Which quad to buy

[asmith]

The wife and I are finally going to buy ourselves some quads.  We have it narrowed down, I believe.  She likes the Can-am outlander 650 xt 2-up.  We will get a plow to be used on hers as well as the tooling around the trails with me.  I think I will be getting the Polaris sportsman 850 premium.  Mine I will use for hunting, scouting, tooling around, etc.

We are new to owning quads but not to riding them as my parents have some and we go on trail rides about every year with them.  So my question is, is there any first hand experience with either of these, good or bad?  Anything that is a need to get with them?  I have my wants, but looking to see if there is a 'need' that someone has figured out the hard way.  Any help and experience would be great.

[predatorpro]

My two top picks would be the a suzuki king quad or a honda rubicon.  Im not a fan of belt driven anything, which is why i own a honda pioneer,  but if i had to get a belt driven quad i would take the can am.

[KFhunter]

Those two choices are great, but very heavy if you plan any snow riding or any technical hard core stuff.

They'll ride very well and comfy on trails.

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[asmith]

My two top picks would be the a suzuki king quad or a honda rubicon.  Im not a fan of belt driven anything, which is why i own a honda pioneer,  but if i had to get a belt driven quad i would take the can am.

This is new information I did not know or even think about.  Please explain why belt driven is a bad thing or worse than chain.

[KFhunter]

If you want deep snow (tracks) or hard technical riding the 700 Grizz would be my top pick.

Its lighter weight, has independent brakes like a motorbike for steep crazy decents down rocky hills, full diff lock,  bombproof belt drive system and excellent powerplant.

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[KFhunter]

My two top picks would be the a suzuki king quad or a honda rubicon.  Im not a fan of belt driven anything, which is why i own a honda pioneer,  but if i had to get a belt driven quad i would take the can am.

This is new information I did not know or even think about.  Please explain why belt driven is a bad thing or worse than chain.

None of those options are chain drive, all use shaft drive to a rear differential.

The difference is in the transmission.

Honda uses a shifter over clutch system, you pull the shifter up and that engages a clutch, continue pulling up and it shifts up a gear, reverse for shifting down gears.

Its slow and clunky, but reliable so long as you use it correctly.  It aslo has a rekluse type clutch so if you let off the throttle it stops trying to go.

The belts are far more efficient and just as reliable unless you're into deep water crossings without a properly prepared machine.  Yamaha has a 10 year warranty they put up trying to dispell this reliability myth honda sells machines with.

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[asmith]

My two top picks would be the a suzuki king quad or a honda rubicon.  Im not a fan of belt driven anything, which is why i own a honda pioneer,  but if i had to get a belt driven quad i would take the can am.

This is new information I did not know or even think about.  Please explain why belt driven is a bad thing or worse than chain.

None of those options are chain drive.

The difference is in the transmission.

Honda uses a shifter over clutch system, you pull the shifter up and that engages a clutch, continue pulling up and it shifts up a gear, reverse for shifting down gears.

Its slow and clunky, but reliable so long as you use it correctly.  It aslo has a rekluse type clutch so if you let off the throttle it stops trying to go.

The belts are far more efficient and just as reliable unless you're into deep water crossings without a properly prepared machine.  Yamaha has a 10 year warranty they put up trying to dispell this reliability myth honda sells machines with.

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[predatorpro]

My two top picks would be the a suzuki king quad or a honda rubicon.  Im not a fan of belt driven anything, which is why i own a honda pioneer,  but if i had to get a belt driven quad i would take the can am.

This is new information I did not know or even think about.  Please explain why belt driven is a bad thing or worse than chain.

None of those options are chain drive, all use shaft drive to a rear differential.

The difference is in the transmission.

Honda uses a shifter over clutch system, you pull the shifter up and that engages a clutch, continue pulling up and it shifts up a gear, reverse for shifting down gears.

Its slow and clunky, but reliable so long as you use it correctly.  It aslo has a rekluse type clutch so if you let off the throttle it stops trying to go.

The belts are far more efficient and just as reliable unless you're into deep water crossings without a properly prepared machine.  Yamaha has a 10 year warranty they put up trying to dispell this reliability myth honda sells machines with.

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Ive hiked out of the mountains in snow and been with people replacing belts multiple times from the myth of belts being reliable... people can argue it all day but there is a reason you carry a spare belt and not a spare shaft...lol everytime we climbed to the top of a mountain i listen to everyone talk about their belts smelling hot,  most hondas and suzukis do not require manual shifting either anymore

[bustedoldman]

Yes the belts do slip if your going thru extreme conditions or have oversized tires/rims, generally speaking most people are not that hardcore. With that being said the first thing you do is upgrade the belt and use the stock as a spare (most everyone has a spare tire for their vehicle right?) and it should be fine for years. If your plan is hardcore riding with larger tires and such then you should upgrade your clutch/springs as well. Even if not upgrading to larger and doing this mod it is a night and day difference. I would stick to either models you mentioned....

[KFhunter]

Gonna hafta provide more details before I buy this,  are we talking snowmobiles? 

Then yes, smoking belts is common on some years/models and with poorly maintained machines.  But it isn't common on Yamaha sleds with 1000cc engines and even mildly boosted sleds pushing over 200hp. 
On Yamaha that is.

Polaris and skidoo have had issues with belt eaters and some arctic cats.  I align my own belts and check engine mounts as an engine twisting in its mounts will cause belt issues.

Yamaha atvs use a wet disk clutch simmilar to a honda before the belt primary clutch, and its awesome.


Are we talking tracked ATV'S?   Then they have them setup wrong or pushing them in high range too hard.  Honda would be well suited for tracks I'll give them that, lightweight and you can choose the gearing better, but I'd make sure they had full front diff lock and power steering. 

Were any of these quads Yamahas?
Or Yamaha with tracks? 

Polaris I could see smoked belts in deep snow, same with can-am which runs hot anyways. 

If they're going to track a belt driven ATV they should upgrade clutches and belts for sure, so I argree with above.

[trophyhunt]

I've pulled my buddy's Polaris back to hunting camp a couple times, my 2007 Yamaha 700 has been very reliable.  No way I'd buy a Polaris quad before a Yamaha, just my 2cents.

[elkhunter00]

Tracker atvs?.....and go

[KFhunter]

Tracker atvs?.....and go

I don't know enough about them to comment.


Quick google says they're made by textron, which owns arctic cat and polaris.

Interesting.

Might be a good budget friendly option, one I wouldn't trust with my life deep in the woods and too far to walk out.

[Buzz2401]

My experience is all with Honda's and they have been bulletproof over the last twenty years we've owned them.  I have friends who haven't had the best if luck with Can Ams and Polaris.  Never heard anything bad about yamaha, suzuki, or kawasaki.  My hunting partner bought a new yamaha after owning hondas forever and after 1 year he is selling it.  Nothing wrong with it he just likes hondas better.

[KFhunter]

He selling a 700 grizz?   Tell him to advertise it here!

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[predatorpro]

Gonna hafta provide more details before I buy this,  are we talking snowmobiles? 

Then yes, smoking belts is common on some years/models and with poorly maintained machines.  But it isn't common on Yamaha sleds with 1000cc engines and even mildly boosted sleds pushing over 200hp. 
On Yamaha that is.

Polaris and skidoo have had issues with belt eaters and some arctic cats.  I align my own belts and check engine mounts as an engine twisting in its mounts will cause belt issues.

Yamaha atvs use a wet disk clutch simmilar to a honda before the belt primary clutch, and its awesome.


Are we talking tracked ATV'S?   Then they have them setup wrong or pushing them in high range too hard.  Honda would be well suited for tracks I'll give them that, lightweight and you can choose the gearing better, but I'd make sure they had full front diff lock and power steering. 

Were any of these quads Yamahas?
Or Yamaha with tracks? 

Polaris I could see smoked belts in deep snow, same with can-am which runs hot anyways. 

If they're going to track a belt driven ATV they should upgrade clutches and belts for sure, so I argree with above.

Most have been Polaris sidexsides and quads and can am quads.  My pioneer 1000 has a rear locker and an "I-4wd" with power steering out of the box, not sure why i would need anything more but i dont run tracks on mine either.  I prefer things i dont have to adjust or upgrade as soon as i buy them either.  I dont count snowmobiles though lol,  they all smoke belts when they feel like it! I have heard good things about yamahas i just havent known enough people with them or been around them enough to give an opinion on. I would put Polaris at the bottom of my list of atv/utv to buy.  Just my two cents from what i have seen...but alot of people would disagree with me too.

[KFhunter]

I agree w you, that pioneer seems to be a good one, although I'd go for the 2021 rmax over it.



Ask bearpaw what he thinks of polaris sxs

[trophyhunt]

My experience is all with Honda's and they have been bulletproof over the last twenty years we've owned them.  I have friends who haven't had the best if luck with Can Ams and Polaris.  Never heard anything bad about yamaha, suzuki, or kawasaki.  My hunting partner bought a new yamaha after owning hondas forever and after 1 year he is selling it.  Nothing wrong with it he just likes hondas better.

Which model is he selling?  I agree that honda's are bullet proof, but I've only owned a yamaha.

[predatorpro]

I agree w you, that pioneer seems to be a good one, although I'd go for the 2021 rmax over it.



Ask bearpaw what he thinks of polaris sxs

Those do look awesome! The main reason i was attracted to the pioneer is because i can fit 5 people in it and not be the length of a bus.  I wanted just a workhorse for hunting and trapping from.  I think the most important thing to know is what you want from your machine.  They all have there pros and cons....except for polaris...they just suck. lol

[Katmai Guy]

I've got a 2001 Yamaha Kodiak 400 that's still going strong and a 2019 700 Grizzly.  Have never had any issues with either, granted not may miles on the Grizzly but the old one has thousands.

[C-Money]

I run a Honda Rancher 420, shaft drive. Buddy has a Yamaha Kodiak 400 belt drive. Both have fairly equal mileage. Both go where we want and have plenty of power. Both run all day on a tank of gas. Once I got high centered and stuck bigger than crap, the Yamaha pulled me out. Yamaha Belt drive works flawless. Belt is a bit of an advantage going up long hills as far as speed goes. I stay in 2nd on certain climbs as if I shift to third I feel I lug the engine at a speed thats comfortable. So I go a bit slower in 2nd for the good of the engine. The belt Yamaha just goes and there is no gear/RPM to worry about, so he usually gets up long climbs faster. Mine is an 07, Yamaha is a year or two older. Honda or Yamaha, buy with confidence.

[jrebel]

It's been said.....but I will reiterate, I would not buy a polaris.  Have a ton of experience with their side by sides and they are not reliable at all.  Don't know much about the can am so can't speak that that. 

I would buy the honda rubicon or rincon and not look back.  I have a 2003 honda rubicon 500 and it is bullet proof.  I am a big guy and it takes me anywhere I want to go.  If you want the independent rear suspension, go with the rincon....and it has more power.   

[Jason]

I loved my Polaris Sportsman. Hopefully I’ll get another one is a year or two. Mine seemed to be more reliable than my buddies Yamahas and Can Ams.

[fowl smacker]

My buddy bought a brand new Polaris 2 years ago and has had nothing but problems with it since new.  He hates it.  Said he'd never own another one again.

[Mudman]

I had 2019 Polaris 850SP.  You claim to "tool around"??  Well I will tell ya the 850 is way to much for tooling.  It is quite fast n powerful and thirsty.  I didnt like its huge size, delayed throttle inputs, weird braking system.  I didnt have any breakdowns but I got rid of it after 1 year.  Wifes Polaris 450 was much better in many ways.  Now my old Sukuki Vinson 500 5spd was a sweet quad and I do miss it.