Arctic cat 550 , Yamaha Grizzly 550

powder burner said:
Here's the thing about Honda. Good engine, good tranny, drivetrain, except for that electronic push button shifting system. That system is garbage.

Also the Honda plastic just doesn't hold up to abuse. Always popping plastic rivets off, just a pain. Also if Honda were to make a 4x4 with IRS, they would get a lot more attention. I understand the benefits of a solid axle, but there are way smoother riding machines out there. They just need to pick up the pace with research and development.. Been lacking in that area lately.

Forgot, their ground clearance is usually a lot less than the rest.
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Honda's Rincon is IRS but but that's all i'll say.

I'm a Kawi person but of the 2 I would pick the Yamaha.
 
2003 Honda fourtrax 350 21000 on it, 12000 hours on the motor. Still going strong, burns a little oil but works like a champ. Suzuki makes a good machine too. I have a 500 king quad and it pulls like a monster, wagon full of straw(200 bales) will pull it all over the farm.
 
canadian hunter312 said:
Yamaha ATV's are heavy? My 700 is about 170lbs lighter than a sportsman 700, but I'm not sure about cats. Many people love the yamahas because they're light and sporty when compared to similar machines.

It's pretty common knowledge that Yamaha has one of the best drive systems, hence the reputation for very long belt life. Ripping wheelies and muddin in high is not an issue...

That said, I have yet to see or hear of anyone with a grizz shred a belt and many riders report getting over 7500 kms on the factory belt. I changed mine at 4500 kms even though it was well within spec which was surprising considering how I'm constantly hammering the throttle and towing cats and popo's home ;). When hooked up to something that's too heavy or too stuck the front end will come off the ground before the belt slips, as long as you have adequate traction.
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I'm glad you've had good luck with your Yammy. My Rhino on the other hand hasn't been a darling.

I'm not brand loyal so I won't get into a bashing or a pissing contest. I have gone through about 40 different ATV's over the years and they get used very hard by most anyone's standards. All I'll say is that the newer they get, they worse they get for reliability, regardless of brand. Everything is designed for light weight, ergonomics,etc. At what time does a grown man need power steering on a quad? Right before a good cry? Quads have become metrosexual and cater to urbanites who put on 50 miles a year circling their lakefront cabin.

I had a mid 80's Honda Foreman that I literally ran into the ground and it never coughed or left me walking. It got one oil change per year.... sometimes. THAT was a quality bike. Todays makes are crap in comparison. I wish I still had that one.

OK, rant off. :D
 
bearkilr said:
. Everything is designed for light weight, ergonomics,etc. At what time does a grown man need power steering on a quad? Right before a good cry? Quads have become metrosexual and cater to urbanites who put on 50 miles a year circling their lakefront cabin.

I had a mid 80's Honda Foreman that I literally ran into the ground and it never coughed or left me walking. It got one oil change per year.... sometimes. THAT was a quality bike. Todays makes are crap in comparison. I wish I still had that one.

OK, rant off. :D
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Brilliant post....I actually lol'd :). A good cry...lmao. Sigline material.
 
Me, I would go Yamaha- dependability, reliability-plus I'm partial to Yamaha-my buddy is a Yamaha 5 Star dealer. Both being equal power, both would do the job. As mentioned, I know the older AC quads were with Suzuki motors and were bullet prove...they even ran Suzuki motors in their AC sleds....I had one on in a 800 ZRT-great sled....except fit/finish was lagging way behind Yamaha.
 
Of the two, Yamaha all day. Look at their reputation with sleds, outboard motors, dirtbikes, heck even pianos. They over engineer everything I love Yammie stuff.
 
Bearkilr: you asked a question about power steering. When picking out my ATV I took power steering but with misgivings as it could be something that was subject to break down. It had nothing to do with machismo nor do I cry often. As an old beat up hockey puck my joints are toast. Riding my machine all day on wash board is no problem with PS, without PS means there is more pain than fun. Also after a number of mud baths the PS is holding up so that fear was not realised. My main point is everyone has different criteria for their choices.
 
Bland said:
Bearkilr: you asked a question about power steering. When picking out my ATV I took power steering but with misgivings as it could be something that was subject to break down. It had nothing to do with machismo nor do I cry often. As an old beat up hockey puck my joints are toast. Riding my machine all day on wash board is no problem with PS, without PS means there is more pain than fun. Also after a number of mud baths the PS is holding up so that fear was not realised. My main point is everyone has different criteria for their choices.
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I'm glad it's working out for you. If the exact same model is available with or without PS, then I have no issue with it, but there's no denying the fact it will require more costly maintenance down the road than a simple manual type steering system.
 
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Yamaha hands down. My dad has had his Big Bear 350 for 22yrs and it's still going strong. Hauled countless cords of firewood and big game without ever having a problem......legendary machine.
 
powder burner said:
Sounds like a guy who knows what he's talking about.
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Not likely unless he worked on polaris 10 years ago. My polaris quads and side by side have been bullet proof, all have waterproof weather PAC connectors everywhere, use threaded holes or captured nuts wherever possible. People seem to love bashing polaris. By the way, I also own other brands and am not at all brand loyal. I do quite dislike arctic cat though.
 
first bike was a kodiak ,was tough as nails untill i hit a deer on a trail going about 60 klicks.

bought a 660 grizzly in 2006 and nothing but rear axel problems with c clips.
wanted to try something different this year and bought a new tbx 700 cat and am now crossing my fingers after reading these posts.it will be used for hauling moose and deer out of the woods and winter ice fishing with a set of cat trax.
 
I have an 06 cat 400 with 7600 km's on the original belt,with other than a couple of wheel bearings and two cv boots runs fine. It,s pulled a couple of moose and deer with no problems and is awesome for gas mileage. My wife had a 2005 kodiak 450 and it was an awesome bike as well, we sold it with 7200 km on it,only replaced the rear brakes on it and thats it. It still had the original battery. She now has a 2010 cat TRV 400 2-up bike and so far its been 2200km of trouble free riding. Not as peppy as the kodiak but it rides better and will go through the nasty stuff easier. That being said my uncle just purchased a 2013 grizz 550 with power steering and it's a great bike and it will be on my list when I replace my 06 cat. They are both good bikes and for me it will come down to which one gives me the best deal.
 
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