I'm sure you guys have seen this a hundred times but I still haven't found enough information or opinions for me to decide. I will be look at 680 rincon only and 700 grizz and independent rear. I'm a die hard honda fan and have spent quite a bit of time on rincon and love the handling but hate the 3 speed and lack of power... But I have been abusing Hondas awhile now and only they seem to hold up... I have seen many belt issues with these CVT trans. Is that still a problem? The bike will see much abuse. High speed rocky, rough, tight, drifting, steep, mud, alot of wide open throttle and everything in between. The bike will be ridden hard but will have proper maintenance. Will the yamaha last and be reliable like my past with Hondas? Or will I find myself with belt head aches and regret? Opinions....

 

As long as you maintenance the grizzly she will last, dont get me wrong you might have to change a wheel bearing or something but thats it. The hondas transmissions suck, not even to mention the honda doesnt have diff lock and has no where near the ground clearance.

 

I agree for the most part. I have never actually gotten to ride a grizz 700 but I have heard the don't handle and high speed cornering. When I have a ridden rincons they haven't had the tank feel like some of the can ams and Polaris I have rode. What about the grizzly?

 

You change a belt like every 3000 miles. they cost $80 and its a half hour job, if the time ever comes.
The Grizzly 686 OHC is 45hp the 680 OHV is 39hp (same as the 550 Grizzly)
The Grizzly has AWD diff lock.
The Tow rating of the Grizzly is 1200lbs, while due to the odd 3 speed tranny of the Rincon is only rated at 850lbs.
Grizzly has a low range, the Rincon none, hence its dismal tow rating.
My 350 Grizzly has a higher tow rating(1,100lbs) then the 680 Rincon and it does not even have a low range.

I would take a 450 Grizzly or 550 Grizzly over a Rincon let alone a 700.
Belts system must be reliable since that all they offer in the high powered big bore 4x4 for a long while now.
Name a serious 4x4 ATV that does not use the CVT belt system?

If I was stuck on Honda I would get the 2014 500 Foreman ,at least it has good tow rating and will be the first Honda ATV with dif lock for 2014.
But at 28hp for a 500 4x4 it sure is not the power house of the 500 class.

Honda does not come in dead last in most all 4x4 shootouts because they are ahead of the curve.

 

x2 on everything

 

Definitely go with the grizzly more power,ground clearance, and everything else you would ever need and when I had my bruin 250 I was full open throttle 90% of the time to keep up with ex's and kodiaks and it never failed me once.I personaly wouldnt get a Honda just because I had to tow my cousins recon twice in one day because it was too cold(35 degrees F) and stalled and wouldn't start and stay alive when were just messing around on his front lawn