Your not going out on a limb,far from it. In this 500 4x4 comparison the 500 Honda Rubicon came in dead last even to the 450 Grizzly,could you imagine the 550 grizzly in its place.

The Rubicon cost more than the 420 by a long shoot.

500 Class Clash

 

i bought mine in cash but it was the same deal either way. they said they could finance it locally. And if you can't afford EPS, i wouldn't worry. I chose NOT to get it. Its very easy to steer. I couldn't justify paying another $700 for power steering. I have never had it before and was always fine. It's a nice feature, but it's not needed IMO. Would i like it? sure, but i look at it as a niceity instead of neccesity.

My second choice was the KQ, but i couldn't get over how small the racks are on that quad. They may as well jsut leave them off they are useless. Honda was in the mix but way too expensive for less tech and a smaller machine.

BTW, i have had no issues with my exhaust. I only have 50 or so miles so far, but it's been just fine. I think yamaha addressed the issue perhaps.

 

The EPS to me is as you said, a nice thing but not needed, im used to driving without it but ive just been thinking of it really. Im going in tommorow to look at another dealer to see what kind of a deal they will do.

 

I got to test drive the 550FI with EPS and Man oh man oh man. That EPS is just incredible! It just is not right. I got to try the EPS on a 850 Vtwin Polaris and that was even more insane but ehhhhh on polaris, I`m still thinking but my eyes are looking more into getting the Grizzly! That is if i can get a deal on one!

 

lol i member when i worked at the yami suzuki dealer when the grizzlys had just ben released, it was end of the day and everybody grabs the atv keys in the cabinet next to cash register and picks a quad out front outside on display and drives it back to the garage and i hopped on a grizzly 700 and i didnt know yet that they had eps and i started to drive it back and i took off pretty quick and stuff and i was so confused to why it felt so damn weird and feather like it was funny as hell.

 

That had to been alittle freaky!

 

The 850 is a parallel twin

 

Ah hmm, I always thought it was a V twin, even then, a 850 would be monster in power, Way over my limits lol.

 

The throttle profile of the 850 is very mild thru the first third of the stroke, and more aggressive thru the second 2/3's. Easy to ride, very mild mannered until you mash it, at which point it's a whole different beast. What I notice more is places I used to do 20 mph I now look down and I'm doing 40.

Way more power than the Grizzly 700 LOL!

 

Dang, ya man thats alittle to much power then I honestly need or can probaly handle. Im only 150 and that anit much on a 70HP bike lol