Can Am Quads,Good? Bad?

[KDX]

2009 the Polaris had the edge. Sorry for not keeping up to date. What would be an interesting test is to hook them up with some chain and see who pulls who around.

 

[hogiron]

IMHO, you get what you pay for kind-of.

If you buy a Honda it will work, very well for a long time.
it doesn't have the fanciest newest features, or the most possible power packed into the frame. It is made to run well, reliably for a LOOONG time.


I would agree, I've got a couple Honda's, never had a problem. The best thing though, is they start.
One of my nephews drove over the top of a water well, at a high rate of speed, that had about 6" of rock and concrete exposed. Had to replace both front rims, and one tire, but no damage to frame or front end. i would defiantly buy another Honda.

 

[senior]

Here's a good example of how poor Can Am's front diff is. TwoTone, as for the Can Am having the most power, that's past tense. Go look at the new Polaris 850.

[youtube]r-2f7lQYGrM[/youtube]

In fairness, the Visco lock works OK for most non-serious trail riders. The vid shows it working some, had the guy been going slower, three tires would have dug a hole it wouldn't have climbed out of when the 4th did decide to kick in. That's it's drawback, the slower you spin the longer it takes to work.

Again, who cares about hp difference unless it's to boost your ego. These are UTILITY atv's, as long as you have the torque to turn the tires & get the job done including brisk trail rides! You want a sport quad, get a sport quad. You want a race quad, get a race quad.

MHO anyway

 

[DIGGER2]

Here's a good example of how poor Can Am's front diff is. TwoTone, as for the Can Am having the most power, that's past tense. Go look at the new Polaris 850.

[youtube]r-2f7lQYGrM[/youtube]

My good friend went out and bought a new 850XP after trading in his 800. So far in 200 miles it has needed a new front end (tie rods, bushings, ball joints) which was all covered under warranty, but the bike is NEW. Also with having all the horsepower he can blow the belt on command with the thing. One thing he does like about it is the very smooth ride it provides, but overall he is not impressed with his expensive purchase. As to the Can-am 800 vs Polaris 850XP the XP weigh's about 100-110lbs heavier than the Can-am, which slows the bike and makes the Can-am a bit faster. Out of the hole my Brute Force 750i can stay right with the high horsepower boys I only loose them in the top end. If only with Honda would come out with a V-twin bike with diff-lockers and Low range and you would have a un-breakable machine that can withstand some serious abuse.

 

[bearkilr]

My good friend went out and bought a new 850XP after trading in his 800. So far in 200 miles it has needed a new front end (tie rods, bushings, ball joints) which was all covered under warranty, but the bike is NEW. Also with having all the horsepower he can blow the belt on command with the thing. One thing he does like about it is the very smooth ride it provides, but overall he is not impressed with his expensive purchase. As to the Can-am 800 vs Polaris 850XP the XP weigh's about 100-110lbs heavier than the Can-am, which slows the bike and makes the Can-am a bit faster. Out of the hole my Brute Force 750i can stay right with the high horsepower boys I only loose them in the top end. If only with Honda would come out with a V-twin bike with diff-lockers and Low range and you would have a un-breakable machine that can withstand some serious abuse.

Is your friend running stock tires? 99% of blown belts are caused by overheating of clutches, ie. running through mud in high range, especially with oversized tires.

 

[DIGGER2]

Is your friend running stock tires? 99% of blown belts are caused by overheating of clutches, ie. running through mud in high range, especially with oversized tires.

He is currently has aftermarket tires but in the stock size. He was able to blow the belt in the first 30 miles, climbing a ridge and hammered on it with the wheels turned to the left and "POOF" out went the belt. That demo was with the stock tires. He is just careful how much throttle he uses, and doesn't accelerate to heavy with the front wheels turned in 4 wheel drive. Supposedly it puts a lot of stress on the belt/drive train because of Polaris's AWD system. All wheels are trying to grip and when they are turned left or right it really increase's the resistance on the drive train causing the belt to let go under the big HP. BTW he always uses Low range when playing in the mud.

 

[bearkilr]

He is currently has aftermarket tires but in the stock size. He was able to blow the belt in the first 30 miles, climbing a ridge and hammered on it with the wheels turned to the left and "POOF" out went the belt. That demo was with the stock tires. He is just careful how much throttle he uses, and doesn't accelerate to heavy with the front wheels turned in 4 wheel drive. Supposedly it puts a lot of stress on the belt/drive train because of Polaris's AWD system. All wheels are trying to grip and when they are turned left or right it really increase's the resistance on the drive train causing the belt to let go under the big HP. BTW he always uses Low range when playing in the mud.

That's a bit surprising.......maybe the dealer should check clutch alignment.

I have an 800 6x6 with 26" Mudzillas.Few hundred miles,still on stock belt and very rough use,deep mud and hauling several hundred pounds.
Perhaps the 850 has that much more jam, who knows....

 

[canadian hunter312]

That's a bit surprising.......maybe the dealer should check clutch alignment.

I have an 800 6x6 with 26" Mudzillas.Few hundred miles,still on stock belt and very rough use,deep mud and hauling several hundred pounds.
Perhaps the 850 has that much more jam, who knows....

...or maybe its just a POS? seriously though, if the machine keeps on blowing belts there is something out of wack.

i put over 1000kms on my used 07 grizzly 700 from last may to christmas and a few hundred kilometers of that was HARD riding. i literally beat the snot out of my machine and treat it like i paid $50 for it when riding. ive done over 100 long wheelies on fields and pavement, pulled a quad for half a mile while it was in park (payback truly is a #####) on dry pavement, and gun it in 4 hi and low. the machine still performs like new.

all of those wheelies alone should have broke something by now... seems like they were in too much of a hurry to get the big 850's out and forgot to build the rest of the machine around a more powerful engine....

just checked the 850xp stats...184lbs heavier than my 700 plus you have to flip a switch for engine braking

canam and polaris are 2 POS brands ill never even consider buying.

 

[bearkilr]

...or maybe its just a POS? seriously though, if the machine keeps on blowing belts there is something out of wack.

i put over 1000kms on my used 07 grizzly 700 from last may to christmas and a few hundred kilometers of that was HARD riding. i literally beat the snot out of my machine and treat it like i paid $50 for it when riding. ive done over 100 long wheelies on fields and pavement, pulled a quad for half a mile while it was in park (payback truly is a #####) on dry pavement, and gun it in 4 hi and low. the machine still performs like new.

all of those wheelies alone should have broke something by now... seems like they were in too much of a hurry to get the big 850's out and forgot to build the rest of the machine around a more powerful engine....

just checked the 850xp stats...184lbs heavier than my 700 plus you have to flip a switch for engine braking

canam and polaris are 2 POS brands ill never even consider buying.

That switch(ADC) is for when descending steep hills, it will literally crawl down a steep slope without having to touch the brakes. Engine brake is always on, and Polaris was the first to develop it btw along with the "POS" belt drive system which everyone uses now.

Oh yeah, your Grizz has 46 HP , the 850 has 70+HP .

They've all got issues, regardless of manufacturer.

 

[88 man]

I bought an old suzuki last winter and had to chip it and pcs out of the snow and put it together.Another cgn'r help me out putting it together and it runs like and top.Our friend next door has a 2009 can am and when we go riding he's still sitting there trying to start his bike and I'm a mile away with an 18 yr old bike.Never had a bike before but not heard much good bout cam am's ever !!!!!.Just my 0.02$
88

 

[senior]

That switch(ADC) is for when descending steep hills, it will literally crawl down a steep slope without having to touch the brakes. Engine brake is always on, and Polaris was the first to develop it btw along with the "POS" belt drive system which everyone uses now.

If engine braking is always on then why do you need a ADC switch
And no, I believe Bomb & Pol are the only manufacturers left to use that old slip-the-belt" CVT system, do you even know the difference between a "Constant engaged" system & a "snowmobile type system" ??

Oh yeah, your Grizz has 46 HP , the 850 has 70+HP .

As I said if you want a sport quad get one!
Don't forget a Cummings diesel truck is only 190 HP! Hook a big trailer behind it & a 300hp gas job & see what HP means!

They've all got issues, regardless of manufacturer.

True, if you keep them long enough, just some have more than others.

 

[farmerbob]

hmmm, amazing these companies are even in business if they are really that bad. Imagine so many years of selling POS and still in business, quite amazing when you think about it

 

[captonion]

hmmm, amazing these companies are even in business if they are really that bad. Imagine so many years of selling POS and still in business, quite amazing when you think about it

Jobmate tools have been around for a very long time, and continue to sell. People don't mind buying sub par stuff IMO. Not sure why, but they do it all the time!

 

[bearkilr]

If engine braking is always on then why do you need a ADC switch
And no, I believe Bomb & Pol are the only manufacturers left to use that old slip-the-belt" CVT system, do you even know the difference between a "Constant engaged" system & a "snowmobile type system" ??

Research how the system works....... Google "Polaris ADC"
I'm well aware how clutch drive sytems works. I have 4 Rangers, 2 6x6's and 4 Polaris snowmobiles + 1 old Ski-Doo.

As I said if you want a sport quad get one!
Don't forget a Cummings diesel truck is only 190 HP! Hook a big trailer behind it & a 300hp gas job & see what HP means!

Again, do some research. My '04 Cummins(not "Cummings") has 305 factory HP, with the chip about 390. They haven't had HP below 200 since the mid- 90's. The new ones have 360 HP. A diesel engine's pulling power comes from it's high torque, not the transmission or HP.