Best 4 Wheeler

[cohoho]

Fred-  I ran nothing but Polaris, had four before moving here, mine was an 800, and a 500 that the oldest kid drove, my wife had a 400 (that I also had set up to plow snow) and the youngest drove the 325.  My 800 had balls to the wall, but my buddy had the Can-Am 800 and would literally smoke me in power.    His is the two up machine also, useful for when you want to take the wife or a kid along...  Friend had a his Grizzly, we killed it on his second outing....  Well the hill killed it, it rolled no less than 15 times and we still got it running to make it back 37 miles to the truck in AK....  A couple guys had the Rubicon and absolutely loved them?  My Polaris machines had little to no maintenance problems in the years we had them.  The problem with the Polaris 800 no pull start if the electronics goes, your screwed...  My other one was 500 that I had new since 00, it would do circles around most machines, I used it when we would go on long adventures versus the 800 due to the pull start and it was a very maneuverable machine for sure...

[cohoho]

The second part to this is rider ability and probably most important, I have ridden since the three wheeler (Big Red) came out was an instructor for numerous years for the ATV Safety Institute and it is user preference for machines for sure, but it drivers ability to get places. 

[whacker1]

I was always impressed with the Grizzly's but honestly never had a chance to try the newest can ams. 

[Machias]

Thanks cohoho, GREAT photos!!!  Thanks!  I took a week long atv combat course many moons ago.  After a week I could hardly move since the "seat" was not for your butt.  We spent the whole week on our legs balancing.  My thighs was so fricken sore after that week, but I could take a atv places I never would have dreamed before the course.  It was quite a while back, so I would need alot of practice, but I know what your saying on driver ability.

[7mag.]

I wouldn't own one that wasn't Polaris. They are by far the most well made and durable. Very trouble free. I ride my Sportsman 500 H.O. a lot, and we have a big group of guys that we go with. Almost all of them ride Polaris. The other guys that ride other brands, are constantly broke down. The Can-Am's have more power, but don't last that well, the Yamaha Grizzly is a nice machine, but breaks pretty easy. Just look at the difference in the frame's and the axles. The Polaris also has true 4 wheel drive without making modifications. No gears to shift either. I am extremely impressed with Polaris ATV"s.

[Mike450r]

I voted other,  I would go with arctic cat if I was putting on tracks.   

[CastleRocker]

I have several quads right now.  The tracks are on the Bombardier.  Just a quick word of advice though... bring a LOT of extra gas with you.  Mine is a 650, and I've never actually clocked it, but it seems to burn way over twice as much gas when I have the tracks on it.  In fact it burns way more gas than any of our sleds do. 

Of course, it's quieter, has more floatation, and is better for getting to where we want to strap the snowshoes on and start hunting than a sled.  Our clothes don't smell like two-stroke smoke either when we get there.  Then again...sleds are WAY more fun!

I have the Tatou 4s tracks on mine.  They work very well.  Pulled our diesel Excursion out of the ditch, and up our (steep) driveway last year in low range.  Pretty impressive.

[high country]

I can tell you this, If you get anything other then honda or yamaha, get one that is pretty new. mid 90's early 2k's were the problem years for most brands. truth is that they all build good rigs now, all do someting better and something worse then the next guy. I know that can-am makes wicked power and that is sweet untill you have the wheels cranked and juice it scattering a joint.  I am still riding a 99' grizzly that has a bazillion miles on it and am still on the original belt. call the dealers and ask how many belts they sell.....not many, now ask about the others.

[GoldTip]

I've personally owned Honda's and Yamaha's and have ridden with all other brands.  We ride a lot and use them plenty hard.  Personally wouldn't own a Polaris even if it was given to me, I'd trade it off.  Can-am, they are a great machine very fast and lots of Power for sure, but very expensive.  The guy I have do my yearly tune ups owns a 800 Can am and he's selling it, wants to get a Yamaha Grizzly.  His motto is loyal to none he just makes them all run.  So that says something about the Grizzly as well.  The Polaris weighs about 120lbs more than any other 4wheeler in the same class.  Kawasaki's I've seen broken down quite a bit.  Suzuki's seem "ok".  My personal bike is an 06 Yamaha Grizzly and I love it.  Really don't know much about the Arctic Cat.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I have owned my Grizzly and my kodiak since 2001, never had any maintenance done on them, you walk out they fire up and you go. I have put some hard mileage on them carrying out moose, elk, caribou etc....

One thing I will say though is if I had to do it all over again I would have two kodiaks, I can remember plenty of times my 600 pound grizzly was stuck in the bog/mud hole and shawn with her 385 pound kodiak would go right around me and float on top of it and pull me out.


Joe

[high country]

another thing to consider is your dealer support. it is good for machias as he has a huge multi line dealer close by. I run cat and yamaha sleds and I can get yamaha parts at a number of dealers close by, but for my cat I either have to order from a scabby dealer in spokane who will stock nothing more then sparkplugs or drve to hayden where the dealer will have what  I want.  keep parts in mind.......remember mule hunters hunt this year!

[SnakeEyes]

I like my Polaris 700 EFI. I would think most brands are EFI now but if not, it would definitely be something I would want. Re-jetting a carburetor for high altitudes gets old.

The other thing I would want if I bought a new ATV would be power steering. Once you get loaded up with gear, winch, etc the steering gets pretty stiff. I think power steering or power assist is becoming more popular. I have not checked to see if this is an option with Polaris.

[whacker1]

I have several quads right now.  The tracks are on the Bombardier.  Just a quick word of advice though... bring a LOT of extra gas with you.  Mine is a 650, and I've never actually clocked it, but it seems to burn way over twice as much gas when I have the tracks on it.  In fact it burns way more gas than any of our sleds do. 

Of course, it's quieter, has more floatation, and is better for getting to where we want to strap the snowshoes on and start hunting than a sled.  Our clothes don't smell like two-stroke smoke either when we get there.  Then again...sleds are WAY more fun!

I have the Tatou 4s tracks on mine.  They work very well.  Pulled our diesel Excursion out of the ditch, and up our (steep) driveway last year in low range.  Pretty impressive.

Does the Bombardier have power steering assist?  Just curious if it is need for the tracks more so than when running tires? 

[high country]

oddly, I would never opt efi over carbs. if you are gaining enough atitude to bog a carbed 4 stroke, you must be WAY too fat at your low elevation/temp.  I routinely go from 2500-6500 ft and there is not enough difference for any non tuner to be able to notice. power steering wold be nice with the tracks......course, a rod end is about all you can break on good ol' manual stering that worked for the last 20 years.

[SnakeEyes]

My experience in Idaho is that you must re-jet your carburetor. It would depend on the elevation but with the EFI my experience has been great. Turn key at any elevation. Idaho I am camped at 7000 feet in elevation.