Cam am or Polaris

gpsmooth · Fox Joined: Oct 29, 2008 Posts: 4

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I just joined your forum as I am looking at getting a new ATV. I used to ride Pro motocrosss and street bikes but now I mostly hike, hunt and fish. But I still want to do some kick A#$ riding.

With that said the 2 bikes I am looking at are the Can Am 800 and the new Polaris 850. Booth models come with 2up seating but I'm not sure if I will use it enough to make it worth while????????

Help,

GP

grizzlander · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

gpsmooth wrote:

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With that said the 2 bikes I am looking at are the Can Am 800 and the new Polaris 850. Booth models come with 2up seating but I'm not sure if I will use it enough to make it worth while????????

Help,

GP

The Polaris 850 is not a two up machine but I heard it will be next year.

Gunny · Wolf Joined: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Utah

Here's some things to consider ... IMO ... the Polaris 850 weighs in at 784 lbs dry (no oil or gas) ... the Can-Am 800 is 663 lbs dry.

Cost wise, looking on their sites, the MSRP is (Rounded up) $10K for the Can-Am, & $9K for the Polaris.

My buddy & one brother both own Polaris (700 EFI & 500), my youngest brother owns a 2-up Can-Am 800. And I own a Yamaha Grizzly 660.

If I was buy'in a new bike, & it came down to the Polaris or Can-Am ... it'd be the Can-Am without heistation. That bike has gobs of power & the engine braking is awesome. But that's JMO.

I'm sure their are some Polaris fans here that feel way different.

If ya can, try to ride them both & see which one "Feels" best to you ... & then go for it. You'll never regret it & then you'll be out every weekend like the rest of us enjoy'in the heck out of your new ATV !!!

Ride On !!!!

Later ...

660kodiak · Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

Some more info for you......

The 09 850 Polaris has 69 HP

The 09 800 Can Am has 67 HP

The 08 800 Can Am 800 only has 61 HP

The ADC on the new 850 holds you back more so then the 800 Outlander.
(good for some riders and bad for others)

Gunny · Wolf Joined: Mar 10, 2008 Posts: 518 Location: Utah

gpsmooth ... you picked out an ATV yet ??

Let us know when ya do & post some pics .... Deal !!??

Later ....

Farmr123 · Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

As a former pro motocrosser, have you considered a sport quad?
the Polaris 550 is a very strong runner. Its lighter weight & sport handling will actually make it faster than the real big bores in a motorcross or enduro type situation. Not much experience with the sport quads of the other makes, but I'm sure they are comparable.

Not trying to throw you for a loop or anything, but just wondering if with your MX background you won't be more comfortable with a quick, light, manual shift machine instead of a big honking 4X4.

jamieZ · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 6:17 am Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

Polaris has completely redesigned there new bike the 850.With so many changes I would wait to see what the new owners are saying about them.It's a first year for this bike and I would suspect some issues. The Bombi's are nice bikes and they haven't really changed them much over the last couple of years.My observation with Bombi is the POOR underneath protection. They have pieces of plastic protecting A-arms etc. You would probably need to add some after-market skid plates.But this adds even more cost to a already expensive bike.Jamie

DCTCJT · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

I bet both machines are excellent. However, if I were buying a machine "today", I would go with the Can Am. Simply because it's been tried and proven. There has already been some talk about a couple of issue with the new 850 XP. Considering it's a completely new redesign, that's not to bad, but waiting a while would be better.

Now, if I were in the market for a new in say a year or so, I would go with the XP. I'm sure by then all the bugs and glitches will be worked out. It has a LOT of great features that seem to outstanding.

Here's a decent review on the new XP (hope it hasn't already been posted)

XP Review

jamieZ · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: Re: Cam am or Polaris

Good reveiw. I have a 2004 700 with 14,000 KMs on it. Maybe next year it will be a new 2010 under the tree. Jamie

Jimmypsp700 · Deputy Joined: Jan 10, 2005 Posts: 1190 Location: S.E. MI.

660kodiak wrote:

Some more info for you......

The ADC on the new 850 holds you back more so then the 800 Outlander.
(good for some riders and bad for others)

that ADC can be switched off.

I would say the Polaris XP other than a first year concern. It should be world class and the new standard.

The Can Am have bad front shocks and frames IMHO, you must get all the skids and armor for it.

Jim