howdy all - i'm in the market for a new (to me) quad, am leaning towards a polaris sportsman, likely a mid 2000's 700/800 twin. so anyways i'm on 'other' atv websites that aren't brand specific (better to not mention names i think), and man do polaris ever get bad raps....i mean people all say to stay away from older sportmans, although some have told me the XP is much better. why the bad rap all the time? i worked for a polaris dealership in the mid/late 90's, when the sportsman 500 came out and man it was unreal compared to anything else at the time....i haven't been too much around atv's since then so not sure what has changed. i'm really leaning towards a 2006 sportsman 800 i found that is bone stock, low miles and next to new, but others on the other threads i've started on those other sites all telling me no....and not just people that are die-hard to their favorite brand, i'm getting told to get anything but a sportsman like that...why? are the 700/800 twins horribly un-reliable? is the XP really that much better? i mean they made that sportman chassis for a LONG TIME so it couldn't be that bad, could it? i'm starting to think its all just poo-poo, as i remember way back then i had a 400 sport and all my friends teased me as it was 'automatic' and automatics were for chicks, but of course now they're all 'automatic (except sport quads of course), so is this just the same old people love to hate polaris type thing? having a tough time getting to the bottom of this, so thought i'd come right to the polaris 'source' and see if i can get some honest and hopefully un-biased info. i really am leaning towards a sportsman, is there some models that do deserve the bad rap? is the xp really that much better, but still reliable? sory for the life story but man this is tough to figure out - cold hard facts are hard to get from people....thanks in advance to anybody with any help on this.
why do people hate Polaris' so much!
1 reading
dgsmooth
21 - 40 of 76 Posts
I was a Honda fan until I bought this polaris 850! But the rancher at is to small and the rincon lacks a low enough first gear to spin mud tires that r even decent size!! That's how I ended up with a polaris!!
2013 850ho
Joined
·
353 Posts
A while back, I saw numbers from 2 years ago and it showed Polaris #1 in both ATV and UTV sales.
If that holds true, we may start to see Honda become innovative once again.
Joined
·
291 Posts
If they would build an IRS Rubicon they would have a unit that really competes. The Rubi is really a fun quad to ride.
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
Just say no to axle paddles
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
Just say no to axle paddles
That's what I had a 2007 rubicon. But I must say they would have to up the hp bc that trans eats up the hp on them
2013 850ho
Joined
·
2,350 Posts
As well as many others!
Joined
·
92 Posts
Can-Am deserves props for some nice stuff they have put out over the years
the 1000cc outlander is siiiiccckk
polaris is a very popular brand. and as a 2nd time atv owner ... compared to my kawasaki i owned and my brothers honda's polaris's seem to hold there own.. easier to find parts (more mass produced ) also it seems other polaris owners are very friendly and always looking to offer advice
the 1000cc outlander is siiiiccckk
polaris is a very popular brand. and as a 2nd time atv owner ... compared to my kawasaki i owned and my brothers honda's polaris's seem to hold there own.. easier to find parts (more mass produced ) also it seems other polaris owners are very friendly and always looking to offer advice
well thanks guys, that does make me feel a little less nervous about looking at a polaris....
on a side note though, there really is no questioning the general polaris bash mindset out there. on this site not so much as its a polaris site and if youre on here chances are you own a polaris. but if you go to some of the non-brand-specific sites, man do they bash polaris! i understand the mindset of bashing what you don't have, but honestly the mass's bash polaris specifically. a guy that owns a grizzly might say to get a can-am, a king quad or a brute force, but specifically warn against getting a polaris. thats a bit beyond the normal bash-what-you-dont-have mentality..... i've started threads on all of the other major non-brand forums, and on this polaris site here in this thread is the first time i think i've gotten a positive remark on polaris. maybe it really is just about bashing #1 sort of thing? in my mind there's no question the mass's bash polaris, i mean they all get bashed a little but polaris gets it at least 5 to 10 times worse than any other brand, i'm just tossed still as to if its for a reason or if its just tough being #1 type thing....
honestly guys, i like polaris, and i realize as i wrote this message that i'm sub-consciencely trying to convince myself polaris is fine and so i'll get one, but i'm not kidding, check the other site, or here's one thread i started, they REALLY hate polaris out there?!
best 4x4 under $6000, can't pick between these......
i'm still stumped.....
on a side note though, there really is no questioning the general polaris bash mindset out there. on this site not so much as its a polaris site and if youre on here chances are you own a polaris. but if you go to some of the non-brand-specific sites, man do they bash polaris! i understand the mindset of bashing what you don't have, but honestly the mass's bash polaris specifically. a guy that owns a grizzly might say to get a can-am, a king quad or a brute force, but specifically warn against getting a polaris. thats a bit beyond the normal bash-what-you-dont-have mentality..... i've started threads on all of the other major non-brand forums, and on this polaris site here in this thread is the first time i think i've gotten a positive remark on polaris. maybe it really is just about bashing #1 sort of thing? in my mind there's no question the mass's bash polaris, i mean they all get bashed a little but polaris gets it at least 5 to 10 times worse than any other brand, i'm just tossed still as to if its for a reason or if its just tough being #1 type thing....
honestly guys, i like polaris, and i realize as i wrote this message that i'm sub-consciencely trying to convince myself polaris is fine and so i'll get one, but i'm not kidding, check the other site, or here's one thread i started, they REALLY hate polaris out there?!
best 4x4 under $6000, can't pick between these......
i'm still stumped.....
Joined
·
291 Posts
Why would you downgrade from a Grizzly to a Broke Force???
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
Just say no to axle paddles
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
Just say no to axle paddles
Joined
·
7,460 Posts
honestly, the only scenario that I can compare it too is sports teams. People are SUPER loyal to the point of ridiculousness. They bash any and every team that isn't their own. Especially the number one team in their division. Assuming of course their team isn't already number 1. But you find that the team that is number one has a lot less trash to talk about the other teams. They don't have anything to prove.
Joined
·
1,521 Posts
Every one said that full floor boards, rear independent suspension, and a belt driven system on an atv was gonna be a total loss. We'll twenty-five years later the sportsman 500 is the best selling atv of all time. You do the math. I have owned several sportsman models. If I could do it all over again I would buy a new 500Ho and keep it until the day I died.
It's interesting to see you guys talking about Honda ATV's, in Australia they would be lucky to hold 10% market share. Maybe there are Honda models we don't see in Australia.
Joined
·
1,311 Posts
the sportsman 800, is a great machine. if you have found a good deal, I would get it.
Joined
·
67 Posts
The bashing started when Polaris first came out. They had chain drive which was sub-standard compared to the metric bikes at the time, and also the belts would get wet if going through any water more than floorboard high. This gave Polaris a very bad name from the start, but since then they have inproved to the point of being the leader it the atv market. I was always a Honda loyalist until I bought mt first Polaris in 2005 (500ho). :cowboy:
Joined
·
135 Posts
You know, my wife has a 2004 Trail Boss 330. It sets for extended periods of time. Usually with ethanol fuel, no battery tender etc. It has no power, weak brakes, little suspension travel and you know what? I love it. It is slow as dirt but I always smile when I ride it. Its reliable & as simple as a hammer. Granted, the footbox spars broke right off the frame because they are only butt-welded onto the frame with no additional bracing but it was an easy fix and they are now braced. I dont plan on replacing this ATV anytime soon.
Joined
·
57 Posts
Hmmm
Interesting post.
I have a 2008 Sportsman 800 Touring and love it. It has 2100 miles and has needed two repairs. An electrical wire rubbed through and the pressure fuel line rubbed through. Flawless performance, excellent reliability. I ride with an older guy (65) who has a 660 Grizzly. He is scary to watch. much of our trails are real rough, with alot of boulder hopping. His grizzly seems to be on 2 wheels more often than 4! I rode my 800 SM up a NASTY hill without problems (boulders on a side hill). I parked on top and walked back down to drive an inexperienced friends Honda 400 up the hill for him. Other than dragging bottom ALOT, it went right up. I again walked back down to ride the grizzly up for the older gentleman. What a ride! taking the same line, it was bucking the whole time and I nearly flipped it over onto myself. Scared the hell out of me. I came off the machine and was trying to tip the machine back onto all four wheels (it was pretty much standing on its back end). I finally got it back over where it belongs, but I was sure sore for a few days.
The Grizz has tons of power, but felt really unstable, like I was riding in a rodeo. Perhaps because Im used to the longer wheel base on the touring, but in rough country, that thing scared me.
Interesting post.
I have a 2008 Sportsman 800 Touring and love it. It has 2100 miles and has needed two repairs. An electrical wire rubbed through and the pressure fuel line rubbed through. Flawless performance, excellent reliability. I ride with an older guy (65) who has a 660 Grizzly. He is scary to watch. much of our trails are real rough, with alot of boulder hopping. His grizzly seems to be on 2 wheels more often than 4! I rode my 800 SM up a NASTY hill without problems (boulders on a side hill). I parked on top and walked back down to drive an inexperienced friends Honda 400 up the hill for him. Other than dragging bottom ALOT, it went right up. I again walked back down to ride the grizzly up for the older gentleman. What a ride! taking the same line, it was bucking the whole time and I nearly flipped it over onto myself. Scared the hell out of me. I came off the machine and was trying to tip the machine back onto all four wheels (it was pretty much standing on its back end). I finally got it back over where it belongs, but I was sure sore for a few days.
The Grizz has tons of power, but felt really unstable, like I was riding in a rodeo. Perhaps because Im used to the longer wheel base on the touring, but in rough country, that thing scared me.
Joined
·
476 Posts
When it comes to ATVs Honda has been number one for years. Polaris is not far behind and between both of them they have over half of the market share. Last time I looked at the numbers the other five manufacturers were fighting for like 42% of the market with Arctic Cat at the very bottom with 4%.
Joined
·
291 Posts
Polaris has beat Honda in sales. Supposedly Honda had radical changes for the 2014 model year. Yep they sure did. They dropped Camo and added white. Bs
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
A winner never quits and quitter never wins- Colt Ford
I'd rather be kayak fishing or bogging....
A winner never quits and quitter never wins- Colt Ford
Joined
·
92 Posts
i drove artic cats owned a kawasaki and drove a foreman and a trx 450 ... at the end of the day i love my scrambler. if i had the money right now i'd buy a 2012 scrambler 500 for 6k and not even think twice about it .. and the trailblazer/trailboss isnt far behind
also something i would really factor in is ... how hard is it to find parts... polaris's are a very popular machine i can think of 5 polaris dealers in a 30 mile radius of where i live compared to 2 kawasaki dealers and 1 artic cat dealer... and 1 can am dealer in a 100 mile radius
also something i would really factor in is ... how hard is it to find parts... polaris's are a very popular machine i can think of 5 polaris dealers in a 30 mile radius of where i live compared to 2 kawasaki dealers and 1 artic cat dealer... and 1 can am dealer in a 100 mile radius
21 - 40 of 76 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
