6 hp
Sportsman 700_________44.3 hp
AC 700________________41.4 hp
Honda Rincon 680_______38.5 hp
Yamaha Grizzly 660______40.9 hp
Can-Am Outlander 650___60.0 hp
Kawasaki BF650_________41.4hp
AC 650 H1_____________39.3hp
Sportsman 600_________37.3hp
Yamaha Grizzly 550______36.9hp
Sportsman 550__________40.2hp
Aritc Cat 550___________35.0hp
Suzuki KQ 500__________38.2hp
Can Am Outlander 500____40.4 hp
Sportsman 500 EFI______36.0hp
Sportsman 500 HO______35.5hp
Honda Rubicon 500______33.4hp
Arctic Cat 500__________32.0hp
Honda Foreman 500 _____26.9hp
Yamaha Grizzly 450______26.1hp
Suzuki KQ450__________36.7 hp
Sportsman 450__________29.7hp
Honda Rancher 420______27hp
Can-Am Outlander 400___32hp
Polaris Sportsman 400____29.5hp
Suzuki KQ 400___________26.4hp
Yamaha Grizzly 400_______26.0 hp
Yamaha Big Bear 400_____22.9 hp
Aritc Cat 366___________25.7hp

 

Bob already bought the Grizz and yes the 550 Grizz will run circles around a 500 and even beat a 550Xp in a drag race. Power to weight ratio is the difference even tho the 550 Yami that has less HP than the Popo 550

 

What! I'm not trying to start a debate because I really do like the grizzly's and may consider a new Grizzly 700 for my next new qaud but have you seen a 550 grizzly beat a 550 xp in a drag race. My buddy's 02 grizzly 660 runs neck and neck with my 07 500 EFI up to 50-55mph before he can pull away from me. We've actually raced them on a strip several times and had the same results every time. With that said, I couldn't hold a candle to the 550 xp right out of the starting blocks in a drag race. Does the new 550 griz have something new and improve to make it better/faster than the older 660's?

 

The 550 Grizz is quicker than a 660 Grizz. Atv Rider (I think it was) did a Power Steering shootout between the 500 Can-Am, 550 XP and the Grizz 550 and the Grizz got the nod Even in the drag race portion of the shootout. I will tell you this as well when I bought my 700 I test rode the 550 and IMO it was as fast as the 700 just without the low end punch that 700 provides. And I want all the CC's I can get when riding at 9-12000 feet elevation therefor I chose the 700 . Based on a 800lbs Xp and and a 600lbs Grizz you have 19.90 and 16.26 LBS per HP respectively.

 

2010 500-550 EPS 4X4 SHOOTOUT | News | Inside Scoops | ATV Action

Check out this shootout between the 3 machines in the class. The one I bought was a 2010 w 7 miles on it. Floor model. So, although new in every sense, I got a good chunk nocked off for the year and minimal use. Still a little more than the 2011 Spotsman but it is EFI and has Power steering as well it has Yami reliability. I did my homework and knew what I wanted and what I wanted to spend. I would have gone w the 2011 Popo 500 if I could not get a 2010. The difference was minimal for the upside on the Griz. The new bike is coming home Friday after they have installed a plow and winch. Winch is a 2500 Warn with synthetic cable.

I am sure I would have been very happy with the SP but for the little extra and how I will use it the Yami is the best IMO. The EFI will be nice because I live and ride in the cold and snow and it will sit a lot. I will use it for hauling fire wood, bowhunting and a little trail riding - oh, and plowing a little snow. I also will most likely be riding this machine 20 years from now because I put very few hours on a machine and take good care of them. Although it is the fastest in it's class I don't imagine mine will ever see top speed - at least not real often. I will just use it as a utilitarian vehicle around the ranch. It is nice to know that if I ever do go trail riding my machine can handle it well and keep up with the rest.

Very excited to get it home and broken in. By Sunday night it will be covered in mud because it is spring here and that means muddy, muddy trails and roads.

For what it is worth I paid 6340.00 for the machine. This will be the first machine I put an insurance policy on. Mostly for liability if somone else rides it or if it gets stollen. My riding style is pretty low end as far as potential for wrecking the machine. Oh, and I did have a friend loose one when his trailer came unhooked and it tumbled down the highway. Unlikely but still good to be protected!

Bob Urban

 

Getting insurance is never a bad idea. I have my 07 sportsman insured for that just in case moment. With a MC license and safety training I get full coverage insurance through progressive for $75 a year with a $250 deductible plus $3000 for accessory's on the machine. For that cheap it doesn't pay to not insure my machine. By the way I remember you mentioned on the polaris section your from Michigan but don't get a ton of snow. Where abouts?

 

Redimix - I live in Fowlerville - about 30 miles east of Lansing. We get snow but no a lot in regards to plowing. I live in the country on a dead endthat is not maintained by the county. My neighbors take care of the road but my little drivway needs to be plowed a couple times a year. The little Yami will do me just fine. Thanks for the insurance tip. I just called my current homeowners and added it to the policy but I will look into others because I am paying about 175.00 a year. It was just easy to call my agent and get them to fax it over to the dealer. Money talks so I will definitely be checking out others this week.

Bob Urban

 

First you say the 550 grizzly will beat a 550 XP even thow it has less power due to the lighter weight. Not really the case if the above shootout link is correct.

The Grizzly 660 has even more power over the 550 and no weigh disadvantage, You make the 550 sound like it does miracles with only a 36 HP motor.
Back to the Question
Is the Grizzly 550 a better machine than the 500SP, yes, is it $2000 better? I,m not sure about that one. Its just beat out the 500 Outlander and the sp500 beat in a few shootouts also.

Our dealer sells 750 King Quads for $2000 more then SP500s, Don,t tell me the 750 KQ will loose to a 550 also. LOL

 

Its all subjective when you look at it on paper but a real word riding test will tell you otherwise. The 500Popo is a great machine but its nowhere in the class of today 4x4's,no matter how you look at it INCLUDING PRICE! Kinda like comparing a Sherman tank to a A1 Abrams. As you have been told before it not always about the HP and what is written on paper!