Polaris side by sides

[bornhunter]

Looked at a Polaris 1000 side by side yesterday at the Portland Sportsman show. Wow are they nice. Complete quality cab for both 2 and 5 seaters. One even had power windows! I was pretty much sold on the honda pioneer but the enclosed cab on the Polaris is nicer than all other brands at the show. I've been told in the past to steer clear of Polaris. I am wondering if the later models are good rigs?

[Shannon]

I've heard people on here bash Polaris but I've had everything from Polaris 4 wheelers to Rangers to snowmobiles and all have had zero issues when you properly maintain them. I love them all. Good machines IMO

[MtnMuley]

Those Rangers are the best fully enclosed UTVs in my opinion.

[Mudman]

I bashed Polaris.  Still will.  The older models are still poor.  Newer stuff last 5-10 years is much better.  I owned a rzr trail 900.  Good machine.  Now 2 Polaris atvs.  Honda Kawa Yamaha still better built imop.  Po Po are a good machine. I give em a B.  Kawa and Honda an A.  Yamaha B+.  Can Am C+.  My Kawa Teryx and Honda atv's by far better quality than any other I have owned.  The Teryx is best built tough reliable utv on market but sacrifices features others have.   Don't be scared to buy a POOPOO!  Its a good machine, but not the BEST!  None are...

[MtnMuley]

Who makes a better fully enclosed UTV then?

[Mudman]

Ranger probably the best factory.  But many aftermarket stuff for other machines.  Can am Defender? Ug.  Honda is good one too.  The Yammy and Teryx have kits you can buy too.  The Ranger cab factory is probably best though.  A relative has the ranger enclosed cab and its very nice in bad weather.  Ranger is a good all around utv but not great for playing.

[MtnMuley]

Kind of what we've found too. Not a playing machine for me though.

[bornhunter]

I looked at all of them for a couple of years now and Polaris was never on my radar until yesterday. The quality of the interior and enclosed cab was amazing. I know that doesnt mean the rest of the rig is quality but dang comfort counts for something. You can fully enclose the other brands but you can tell its all add ons. With Polaris it looks like a small pickup truck. I gotta go test drive one if there is a dealer thatbwill let you do that. Thanks for everyone's input here.

[bearpaw]

I rode in an almost new Polaris 1000 4 seat factory cab this winter, plenty warm and roomy enough, it was awesome, and went like hell, but I could smell the belt burning half the time. The owner said he had a new belt put on the week before. Another friend has three Polaris, he constantly has one in the shop. We have three Yamaha vikings now and have never had a breakdown with them, two of them have over 4000 miles, one has 2500 miles.

All these machines the Polaris and my Yamahas are being used hard for about the same type of service. I wished the Polaris were as reliable because I would rather buy American.

[Caseknife]

Bearpaw is correct about the Yamahas being damn near bullet proof with their drive system, but that being said,
their accessories suck!  Haven't had a chance to put the factory full cab on either of the X2 or X4, but not looking
forward to it if I get the chance.

The new body style 1000XP Rangers MY18-19 have had drastic improvements made to the design, all for the good.
Polaris accessories are the best bar none, heaters, cabs, wipers, winches all install with relative ease and fit and finish
is "close" to automotive.  The drive system does benefit from the use of use Low gear to prolong belt life when not in a free rolling situation, ie driving down an open road.  This is more pronounced when heavy cab systems have been installed and a load of gear/people. In other words, if you can smell the belt, use low.

I assemble, repair, and up fit both Yamaha and Polaris and if a machine had Yamaha's drive with the Polaris power and
fit and finish and accessory selection if would be a grand slam.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a new 2018 RZR XP 1000. Fast, roomie, cool, creeps, crawls, 80 mph, no problem.

[syoungs]

Alot of polaris bashing comes from people that buy a quad/utv, stick it in high range, and trail ride it at 3mph....
If low range is used when required, the belts last a long time. I've got a machine with 4200 miles on it on factory belt. I'm swapping it this year just because, and ill.keep the factory belt as a backup.

I'd say since 2005ish the quads have been improving a ton.

[bornhunter]

Anyone here know anything about the honda pioneer? Pros/cons?

[highside74]

Anyone here know anything about the honda pioneer? Pros/cons?

My buddy has a 2018 1000 and 700. He says after going on multiple outings with guys that have all sorts of Polaris, he is happy he went with Honda. He never has issues and he says it seems someone with a Polaris is always having a trouble of some sort.

[deerlick]

My buddy bought a honda pioneer 700 this year. Rode like a 3/4 ton pickup up on rocky trails in idaho. My rhino rides like a Cadillac and cost 1/4 the price of his.

[Mudman]

Alot of polaris bashing comes from people that buy a quad/utv, stick it in high range, and trail ride it at 3mph....
If low range is used when required, the belts last a long time. I've got a machine with 4200 miles on it on factory belt. I'm swapping it this year just because, and ill.keep the factory belt as a backup.

I'd say since 2005ish the quads have been improving a ton.

You are correct.  BUT the old ones had significant issues and newer ones still tend to burn belts in hot weather or oversized tire/poor clutching etc.  Much improved and comparable to other makes.  Most are quite reliable from what I have seen.  I will say this in regards to new atv.  Wifes new 2018 450 already needs new battery.  Junk batts.  My 850 likely will too.  These things disable eps when batts are weak.  It is irritating.  Honda Pioneer I do not have any experience with but have read good things and it is a Honda and has sweet cab kits as well.  Concern is the transmission.  Very expensive if/when it fails someday.  My 2017 RZR900trail rode very smooth in Idaho and didn't break down!  Honda and Yammy and Teryx need aftermarket suspensions to be soft n smooth like a rzr.  Travel #'s are quite low in comparison.  I dislike Honda roll cages.  What a box brick. Tree rubber. 

[Russ McDonald]

I just bought a Honda Pioneer 1000 LE.  Came with Fox Pro shocks, skid plates through out, love the way it rides so far.

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[Mudman]

I do know I would test a Honda 1000-5-LE before I bought another.  I have driven many and all of em are good and poor at diferent things.  I always been Honda fan.  Loved my lil Polaris RZR but a Kawa Teryx-4 is what I would buy for my use right now.  Unless Honda impressed me.  Apples to oranges between a sport utv, work utv and crossover utv-which I prefer.  Pioneer, Teryx, are short roomy tough 4 seaters.  Other 4 seaters longggg.  Think Yammy has short one out too I know little about.  Russ you made outstanding choice I think.

[Russ McDonald]

I do know I would test a Honda 1000-5-LE before I bought another.  I have driven many and all of em are good and poor at diferent things.  I always been Honda fan.  Loved my lil Polaris RZR but a Kawa Teryx-4 is what I would buy for my use right now.  Unless Honda impressed me.  Apples to oranges between a sport utv, work utv and crossover utv-which I prefer.  Pioneer, Teryx, are short roomy tough 4 seaters.  Other 4 seaters longggg.  Think Yammy has short one out too I know little about.  Russ you made outstanding choice I think.

Thanks, all though it was a tough choice.   I was torn between this and Polaris Ranger 1000.  I grew up with both motorcycles and 3 wheelers were Honda, snowmobiles were Polaris.  Love them both.

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[jrebel]

I love my Honda 1000-5....great machines.  I wouldn't buy a polaris SxS to save my life.  I would look at the Yamaha though as they appear to get good reviews. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I have a pioneer 500. Had it a few years and only 150 miles on it. Took it into the field today in about 8” of snow and was happy I had it.

[idaho guy]

I have had 2015 razr 900 since it was new with tracks used hard year round and I replaced belt for the first time last Friday. I didn’t  burn it I just felt I was on borrowed time with it . It was a good thing I did when I got a look at it . It has been the best machine I have had so far and I am really hard on stuff. Plus the 50 inch width gets me a lot of places the other side by sides can’t go. I don’t know a lot about others but I have been really happy with the Polaris so far

[CAMPMEAT]

The Quincy Wa dealer has the best prices from what my buddy says.


He has the 1000 and absolutely loves it.

[kirkl]

Dont overlook the Yamaha Wolverine X2/X4 machines. Great machines, comfortable, quiet, great power with the new 850 engine and new 10 year belt warranty. I just bought a 2019 X2 from a honda pioneer 500 and love it so far.

[2MANY]

Buy a Honda.

Belt drive sucks.

[Mudman]

  The new yammy X-4 looks to be a winner and has the best Cab enclosure it seems.  Loving what I learned about em for sure!

[kirkl]

Buy a Honda.

Belt drive sucks.

I wouldnt want to pay to fix that DCT tranny out of warranty. There was alot of issues with that tranny until they came up with a fix so hopefully they got it right and you obviouly havent researched the yamaha belt/clutching.

[Mike450r]

Probably not the style you are looking for but I have the Yamaha YXZ1000R and it is a machine to be reckoned with.

I like to shift so the 5 speed transmission suits me perfectly.

[Mudman]

Yammy offering a 10 YEAR belt warranty!  Like the Kawasaki the Yamaha cvt is ultra reliable. And cheap to repair.  I prefer a manual trans but must admit cvt belts are superior in many ways.  Smooth as possible, always in the power band and ultra simple.  MPG is less and control/fun is less.

[Apples]

has anybody looked at the new Honda talon that just came out? I have been looking at the Polaris general and was sold on it until I noticed Honda had a new model coming out this year.

[Mudman]

Seen it on youtube…  Cool but doesn't hold mustard to its competition imop.  We just bought a new Teryx 4.  Had a 2015 before and it was so reliable and rock solid.  Tough choice between the Honda 1000-5 and Wolverine 4.  Decided the reliability and overbuilt tank was the way to go and the price was thousands cheaper after some tough dealing..

[kirkl]

Here is a good honda forum and this one is for the Talon, there is a Pioneer 1000 one to if you want to read.

https://hondasxs.com/categories/honda-talon-1000-sport.140/

[bearpaw]

Yammy offering a 10 YEAR belt warranty!  Like the Kawasaki the Yamaha cvt is ultra reliable. And cheap to repair.  I prefer a manual trans but must admit cvt belts are superior in many ways.  Smooth as possible, always in the power band and ultra simple.  MPG is less and control/fun is less.

We are running three Yamaha vikings and a rhino, all with 700 engines, never had a belt or engine problem yet, about 14,000 miles total between them, including a couple thousand miles with tracks. We are looking hard at the new cab system for vikings, local dealer is getting one in next week, we are going to look after it's installed on a machine.

I rode in a new Polaris 1000 w/cab this winter, awesome machine except I could smell the belt burning about half the time. They had already replaced the belt once. Sure wished Polaris could get reiability figured out better, other than reliability they are an awesome machine and I would rather buy American.

[Mudman]

As much as I like the Honda some things like rear seats bothered me a lot.  Wanted the kids and others be comfy.  Yammy trans/belts are the best with kawa being close second. Same system designs. Honestly a belt every 3-6k is $100 and 2 hours easy work.  Bearpaw you should check out the new Yam Wolverine X4 with the new hard cab enclosure.  It looks to be the best by far!  $5k options though.  Wolv x4 was considered by me immensely.  But at $3k cheaper, vetted for last 6 years and a 3 YEAR WARRANTY the Teryx is a deal.  Best built UTV out there bar none.  Does lack in HP but lot of torque.  Heat in the cab is bad in summer.  Noisy inside cab.  No hard cab of worth, have to run soft cabs.  The goods are heat in cab is great during cooler months!  EPS is really good.  Axles etc never break it seems.  Full ROPS to protect everywhere including rock sliders.  Visibility great.  Shift and trans top notch.  Engine is really good and reliable.  Crawls every where and has engine brake.  Back seat super comfy with room for 6" fat guys!   America Built Kawasaki with no Chinese parts.

[bearpaw]

As much as I like the Honda some things like rear seats bothered me a lot.  Wanted the kids and others be comfy.  Yammy trans/belts are the best with kawa being close second. Same system designs. Honestly a belt every 3-6k is $100 and 2 hours easy work.  Bearpaw you should check out the new Yam Wolverine X4 with the new hard cab enclosure.  It looks to be the best by far!  $5k options though.  Wolv x4 was considered by me immensely.  But at $3k cheaper, vetted for last 6 years and a 3 YEAR WARRANTY the Teryx is a deal.  Best built UTV out there bar none.  Does lack in HP but lot of torque.  Heat in the cab is bad in summer.  Noisy inside cab.  No hard cab of worth, have to run soft cabs.  The goods are heat in cab is great during cooler months!  EPS is really good.  Axles etc never break it seems.  Full ROPS to protect everywhere including rock sliders.  Visibility great.  Shift and trans top notch.  Engine is really good and reliable.  Crawls every where and has engine brake.  Back seat super comfy with room for 6" fat guys!   America Built Kawasaki with no Chinese parts.

I've looked at them many times, but we need more cargo space than a wolverine offers. The Vikings are perfect but when I have tracks on I wished they had the larger 1000 engine. The Polaris has tons of power and goes further faster. The dealer says he's getting in a new cab for the Vikings that I'm hoping will be nice, I'd like to put a cab on one of our machines for winter hunts.

[Mudman]

Oh I see.  Ya I bet you haul plenty of gear.  Hey have ya thought of roof racks??

[bearpaw]

Oh I see.  Ya I bet you haul plenty of gear.  Hey have ya thought of roof racks??

Yeah we haul some gear and hopefully quite a few animals, I put whole elk in the back of my viking, one time we had 5 people and a whole elk coming out in 3 feet of snow with my viking on tracks

[bearpaw]

I cut the elk in half to haul them...