Hello fellow atv'ers. I don't want to start a war but I have a small problem. I just sold my 400ex that I've beaten on for the last 8 years and want to get a 4 wheel drive quad. Now, everyone I've talked to is brand loyal, so I was hoping to get some info without hearing "I own a can-am so they have to be the best". I've narrowed my choices down to the Grizzly 700, can-am outlander or renegade 800, polaris 800, or kawasaki brute force. I ride hard and the quad will see lots of mud and bush trails. Please help! By the way....I don't think I like the visco lok on the can-ams.

-------------------------
WAITING,WAITING,WAITING

If it is going to see a lot of mud, I would go with the BF or the Grizzly. The Grizzly has more ground clearance with the IRS, but it is more expensive than the BF. That would be my two picks, either one of those is a great machine.

-------------------------
Honda Rancher 420 4x4 ES
-Uni Filter
-26" ITP Mudlite XLs
-ITP Type 4 Wheels

Old bikes- Beartracker, Blaster, Banshee, Foreman, 400EX, 300EX, Sportsman 400...

Of your list, all will be good in mud, although the Renegade will be down on fender protection. You've picked a list of each manufacturers top of the line 4wd's - all are great bikes. You need to check out each one to see how they feel to you and if any have "must have" features that the others don't.

The Griz is a great all-around ride, picked by several mags as the best big bore. If you want the easy steering of power steering, then it's the only choice here. Of the four listed, it's the slowest - but that don't mean that it's slow, just slightly less fast than the others.

The Can-Am is the sports car of the bunch. Amazing power with a light feel to the steering. The visco lock is a great sytem - excellent in mud but does take a learning curve for rocks - nothing that a decent rider can't master in a few minutes. Can-Am base prices are pretty high, but the XT packages make for a great deal. If you're wanting the options that come with the XT package, then the Can-Am prices are the same as the competiton.

Polaris has the best ride. A great bike in all trail conditions. Heavier than the others but that can be a plus for traction in mud. Like the Can-Am, it's 4wd system can be a love it or hate it kind of thing but if you understand how the system works it will get you through about anything.

The BF is also a speedster and great in all trail conditions. I like it's dif lock system as you can apply it gradually but others prefer a push button on or off system. Pricing on the BF is very good.

Beyond that, I would not eliminate the KQ750 or any of the big Artic Cats.

Other factors beyond price are what dealers are available to you and how good a reputation they have. You have a nice problem to have - ten years ago there were a few different choices, new models were actually 5 year old models (or more) with "bold new graphics".

Jaybee

-------------------------
'07 Outlander 800 XT Camo
'02 Eiger 5-sp
'02 Ozark
'96 TRX90

Old rides: '89 Warrior, '93 KQ 300, '97 Warrior, '84 LT50, '98 LT80

'07 GMC Sierra 2500HD DMax
25' six-place flatbed trailer

I couldn't have said it better.....thanks jaybeecon55! I have two sportsmans and really like them. However, if I were to go outside the box, I would be inclined to buy a grizzly. But, like jaybeecon55 said, what dealers are near you and their reputation are important. Good luck and it's about time you ditched that old Honda! LOL!

-------------------------
2007 Sportsman 800 EFI Deluxe
ITP SS108's, 26" Mud Lites, 2.5 Warn, Synthetic Rope, bumpers, Dalton Clutch, K&N

2008 Sportsman 700 EFI X2 - The Wife's
800 rims, 27" Mud Lites, 1.5" spacers, 2.5 Warn, Synthetic Rope, Dalton Clutch, K&N filter, brush guard

2007 Troy Lee Predator 500
HMF Sport exhaust, UM Racing air box, K&N filter, Jet Kit, UM bumpers, UM nerf bars, 13T Sprocket, etc...etc...

Thanks guy's. Your info was what I was looking for. The price tag doesn't matter that much as I figure it's better to get what you want the first time rather than wish you did a month later. I think it will be the grizzly or the outlander. I've got about two more months worth of saving to do so maybe I can get my hands on them to test ride.

-------------------------
WAITING,WAITING,WAITING

i would say grizzly the Irs is great for mud
the Can-am is a speed master

-------------------------
honda recon 22" mudlites
foreman 500
1985 big red 250

cant figure out how to make pics smaller to fit on my page? pm to help plz?

This is going to be a long two months. I should have never sold my 400ex until I had all the money saved for a new quad. Anyway, where I live rocks are non-existent. All we get is mud and hils. I'm likely going to order a set of mud tires before I even bring it home, (if my wife let's me). I was thinking 27 inch blackwaters. Will the grizzly have no problem turning them in the thick stuff and how well will the axle shafts hold up? I've never had any seat time on a 4 wheel drive only sport quads,but now I need to go to work every day so I need to slow things own a bit. Oh yeah, still waiting!

-------------------------
WAITING,WAITING,WAITING

get mud 27" mudlites

-------------------------
honda recon 22" mudlites
foreman 500
1985 big red 250

cant figure out how to make pics smaller to fit on my page? pm to help plz?