new polaris 4 wheeler?

[cornicejumper]

Looking into getting a new 4 wheeler sometime in the next few months we have a 2008 honda foreman on the farm as well as a couple older ones seem to run pretty much maintenance free but im thinking of something bigger than the 500 the two im looking into are the 680 honda or the new polaris sportsman 850 wondering how the polaris 4 wheeers are running and lasting and if any of u have had any issues with these or maybe some other ones that u are having good luck with

 

[anklebiter]

for what its worth i had a 2000 scrambler 500 and i put it through the paces it actually held up really well if you keep it off the track. my uncle got a new 800 when they first came out he used it every day on the farm from setting water to chasing cows and had nothin but problems with it. it would eat exhaust gaskets and would lose all its power for no reason then pick back up again. i think he just got a lemon but our local polaris shops dont think they ever sell a lemon lol my only advice is buy one from a dealer that will take car of you after the sale.

 

[theultrarider]

I have several polaris wheelers. I have an 02 700, the first year of them. The power is great and alot of fun when you want it. In alot of hunting situations or hardcore offroading, it is too much power and gets people in trouble. I won't let others ride it off trail. The 500's more than enough power and are not so "jumpy". You can bring it over backward pretty easy in the rough stuff. Mine was carb and the new ones are efi. The carbs are terrible for gas mileage. Times that doesn't matter. But when you are going 50-100 miles one way back into a week long hunt, it makes a big difference in what you have to pack. I am selling my 700 right now and have replaced it with a polaris 500 6x6. Not near as much"fun" but will go anywhere and pack anything. The polaris are not as maintaince free as the hondas, but they are not bad either. You will go through some u-joint is you play in alot of mud and water. The ride is wonderful and they handle well too.

 

[MACH]

Guy across the street has a new polaris. It is a pile of crap if you ask me. Every time I see him he is on his other wheeler which is a CAT. I ask him where the Polaris is (because one would rather ride that then the cat). He says it is broke AGAIN. I think he has gone through 2 axles and doesn't even have big tires. Does eat gaskets like above mentioned as well.

Get a new rincon. Bad *** machine. I have a Rubicon and although I really like it, I wish I would have gotten the Rincon. The new Grizzly 700 is nice as well.

Cat makes the thundercat 1000 but have heard it is to much motor for a wheeler. Not sure how that is possible but whatever.

 

[Rmk900rider]

Had many polaris four wheelers and never had any problems w them. Girlfriend even floated one down the creek and we drug it out emptied the cylinders and started right up. The new 550s and 850s are awesome, they turned the motors so you have lots of room in the floorboards and the seat is narrow and you can get powersteering to.

 

[big_wally81]

i had an 05 polaris sportsman and the only problem i had was a bad ecu which was recalled. other than that it was a very solid machine. i rode mud and swamps with it constantly and had no problems.

 

[Scott]

I've ridden the new 850. AWESOME and smoooooth.

WAY better down the trail than the 07 800 that my dad has.

Smoooooooooooth.

 

[SNOW JW]

My Dad has had two 800's they are one snow plowing machine. Never had a problem with any of them we also have a 99 400 that has who knows how many miles and to date all we do is put a new chain on it and clean the clutches every 2 years it has been amazing.

I had a 99 Scrammy loved it I did break the back swing arm bolt not sure why?? But it was a great craphole machine super light 4x4 436lbs and was allot of fun but could not do any work so I had to get rid of it.

 

[anklebiter]

lol you only broke the rear swing arm bolt lucky i broke the whole front sprocket shaft!! lol kike i said keep it off the tracks and not try to show up a banshee and it did just fine lol that was my bad fun but my bad

 

[Weekday Warrior]

I reccomend the Grizz 700


could go into many details why, I'll throw out a couple

1 braking system is better than everyone else's "unibrake" lever...specially in crazy vertical rocky decents and coming back down a hill backwards. Single lever braking gets dangerous.

2 left hand shift, way quick for plowing etc..you'd think my grizz is hydrostat it shifts so quick when plowing I don't have to remove my hand from the throttle.

3 shown history of being reliable

4 outpulls hondamatic crap trannys

they just a damm good wheeler all around

 

[T-BO]

I like the Can-Am. From my experience they are about the best. I have 5500 hard km's on mine with allmost 0 problems that weren't caused by serious abuse. They are well engineered, everything from the inboard disc brakes, 4 post primary, and the *** kicking V-twin! I really like the way they have built that machine.

They do have a couple drawbacks like there poor excuse for a locking diff. This is my biggest gripe. And the factory CVT and air intakes are too low but thats fixed by 10 bucks in abs fittings.

And my quad came with a 3 year warranty at no charge!!
Can-Am has my vote!

 

[steveo10]

im glad popo got a real motor for their bigbore heavy unit... winchin was gettin old fast. 70HP now? not bad for a 4wheeler!

 

[Scott]

Side note...my dad bought his 07 800 Sportsman on Ebay from a "dealer". Turned out to be a guy who buys stuff at auction and sells cheap on ebay.

The ebay pics showed it shiney clean and really good looking. It is the "Stealth" model.
It came with about 5 pounds of red texas dirt in it. Impacted every where. Caked and Baked so hard that Fabcrafts pressure washer couldn't clean it all out. Mud in EVERY nook and cranny, including the airbox.

We drained all fluids and checked/replaced a couple seals...and that thing is working GREAT.

Turns out...it was a repo. And the owner had been a mud bog racer. You know those bikes you see in the south swimming through the soup at 1/2 mph ground speed with snorkels on the bikes. Yep...that's where this bike came from.

It hasn't missed a beat. Good compression, strong motor. It's working well.
Came with 28" ITP tires. It must have some sort of lift on it....cause it's freakin HUGE!!!!!!!!

 

[cornicejumper]

Thanks for all the good honest info Actually looking for 2 now One for me and on for the g/f thinkin maybe a 500 for her when we get ready we are gonna take a day and go look at the different options to see wich ones she likes Im pretty sure i want the 850 polaris but will have to ride one first

 

[fritzelman]

anyone gotten a chance to ride one of the new thundercat 1000's??

 

[big_wally81]

I reccomend the Grizz 700


could go into many details why, I'll throw out a couple

1 braking system is better than everyone else's "unibrake" lever...specially in crazy vertical rocky decents and coming back down a hill backwards. Single lever braking gets dangerous.

2 left hand shift, way quick for plowing etc..you'd think my grizz is hydrostat it shifts so quick when plowing I don't have to remove my hand from the throttle.

3 shown history of being reliable

4 outpulls hondamatic crap trannys

they just a damm good wheeler all around

i ride with alot of guys that have the grizzlys and they are a pretty good machine but they do seem to break axles if you put alot of stress on them.

 

[cornicejumper]

any input on the suzuki king quad??

 

[harrysmith500]

I love our sportsmans. Had them since 2001. That new 850 is lookng so great!!!!

 

[hilinerider]

grizzly's are hard on tie rods also, haven't seen the new poo, the 500 sportsmans i have are both good machines, i think my 00 rides better than my 06 imo,

 

[Numbnuts918]

Try all the models before you buy. I have a H1 Cat & absolutely love it. Its bigger & more stable than the others had to offer. The promo is what made it a deal for me as well. Great leftover prices with incentives.