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Posted by: weasle
If you play in the mud, skip the Polaris. They are overheating son's of bitches. Whoever designed it so the radiator is so low and open needs to be replaced. I ride with a few polaris' and even in the cooler spring weather we were stopping to let them cool down. Mud would pack into the radiator and it was just a short matter of time before the overheating light came on and we would have to pull over repeatedly.
I have an 05 Kodiak 450 and really like it. My other choice at purchase time was the Outty, which I regret getting b/c it pretty much offers the same options as the kodiak but for a little cheaper and a much better warranty. IMHO the Kodiak has the best looks though, and that's what counts....right?!
Posted by: weasle
I would agree with the lemon part if it wasn't for all 3 of the 700's and the 500 giving them overheating problems. There's another 700 in the group that hasn't had any issues though, and 2 of the 3 others seem to have resolved their issue over the winter with changing to engine ice coolant (though we've only gotten one weekend ride in so far). The other 700 and 500 however, have put on manual fan switches and still, were overheating in southern ohio just this past weekend. All these bad experiences leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth when it comes to the Polaris' is all.
Posted by: Mdog
You should really get the one that meets the most of your needs. I personally like the Outlander because it does everything good and with a 3.5 year waranty it's a no brainer.
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Hey there,
I've gotten my choices down to three quads, all 06 models ...
06 Sportsman 500HO - No I, No P for a year and a free winch
06 Kodi 450 - No I, No P for 6months or free winshield, seat, pegs and winch
06 Outty 400 - 84mths finance, free winch
Right now I'm leaning towards the sportsman since I can get it and ride for a year, then pay it off with tax money next spring. I like the Kodi because it's smaller and lighter than the other two, and I've heard great things about the Outty 400, plus the outty is about 800 cheaper than the kodi ..
Any suggestions / comments?
Thanks guys!
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Yeah, I asked the dealer about some of the problems and the only one he was aware of was a faulty temperature sensor which gave a false overheating alarm on the dash.
I've looked at the X2, and I guess if the EFI's don't have the problems any more, then that's probably the way I will go. I like the fact that it converts into a two-up thus saving the need to get a rear seat as an extra.
Glad to see so much favourable support on the Polaris. If the quad was just for me I'd probably get the Kodi, since it's so much lighter and nimble from all I've heard. This quad is basically just something for me to ride until I get my next sport (thinking on a z400 or similar) and then the ute will become the wife's quad. Gotta teach her how to plow the driveway BR>
Thanks again for the replies!!
Posted by: NLWarrior01
I do have one question regards to the x2 .. I notice on the web site it doesn't say that the x2 has the PXT tires .. are they really that much better than the stock rubber on the x2? Also, does the x2 have the EBS feature, or is it like the 500HO, without the ebs? I know it's not a big concern overall .. but how does the x2 perform in regards to accelleration and speed? Not a good machine for jumping I think, at nearly 800lbs dry ..
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Thanks for that .. I guess I'll have to pop into the dealer soon and see what they have available .. make sure I got da missus with me too .. as it will eventually be hers ..
Cheers,
Trev
Posted by: NLWarrior01
A buddy of mine was riding with an outty in his group. Said it was a very fast machine, but he didn't like the front fenders on them. The driver of the outty was absolutely covered in mud on the wet trails because of the way the front fenders cut across the tires .. I'm not interested in getting covred in mud, and I'm sure my wife is even less interested in it. Alright now and then, but on a continuous basis .. nah ..
Posted by: NLWarrior01
I think that any mfg has it's good and bad .. look at Yamaha's Griz ... and Yamaha is one of the tops for reliability. Polaris here is offering a 3 year extender (total of 3.5 years I guess) but I don't know how much for. I've questioned myself on wheather or not I trust in the name, but after talking to a few people who own them I come to the conclusion that one's as good as the other these days. My father uses polaris snowmobiles and doesn't have any troubles either .. I think that maybe you just got a lemon, unfortunately. sorry to hear about all your troubles just the same.
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Not much of a mud runner myself. I guess a rad-guard is a must-have from what you're saying .. unless the rad is well protected from impacts, just not from mud? I guess if I did go mudding I'd make sure there was a stream nearby to wash her out with.
Posted by: NLWarrior01
I don't see overheating becoming a large problem for me. As I've said, I'm not much for mudding and neither is my wife, so the only time that the rad area will become plugged up would probably be with snow in the winter, and if the rad is hot, then the snow will melt anyway .. plus, it doesn't get over-warm here .. a hot day is probably around 78 - 80F (typically less than 30C)
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Hey thanks for the sound advise propnut. The primary reason we're thinking so keen on the polaris is the 1 year "free-ride" financing. Hopeuflly next year we'll pay it off with taxes before the interest kicks in.
99% of the trails I ride are wide-open with very few tight trails. After having sat on one last night, I doubt I'll be ripping in tight areas anyway .. too damn big. I'll wait till I get my sport later on to do that.
The other reason is the simplicity of operation on the polaris. Put the key in, turn it and go, just like a car really. And they're known for a very cushy ride which is important to my wife. The single brake I could care less for, but will be a good thing with my wife who's not overly familiar with quads.
The X2 is attracive in that it has the 2nd seating position for another rider, and the foot rests seem much more ergonomic than the add-on ones for the regualr sportsman. When I sat in the "up" seat on my budd's 05 500HO it was VERY uncomfortable to have my feet on the pegs .. felt like I was on the delivery table .. if you get my meaning .. I definitely would not be getting one of those if I went with the HO or EFI sportsman .. maybe the 2nd seat on the x2 will be worse still, but I doubt it.
Anyway .. I'm going to look at them tonight and see what they will do in regards of goodies to go along with it. A buddy of mine is interested in getting one too at the same time, so might be able to work a deal for two quads vs. one. Only time will tell ...
cheers,
Trev
Posted by: NLWarrior01
It's actually a done deal now ... my wife actually did pick it out. She liked the seat on the X2, but didn't really like the style of it. The polaris dealer was actually pretty clever in the placement of the machine she did pick as it was right where you enter the showroom.
She picked out a 2006 Sportsman 500 EFI Limited Edition in cherry metalic red, 26" after market tires on aftermarket wheels. We got the *free ride* for a year, plus a winch, up-seat and pegs for 10,200 (cdn). Was 200 cheaper than the X2, which didn't look nearly as impressive.
I guess I have to update my sig. now ..
Posted by: NLWarrior01
Quote
Originally posted by: LawdogB2
Congrats, we looked at an LE like yours. We would have bought it too if my wife didn't want the utility of the X2. Tell the wife congrats as well.
Yeah, the wife saw the LE as soon as she stepped in the shop .. all bling .. and she likes bling :-D. Got to ride it yesterday for the first time (only a very short ride) and I'm so far, impressed with the ride quality. The power isn't what I expected and coming from my Warrior it seems a little shy, but having said that, i haven't really asked her to perform for me yet .. sure is smooth though, and I like not having to pull the choke out too !!
Posted by: OneFlyCowboy
the sportsman 500 is a solid machine. only problems with ours has been with the front hubs. sometimes they work sometimes they dont. its a 2000 500. butsame thing. currently its stripped to the frame in the garage gettin a lil TLC after somone hit a stump at about 30 and sent it into a forward tumble down the hill into a tree. Don't let drunk people rider yer chit
Posted by: OneFlyCowboy
The 700 is pretty nice.. definatly more utility oriented than sport though
Posted by: propnut
now I haven't ridden in NF, but in most trails here size matters and bigger is not always better. Those big machines are great for fire roads and the pit you have in your photos, but I always watch the biggest ATVs go from the fastest down the road to the slowest in the trails
Just 2 weeks ago a fellow came to ride with an 800, borrowed from a friend because his 700 was suffering from a problem that kept him from bringing it. He passed everyone on the road! Once he got in the trails his pace slowed dramatically and he had to stop. Everyone noticed that he had ripped the strut from the spindle and his (or his friend's) front driveshaft was flailing around banging stuff up. Darn rock, can't these trails be wider!! He would only comment that it has happened before and it wasn't that expensive to fix. More expensive than not having to fix it I say.
Be careful with financing too. Nothing sucks more than repairing and replacing parts on something that you are still paying for. Look at resale values as you never want to be upside down (owe more than it's worth). Paying it off early is a good idea as is insurance. Any one of the 3 you listed should be more all-year all-around fun than the Warrior, so don't get caught up in marketing or propaganda from my-brand-is-the-best posters, pick the one that fits your area, finances, and likes the best.
I ride with a couple of Kodiaks and they are nimble and quick in the trails. I don't like belts on quads, but the older of the 2 Kodiaks has 3K on the stock belt. Besides replacing the brakes and a bushing here and there it has been bulletproof. Plus it has split brakes. The Outty has got a lot of unique and smart features, but the earlier ones were coming back to the local dealer more than I liked to see, I came really really close to buying one. Now that they have a couple more years on them I'm sure they've worked most of the bugs out of it. I just won't comment about the Polaris. Good luck.
Posted by: ppope
Mark down another vote for the popo 500ho. I own a 2005 500ho and have a friend with a 1997 500 that has over 15k miles and still runs good. The Fuji Heavy Industries engine that comes on the sp500 will last forever. My next pick would be the OL400. Don't care much for the bike, but the rotax engine will out perform everything in it's class and some above it's class. Last and not for any particular reason would be the Kodiak. Kodiak is a good machine, but other than size and weight it doesn't stand out in anything. It is a very nimble quad though.
Posted by: ppope
Yeah, I mud 75% of the time and not the first over heating prob yet. We have 4 polaris in my group, I also have 2 grizzlies, and I have a bud with a zuki KQ700 and one with a Honda. None of us have ever had an overheating issue in the mud. Also, as for the bad luck sportsman guy. You got a lemon, which all manufactures make. As I've said i one of the guys I ride with has an 97 sp500 with over 15k miles and only thing done to it at all was he replaced the belt 2 weeks ago. This is the first and only thing ever done to this machine.
Posted by: Hoopie
you said your wife is going to riding it so personally I would have her pick it out on the one she feel most comfortable to drive. My girlfreind hates my arctic cat because its to big and didnt like the x2 either because its to big ergonomicaly. the brp is a smaller vehicle that tends to fit small people better. If she's not happy your not riding so take that into consideration. especially when you said you will get your own next year.
Posted by: LawdogB2
I wouldn't hesitate to get the 500. Are you considering the EFI model? I think they have the early bugs worked out. We just bought an X2 for my wife and have had no problems. You can't go wrong with the Polaris.
Posted by: LawdogB2
NLWarrior01, we really like the X2 so far. You should ride one if you get the chance. If you have any questions about it you can post up here or send me a PM and I will do my best to answer them.
Posted by: LawdogB2
My 800 has the PXT's and they are a good tire. The X2 comes with 489's and they seem to be a pretty good tire. They load up and require a little wheel speed to throw clean. They won't be too hard on the yard, especially in Turf mode. As far as I know, all of the X2's are still coming out with the two wheel EBS. It performs better on the X2 than on my 800. The EFI is nice as well. Accelleration is good and strong up to about 50 mph and then it keeps climbing, but just a little slower up to about 65 mph. Those speeds are per the speedo. I wouldn't jump it like an MX bike or anything, but the suspension seems to be pretty stable so far.
Posted by: LawdogB2
Congrats, we looked at an LE like yours. We would have bought it too if my wife didn't want the utility of the X2. Tell the wife congrats as well.
Posted by: squeege
The Kodiak may be the most reliable quad next to most hondas in the ute class
Posted by: squeege
Buy a Kodiak or grizzly
Posted by: v2rider
Get an Arctic Cat! jk I love the cats. Out of those three choices, Polaris 500HO, then Outty. Im not a huge fan of the Kodiak, but my dad has one and swears by it.
Posted by: polaris700efi
just my 2 cents
i just bought a polaris 700efi and i love it ,i looked around at other makes but didnt really like what i saw.
polaris is just built strong,i know because i hit a big rock hard on the front grille guard (radaitor guard) and all it did was bend the guard (BOLT ON PART) just replaced it ,looks good again.the ride is awesome
Posted by: polaris700efi
i have an 06 700 efi and i dont have a overheating problem ,the fan comes on but never seem s real hot... and i ride in the MUD.......
Posted by: tinkerman333
Whatever you do,don't get a polaris. I have a 2004.5 500 H.O. that I bought new and have been fixing it ever since.
So far I've had to replace the cooling fan twice,the first one went within 6 months,the second one about a year later.The centralized hillard gearcase is a piece of crap they use unsealed russian bearings, so much for made in U.S.A. I'am on my third one of those if you count rebuilding one. I've also had to replace the temp. sensor and both rear drive shafts and the 59 tooth gear in the transmission the splines were stripped off.The speedometer just went last week.
This quad is completely stock with only 950 miles operated by 40+ year old rider.My friends have a honda 450s and an ac 500 and they never break.Before you buy a polaris do a search on polaris speedometers or awd problems,you better pack a lunch! Polaris only has a 6 month warranty for a reason, they would go broke.
