I live in Alaska oh, my wife and I have written a 2005 and 2006 Polaris Sportsman 500 and 450 for years. Granted I am really big on routine maintenance, we have never ever had a malfunction or a problem ever. Polaris makes a great machine, Honda makes a great machine, Yamaha and Suzuki makes a great machine. They're all good it's just how you maintain them. Even the best can die if it's left to rot.
Gotta say man, glad you said this, I have a 05 500, just rebuilt the engine, only reason I had to do it was because the last owner put a Chinese piston in it. But as long as you take care of it. With the exceptions of the 1000 motors, they'll all last forever
when will we see a "shoot out" that involves more than specs and trail rides? drag some trees around, load the racks, climb some hills, tow a trailer loaded with wood, pull some implements and see which one over heats first, drown them out and see which one costs more to get back running. that to me is a utility atv shoot out. which one rides softer and is faster is not the way to measure utility atv's. it seems like none of these shows test the utility aspect of atv's. they are all about how "sporty" the bikes are. that doesn't mean squat to me.
cjr4497 look, utility machines are not meant to be compact tractors...rather than complain about the trailability factors that they focus on, just go to the local john deere or massey dealer & buy a tractor if that's what you're looking for.
Btw if you drown a honda, just get it back up and then start it... Tested by mud puppe. (If tye honda even stalls.) with polaris, its a different story.
i don't want or need a tractor. utility is in the name. utility atv's are meant to be UTILIZED for many applications. speeding around a dirt road in 2wd is one aspect hardly compares these 2 atv's ability's. tractor's are not allowed in many areas and can't be UTILIZED to haul out wood, haul out big game, drag a tree off the trail, drag an implement, or pull a trailer. hence the need for a UTILITY atv, not a sport atv, which is the way most treat them on these review's.
Your right don't do everything you know the Honda is going to feel on I said to ho made the vid Fu Honda's are the best and 470ccs vs 570ccs that is un Fair
I was looking to purchase a 500 class machine when this video came out. I am a long time Honda owner. I test drove this machine & a Honda Rubicon IRS EPS. The Polaris had a better ride quality, better power & was around $500 cheaper. I decided to give the Polaris a shot. I am 4 months into owning the Polaris 570 SP. It immediately began to not start correctly. I would turn the key & it would click like a dead battery or bad solenoid. Turn the key again, It might fire right up or it might not. After I had to walk home once I got more serious about getting this fixed. 4 months later the dealer has replaced battery, solenoid, key switch, break switch, starter and now the voltage regulator...possibly the power steering unit next. They have had the bike 1 month of my 4 month ownership. I really like this ATV when it is running. But, it is not dependable. I called the Polaris customer service line about maybe getting the bike replaced or declared a lemon. They told me I would have to work that out with the dealership & that Polaris does not have a buy back or compensation program. The dealer is not the problem they are doing everything they can to help. Poor Polaris quality and poor customer service is why I chose to write this. Show less Reply
I completely agree. my friend owns a polaris and a honda. I have ridden both. The polaris is TRASH. I repeat TRASH. the steering colum is loose and it will easily turn out from under you. I have ridden the equivelent. An '86 honda fourtrax and it has much beter handling, not even mentioning the CVT. It is trash. It does not deliver torque or speed when you need it. The DCT is always in the right gear, and engages right away. So, to sum it up, the polaris is TRASH!!!
Ozark HayandCattle yea I think the Honda is more reliable. Less power. But the how much power does a person need? The Honda has all the power I need for hunting. And has no trouble to pull a trailer loaded with five to six hundred pounds of moose meat
Did you mistreat your machine? Thats usually the problem, people get ridiculous with them and tear them up. Not saying you did this, just asking if you abused the machine like most mudders and rock climbers do.
I keep hearing about Polaris not being as good, but honestly, I bought a new polaris 500 H.O. in 2011 and have put that thing through hell the past 8 years and not 1 thing has gone wrong. 3 oil changes and 2 battery changes have been done since 2011. The thing just doesn't die or break.
I rode my honda 300 4x4 at our hunting property for 21 yrs. Everyone else had Polaris. All of us are older men and never abused our machines. Almost all polarises had some sort of problems. Never had one issue with my honda in 21 yrs. One of the other hunters even mentioned that my honda never had an issue. I gave it to my adult son. It is now 30 yrs old and the starter finally went bad. I saw him hit the decompression lever and push the kickstart with his hand and it starts first kick. Amazing machine,
You missed the most important category of them all... RELIABILITY!!! That's why people buy Hondas. Initial cost may be higher, but factor in maintenance, parts and durability over the life of the machine and the Honda will cost much less. Also, I wonder why Polaris's cheap, bullshit plastic brush guard and racks weren't mentioned?
I won't buy another honda. When they break you need a loan to fix the piece of shit. The polaris is simple and cheap to fix. The polaris engine and trans are just fine!
Honda has a reputation for solid, long lasting, and reliable engines. That is the marketing appeal and reason for more expensive price. They will also hold their value longer (like Toyota trucks over Ford as example) Riding fast and hard is may be fun if you do tricks or racing but as an investment for long term considerations you should think about the engine too. That's my 2 cents
Yeah I asked firefighters in California and Pacific Northwest why is it always Red Hondas I see and do they ever heard of CanAms?. They said Honda's survive and they are preferred as there's no breaking drive belts when in middle of nowhere.
I work at a Honda/Yamaha dealership and we sell many Polaris quads too. Those Polaris machines are of course used trade ins but normally only a couple years old. Now I am biased towards Honda but I agree 100% with the reliability argument. Honda had a couple poor transmission designs in the past but this dual clutch setup has been bullet proof for us. Polaris is not the same junk it was in the 90's, heck I own a Rzr900, but I still think Honda has better build quality especially long term. I do wish Honda would take more chances and build sportier machines to compete with Polaris, can am, and Yamaha. "Cool" products are the reason Polaris does so well, aka scrambler 1000, rzr turbo, etc. they are probably not top sellers overall but they are statement machines that keep the name out front but when it comes to overall quality Honda for the win.
I think Honda’s utility vehicles are what they’re best at not going super fast or being super comfortable but being able to work reliably every do to do what has to be done.
I have an '09 Rincon and a '16 Sportsman 570. The Sportsman has a nicer ride and more power even though the Rincon has a performance muffler and a power commander. However, the Honda has better quality suspension and drive line parts than the Polaris. I had to replace the wheel bearings and the right front and rear axles on the Polaris at around 950 miles the left front went at 1100, and the rear lived until 1400 or so. Replaced all a arm shafts and bushings too. The front differential is also a weak link. the way the front drive shaft pushes at an angle on the pinion gear causes the bearing to become loose and the seal to wear so it begins to leak. next thing you know you have no oil in the front diff and it stops engaging and disengaging. 2200 miles and my front diff is no good needs replaced at a cost or $1600.00 as per Snows Polaris in Chicora PA . Now at 2600 I need to start over plus the right front spring broke Sunday The Honda needs some work too but it is seven years older with a lot more miles. I love the performance and the drive of the Polaris but, for climbing steep hills the Rincon feels less prone to flipping over backward (I flipped the Sportsman backward right after I got it on a too steep hill atWellsville OH.) although going down steep hills is a two handed thrill ride. It feels like the front tires are trying to steer themselves and I don't get that feeling on the Polaris. The rincon doesn't ever track straight and it could be because it was wrecked or something before I got it but I've adjusted the toe numerous times and I just can't get it dialed in. On the Sportsman you can enjoy a beverage while steering comfortably with only one hand. Both Quads have the same exact tires SunF 27 inchers. Great all around tires with good side hill stability There is my two cents.
That's fine and all but Yamaha is just as reliable as Honda, I have a 2000 Kodiak 400 and I haven't broken a single thing on it. I can appreciate that you admitted to your bias but if you didn't I would have called you out on it because it's obvious. The reliability argument is the only argument Honda fans seem to have, and there are better 4wheelers with more power out there that have the same reliability. Hondas are good bikes though and they will go anywhere anything else will, it just annoys me when Honda fanbois make the same argument over and over. Personally, I'm annoyed with Yamaha and Honda for not giving us better options in terms of power and no mud package like Can-Am and Polaris.
Devilmonkey lacking the power to break itself is not reliability...it's just a lack of power. Look, I hate polaris...but if I wanted a tractor, I'd buy a used john deere...hondas are overpriced junk as far as atv's go.
Polaris's have been breaking down for years.... that's what you get when you buy Mexican crap. FYI I use to work for TEAM industries... they made parts for every ATV on the market one time or another. And Polaris has been and always will be the worst on quality. If you don't believe me go look them up on Consumer reports.
Devilmonkey that polaris' break is a given, so do any of the others that will get out of their own way. Polaris has made progress on their suspensions lasting a bit longer (bushings not needing replaced every 3 rides, lower ball joints on the strut front ends being a bit more forgiving etc). I still say honda only lasts because they do not make enough power to break themselves. The fact that it's generally an older demographic buying thim has a lot do do with them never breaking too.
Some people want realiabilty (honda). Some people want power (polaris). I've got a 01 polaris 500 ho rebuilt only because the last owner left the atv outside and wasn't taking care of it. My polaris goes through everything, from wet terrain to rough terrain. The polaris awd system is undefeatable. The power is amazing. I even raced a 2012 honda foreman and it beat it. I love my polaris and when it breaks down, it is not a major problem. I am not a honda hater. I like honda for there reliability. There built tough and also for work but when they break down there a pain in the ass to fix. I experienced with my cousin.
I'd still get the Honda. I'm orig owner and still have my '77 CT90, '91, CT70 '09 Rubi. All under powered, but all start and run great with no issues, ever!
My parents have three different Honda foreman’s that have 12,000 Miles+ on them and their fourth one is a 13 and has 9,000. You’ll never see that out of a Polaris. Honda all day!
That's what I'm saying. We have two Honda ranchers 420cc and its a 2007 model bought them in 2008. I could bet you they have over 50 to 60 thousand miles on them and they work amazingly
AJ Harris also have a 1999 Polaris with 13,000 miles on it the reason a lot of Polaris’s break down is the riders are more rough on their stuff than Honda riders in my experience I’ll give Honda riders that they don’t beat their stuff like Polaris riders do
Well you could have but you would have had to have waited and at the time there was no way that you could have known about the impending upgrade for 2020. So now you can always just trade up though selling your quad privately will bring you more money for/towards the purchase of the new one. Completely worth it if you can find a buyer quickly and easily enough where you live.
1100 km on my 2017 Polaris 570sp with one rollover (to fast on a turn and too soft of suspension, 2 rolls and no damage to bike) in 3 months of owning it. I was going to buy a Honda but no one wanted to help me and Polaris is closer to home so... both are good bikes. If you want to snorkel a Sportsman you louse the front storage, Honda I don't know. If you beat the crap out of things they will brake. Myself, I love my Sportsman. not a fan of CVT's but it seems to be doing ok. Prolonged high speed will make your feet rather warm (100km at 60-70 km/h), but hit a mud hole and things are good. If you want a work bike Honda might be best. just my 2 cents.
Yeah the new 520 only goes up to 48 mph super slow for a 500 cc class atv my 2018 570 will run al over that new honday even the honda 680 thats like the worst honda ever
48MPH? Seriously. I can remember in the late 90's checking my 1989 Honda 300 2wd on flat pavement and after a year and a half of winding out, it touched 51mph on a GPS. Seriously, even if that wasn't 100% correct, its still close and this new wave 520 will only run 48? I'll stick with my 19yr old Grizzly 660.
The real shootout totals should read: Honda 5 Polaris 2 Power & Delivery - Polaris Wins - I completely agree with Dirtrax - with 44 HP there is no denying that Polaris handily wins this category. Braking - Honda Wins - Again I agree with Dirtrax - with better front-rear breaking and engine braking the Honda wins this category. Ride Quality - Polaris Wins - Again, I agree with Dirtax - Polaris has a softer ride. Handling - Honda Wins - Sorry Dirtrax you got this wrong. Honda has superior handling, you guys said it, there is more body roll on the Polaris which is dangerous on the trails and outweighs the additional feedback through the handlebars. I don't think the EPS is better on the Polaris either. I think this category belongs to Honda. Rider Comfort - Honda Wins - The ergonomics and seat position are just better. Features - Honda Wins - Sorry Dirtrax, wrong again. The Honda includes standard brush guards, better tie down options with steel racks, ACG electrical output, auto-mode or manual shift, true diff-lock, and superior build quality. The Sportsman only has more storage and a better digital display. Honda should win the feature category easy with all things considered. Value - Honda wins - Sorry Dirtrax wrong again. I see the argument that the Polaris is cheaper but that’s because it’s made cheaper. If you want to re-label this category on which ATV is cheaper then sure Polaris will win. If you are talking about value it has to go to the Honda. The Honda will be running with less maintenance and less wear and tear, years after the Polaris is in a scrap yard. Honda is more expensive on the front end but a better long-term value.
I've had both and sportsman wins in all category's except braking but not by much. Only thing I wish Polaris would of done was put metal rack on back instead of plastic.
I’ve owned my 2011 Polaris 550 for 8 years and it’s never given me one problem and I’ve put it through hell and back. I can’t get it suck it’s been through ponds, jumps, trails, snow, heat and cold. It’s the best ATV I’ve ever had.
Outdoorsman 88 I have a 96 sportsman 500 and I’ve only changed the left side shock absorber. But I’ve had Honda 3 wheelers from the 80s and have only changed chains
you guys are drunk. quality and reliability Honda is the best. shocks can be changed tires also for ground clearance. anyone who knows anything wouldn't compare a Honda to a polaris.
17madracki17 a complete and total lack of power is all that makes hondas reliable. For the price you're paying...you may as well find a decent used X series john deere subcompact...you'll get a better ride out of it.
No matter what. You can't beat reliability. I've owned both tho a few years older. The Polaris is smoother and more powerful but uncomfortable and if you don't have the fuel injection then it has no torque due to Polaris's great CVT transmission. And yes I'm being sarcastic. But I'll buy the Honda every day of the week before I buy another Polaris.
Traded in my sportsman 570 today for a rubicon. Best choice I ever made. 2wd engine braking (non ADC programmed models), overly powerful engine brake, rough running and sometimes hard starting engine, lots of gear backlash in the trans caused tons of noise, over powered power steering programming and finally at 330 miles and 76 hours after 2 fluid changes in the front diff a large chunk of metal from a axle shaft bearing support broke off and managed to lock up the tires. Didn't crack the case, came out with the fluid but that was the last straw. A year old and the CV was flopping around and Polaris pretty much said F-off... not gonna buy another Polaris there quality is terrible. The rubicon is so much better and honestly not that much slower but performs way better over all and is more predictable. I do miss the sportsmans suspension tuning but to have 4wd engine braking, actual 2/4wd control on MY DEMAND I'm very happy. Took a hell of a lo$$ on the trade in but showed me the new Polaris products are nothing like my 98 and 05's were. Shame on Polaris....
Amazing review! However i wish you would also bring up reliability and easy of maintenance. How about reputation? I know 10s of 20 yr old honda quads still running cant say the same about Polaris. People buying UTILITY quads are most likely not worried about horsepower. Its like car reviews comparing a kia to a benz because it has all the same features and horsepower. There are some things you cant measure. I can still buy parts for a 70s model honda dirtbike. Still have a thumbs up from me however some of these things should also be mentioned and could have edged a potential buyer one way or another.
I’ve owned several of both Honda and Polaris, much of my life I bought the Honda brand, because that’s what your supposed to do. At this time I own two 570 sportsman and two 450 sportsman. My Honda’s was and aren’t better machines!! Many! Many hours of riding on my four Polaris machines and not a single problem! I also want to say without going into a lot of detail my machines are used due to a lot of land I manage. I personally love the 450 to be honest, it’s not overbearing and has good power, for what I need. Anyhow it’s everyone’s Choice and I’m sure they are both quality machines but don’t let anyone tell you Polaris is a machine that isn’t reliable they are just fine!
longboardguy of course everybody replaces their regular ridden bike every once in a while. I’ve had can ams and Honda’s , like them both. Polaris just has let their quality go down the shitter in the longevity department. The bike I’m talking about is a 96 foreman 400, which plots and drags my Drive ways in weather down to minus 40. Some people don’t disregard equipment just because it is old.
I grew up on a Polaris magnum 500 and I love it. It has lots of power when we pulled trailers and our jet skis around and also my johnboat. Polaris is a great machine besides the belt system. Honda is a great machine and I think I might get a Honda. All atvs are great you just got to take care of them.
Our 04 Foreman 450 ES is still going strong 13 years later. Had to clean the carb once, and the kill switch developed some corrosion but both were pretty minor problems/fixes. It's been through mud up to its headlights, launched our waverunner many times, thousands of kms of trails and just keeps tickin. Great machine.
There's no reason to argue which is better. I may say this because I'm a Polaris fan, but choose what you like better. People need to realize that all companies try to make money with lazily made things in at least one of the categories in the video. As much as I love my Polaris, there are things that could be nice about also getting a Honda. As I said, personal preference. And one last thing, people need to stop arguing about which is better because you're not swaying opinions of anything at all. I'd likely take any brand given a low enough price and a good deal.
Our family went up to Berlin to ride, we only had Polaris and Honda ATVs. We put them all through hell, out of the 6 Polaris ATVs all 6 of them came back with something broken; blown shocks, bent hubs, broken steering, our rzr even caught fire due to a fuel pump leak that caused 2nd degree burns to the passenger, because putting a fuel pump directly under the passenger seat was seemingly a good idea to Polaris. But out of the 4 Hondas, all 4 came back like nothing ever happened. I probably won't ever buy a machine from Polaris just because of what happened those 2 days
I have a can am 1000 and a grizzly 700 fully loaded. I don’t get all of the Yamaha hype. Think people just want to give some love to the smaller motors that’s all bc my grizzly beats my ass on the trails compared to my smooth riding can am
I’m torn between the new Rubi and Kingquad. What keeps me with the Honda side is the tow rating is up there with all the big bores. I assume fuel burn is way better on the 520 rubi than the zook 750. Sportsman had 20 more HP but is only rated to tow 20lbs more? Seems odd.
For reliability, Honda Atvs are second to none! Always have been and likely always will be. Yamaha is a very close second (I have owned as many of these as I have Hondas & they are great as well!) with Kawasaki & Suzuki tied for a very close third place reliability wise. The Japanese machines are just built to last (& they always have been) and most if not all of them are built here in the US!
Couldn't agree more with the posts here, reliability is absolutely crucial in many cases when buying an ATV. You're out on a lake when its 20 below zero, or miles from anywhere, it needs to start and run because your life depends on it. Polaris makes a real nice machine, but it will cost you more in repairs, and isn't as reliable. (2003 Foreman owner, starter is the only thing that has failed in 15 years....but has a pull start back up) :)
Dirt Traxx host has always favoured the Polaris product. I have a 2012 Honda Foreman and even pulled out a bull elk whole with it not having the locking differential. Although I had some minor problems with the electrical shifter due to heavy packing grease. I have over 7000 kms on it and it’s a tank indestructible. The Honda is a purchase for the long haul.
My 2008 450 Sportsman has only had the bushings replaced, which was my fault, and the battery. I'd say that's pretty good for the long haul and it's still running great.
Had both brand. The extra grand for reliability and lower maintenance on the honda is well worth it. Especially if you work hard with it. I love my sportsman but there is always something to fix on it.
I have owned 5 Polaris in the last 20 years and only had to be towed out of the woods once. Have never broken an OEM belt and 2 belts overall, it's mostly knowing how to ride them and use low gear when necessary. My current Sportsman 1000 (and most all) are way more fun to ride too!
@@skipperskipper2936 haha. i still have my 2000 scrambler 400. On my 3rd sportsman because I wanted to update to powrstreeing etc. Other was side by side RZR and Snowmobile. I've sold 2 sportsman in 20 yrs.
Impressive Review !! Superb narration with flawless sequential editing and equipment demonstration !! I have about $6000.00 saved up and I'm stuck between a Honda, Polaris, or Yamaha . . . guess I just have to watch more vids here . . . but thanks !!
Really is comes down to personal preference. Polaris = Loads of power but is a big POS that is going to break a lot unless you get a miracle bike if we being honest here... lol Honda = Slow as hell and rough as hell but is going to give you every pennies worth out of it.
Moe Sparks that's pretty much it moe, many people get hooked on all the power and comfortable ride so they don't care if it isn't reliable . I've owned 2 of them , if you want to play the Polaris lottery then I would personally stick 570cc and below . Once you go 850cc and up its a Crap shoot. If you don't need a ton of power, stick with Japanese brands for reliability .
Ummm.....Me and all my friends have Polaris Wheelers. And we beat the ever living shit out of them every time we take them out and have NEVER had even a glitch...Personally I have a Scrambler 1000. I have never wanted for more power. And the stock clutching is about perfect for what that machine was designed for.
A 2018 Polaris Sportsman 450 HO vs 2018 Yamaha Kodiak 450 seems like a "must do" comparison. The entry level for both are $6,000 USD. Let us hear what you guys think about these two nice utility ATV's.
ROTAXD You probably dont even own a atv... and if you do you have 350cc comanche. Honda doenst have much HP, and its not really FAST. But its a lot lighter than polaris, and it has the REAL locker. You can easily spin 34" Outlaws with STOCK axels, etc. With polaris, max 28 with stock axles. If you dont believe, check mud puppy. And its bomb proof. (Btw car is really bad example of a atv bomb proofnes.)
ッOG BassHead I don’t doubt what you say about Hondas spinning that kinda tire but Honda needs to make higher hp atv’s before I buy another 8 to 10k is a little step for something making 23 hp. I have a 2003 foreman rubicon and I love it but my 07 brute force 750 is way more fun to drive but I blew a valve seal on it cause I ran it a little to hard at a mud hole at my buddies house. But I think Honda atvs would be worth my money again if they would at least step the rubicon up to a 700 with 50-60 hp I would shell out 10k for that. And the rhincon is not an excuse for there 700 cause it looks like shit and is a pile of shit my friend had one and it blew the head within 2 or 3 months of owning it and he babied that thing like it was his child
ROTAXD if I can run my engine on half water I’m going than you can’t tell me power is the problem also gear reduction exists and it can really crank up the low end torque
What about build quality? That's the biggest deciding factor in my mind when buying a 500cc machine. And speaking from experience, do not buy a Polaris. Built like trash with lots of cheap parts.
Nothing tops Honda reliability. We've had 2 Ranchers with 20,000+ miles each, a first gen Rubicon that still runs like a dream today and a bunch of other bulletproof Hondas. Many others around here in the oil business will trust nothing but a Honda for their day to day grind. Give me a Honda over any other regardless of price any day of the week.
dash 11 personally from my experience I've owned 2 Polaris one is a scrambler 1000 and a 03 700 sportsman they've been reliable as he'll so far we also own 2 Honda sports quads and my dad's already had to take them into the shop
I'm going to have to agree with Drew Craft on this one...I too have a Scrambler 1000 and have NEVER had any issues at all other than eating up fuel like it's going out of style. I beat the ever livin shit out of it every time I get on it and if it can stand up to my abuse. It's a good product. I'm not saying Hondas are crap because quite frankly they aren't. They're just not for me.
Glad you guys have good had good luck! I bought a rzr xp brand new and what a $hit box. Currently waiting on a starter for it. I have had Yamaha's and Can-ams and will be going back to one of the 2 soon hopefully.
dash 11 you guys that own this shit probably dont even treat it good you guys just like Honda's because nothing has to be done to them maybe if you guys knew how to take care of your shit maybe it will actually run right
I had a Polaris 400 sportsman and it's been long ago I can't remember the year. it had a 425 cc motor and I couldn't believe the power it had for a 400. it was built like a tank and never had a problem with it.
some do. I know of a couple Rubicon 500's that have been in pieces for over a decade. The ones from the 80's and 90's were bulletproof. They also were simple with less features to go wrong, kind of like old Toyotas. They built their reputation off of cars that had a clock or air conditioning for an add on option
My 1986 Honda Fourtrax 350, is the most reliable machine i ever owned. Only let me down after the 31 year old clutch died. Honda for life! That was fixed. Runs as good as new now! P.S i own a 2001 Polaris Trailblazer 250......its gross😝
I have a 91 fourtrax 350. I've owned since 2004. Been to the Rockies with it almost yearly. I've pulled many broken quads out of the trails there. Only thing I've replaced on all those years is a front driveshaft.
I prefer the manual. It's more reliable and it lets you be in the gear you want. And don't bullshit me about the snowmobile clutch in the Polaris being just as reliable, I've seen belts burn on work machines because you can't tell it what to do. With a real transmission and a shifter the worst you're gonna do with that low HP number is spin the wheels and bury it. You can dig out and ride on, you toast belt you're getting towed or doing a ton of work to change it. Hell, it's completely encased in body work.
We prefer the foot shift on our farm it is superior in working situations except in deep mud then it does suck pretty bad. But deep mud isn't super common where I live unless you're always at the bottom of a creek
InsanityJoe87 We have a polaris sportsman 500 and we use it al the time to work really hard and play really hard, the first time we had issues was when the belt needed replacement after 10 years, also the low range works really great for riding with a trailer, and the ground clearance makes its towbar almost as high as a bakkie
I don’t know why everyone always says the Honda is under powered, and it only has 30 hp, but the reason it has low hp is because it has more torque. In fact Hondas have more torque than either most or all other atvs in that same engine size category.
You are saying the honda lacks power but forget to mention its almost 100 ccs smaller engine boar if you want to replace 27 belts a year biy polaris if you want something to plow your drive way in -45c get a honda
I’ve got both a Honda Rancher 420 and a Polaris Sportsman 570. The Honda I bought new in 2010 and it has been amazing. It’s 2WD and I have gotten stuck quite a few times. But it’s all fun either way. But I do like the ride and suspension on the Polaris much better. Was thinking about buying the Honda in this video but suspension and that transmission was why I settled on the Polaris for me. It’s all in what you are looking for. I think it’s just preference at the end of the day. Happy riding everyone! 👍🏼
you've helped me make up my mind on the beater/borrowed workhorse around the house. thanks for providing reviews that manufacters cannot without biasing towards thier products.
My dad bought a 1988 Honda 350d fourtrax foreman when he graduated. Every day that fourwheeler would go out into the pasture round up all the dairy cows and bring them into the milking barns. Around 2009 the Farm bought two new Honda rancher‘s. So the foreman sat in back of the machine shed for about 10 years. Last year when I wanted a fourwheeler for my self I went and pulled her out of that shed put a new battery in her and she started right up. Till this day that four wheeler still runs now it’s not in the best of shape but when my dad bought it someone told him that the body would fall apart around the engine and so far that’s exactly what it’s done. Honda all day!
This video is from 2017. This is 2019. I own both of these. One constantly breaks. The other never breaks. I will never by a Polaris or Indian or anything from that company again. They have gotten all the money from me that they ever will. Let's begin: occasionally the belt housing gets water in it and it slips. You have to pull the plug to drain the water out and let it dry out. The extra ground clearance disappears with the softer suspension and you are literally squatted everwhere you go. You can stiffen this up. You have to if you are a grown man. The battery is located on the bottom of the frame. It goes through every obstacle that part of the machine goes through. Amazingly this has been little issue except I had to replace the battery. Maybe not a big deal. The cooling fan went out. Beyond my skill so back to the dealer. The front storage is great but the rubber latches fall apart with a little sunshine. The CV axles have both been replaced in the back. Hitting Reverse is a little tricky even though it is obvious. The headlights are held in by an o-ring that rots and falls off pretty quickly. The headlight bulbs have been replaced. The throttle lever literally broke off! Must happen often, there were aluminum aftermarket ones to buy. The single rear brake that stops both wheels through the differential cylinder hung/froze up. I had to rebuild the cylinder and rotor and pads. It will run like a scalded dog. It has the big front storage and the trailer hitch. Those are the best features. I like the longer seat but the Honda seat is softer. Since it runs so well, you have to put gas in it more often than a smaller displacement machine. You also have the grease zerks that you need to hit all the time but don't for some reason. They ride more or less the same. The information between the handlebars is not that useful on any machine when riding. Polaris has sold a lot of machines on specs alone but they are not realized by the rider. You need to be a decent mechanic or you will spend most of your time paying for fixes. At least we have RUclips and access to parts.
if you have the money and the time to always taking your bike to shop a Polaris is the bike for you.They make a great lawn ornament. On the other hand if you want reliability and all around bike, Honda is the machine for you.
Ask the US military the same question. Ive spent time with a few of their guys who used Polaris ATVs and if their stories are to be believed... rolling down a hill didnt stop the Polaris for a second. I do appreciate your comment though and thanks for watching.
I wonder who at Polaris is giving dirt trax bjs because seems like Polaris wins every shoot out they do, but I know first hand Polaris is the biggest pos on the market. But to each there own I guess
Carolina Trail Riders Yeah, I agree, somebody must be paying as well as schlong sucking DT off for these fantabulous bullshit reviews. Only thing about Polaris is their current atv models look better than the old scoots. Their reliability has been shit, is shit and unless they change up, Will still Be utter shit. So yeah I'll say Poolaris is the Shit!
One thing that you didn't cover is that these are both utility ATV's. Work vehicles. Hook them up to pulling something like a disc for four hours. My money would be on the Honda. Every Honda that I have owned was bulletproof!
That's not true at all. Honda is a bomb proof. I have sunk my honda in water a couple times and I didn't even have to take the spark plug out and drain the engine. Also my foreman can easily do 60 mph with 2 people on it. Just to add to that Polaris don't have a front diff locker. Honda and Yamaha are the only companies with a true locker.
What your not realizing (& a lot of people don't) about the front diff of the Polaris is that it is always locked when the 4wd system is engaged, and the reason that they can make that work without the steering being heavy all the time is that their awd system from the start of them making four wheel drive Atv's since the late 80's, is that their system, when you slide the button to awd mode, the vehicle is still only being driven by the rear wheels until it detects slip, that being a difference in speed between the rear axle and the front, at which point the system engages the front drive which is already locked left to right and then once the axle speeds are equalized it reverts to rear wheel drive until it detects slip again. The system does work well and the quad gets great traction but I still prefer to control the selection of the drive modes myself and that, along with the separate and therefore better control of the brakes along with better ergonomics and of course top notch reliability is why I think the Honda is still the superior machine, but the Polarises are incredibly capable as well if not sometimes more so in certain situations and conditions.
Keith Fleming futv buy a honda if you want to be sore and take forever to get wherever you're going. Polaris only breaks when you have retards buying them & trying to ride it like it's a 2 stroke racebike.
Buy a Honda cause it don't have enough power to break itself and is a boring ride and can't turn big tires in the mud. Buy a sport man if your a real man and know part of having fun is breaking things. Who the fuck want to have a boring ass ride on a Honda. I'd leave your ass in the hole unable to get out as I rip through having a blast.
Why does everybody think polaris is unreliable. I have a polaris trail boss 325. 2000. We got it used for 1000$ and all it needed was a chain and tires. I've had it for 3 years. And I've abused the shit out of it. And still drives and rides like a champ.
I hear that the radiator on the Polaris gets sprayed with mud leading to overheating? Up here in Alaska, a pull start is critical...does either the Honda or Polaris come with pull-start?
On ATVs it really doesn’t matter how fast you can go in the mud and on the trail on the rocks and the dct/esp is completely outshined by the foot shift option
My 1988 Honda foreman is still running Strong in Montana so I bought a2018 Honda foreman rubicon. I had a Polaris sportsman 500 it rode great but I had a couple belt problems
I have an older Honda with ranger fuel injection and it hasn’t been to the shop since I bought it in 2012. It has amazing power and it came with a trailer hitch mount.
My 2016 570 sportsman fuel pump went out at 15 hours and 75 miles but was over its warranty time. I have owned 3 Polaris machines now and find them to be cheaply built but function well. I have considered switching back to Honda but wish the Rubicon had more power and do not care for the dct trans or the electronic shift version. If I had to do it over again I probably would have bought the Honda though.
I don't even consider Polaris as an option when it comes to atvs or utvs. I've had 18 machines and 19th is on order. Polaris has been the worst brand I've owned. Power is great, comfort is great, but Polaris is cheaply built and has the worst warranty on the market, I do not trust them anymore what so ever.
Can Am Adventures I work at a Polaris, Can am, kawasaki dealer...we have more issues with can am products than anything by a wide margin...just saying Good luck with can am warranty department too when it catches on fire. (27 cases in the last 17 months)
I have had 4 polaris no problem what so ever wore two of them out have a rzr and sportsman . spoetsman has 16000 miles still going strong .if honda put a motor like the ex 400 on a quad then they would have a bike
mike benoit I had a can am it ran like a top for the first year after then it was junk I put 3 tear ends in it 4 front ends bearings had to be replaced in the motor even had a whole wheel hub and all wheel fell off one day causing me to get hurt actually pretty bad and I didn’t romp on it 24/7 I don’t care for them anymore
Thanks for the shootout. I like how you categorized your comparison. These are both quads that interest me, especially as a Honda owner. There are many gray areas that boil down to subjective tastes, as you pointed out. It's hard to argue with figures like volume, suspension travel, horsepower, and price. As you've said before in other Honda reviews, Honda owners (like me) know what they're getting with a Honda, and their Honda delivers. I want to try a Polaris, but I don't know I'm willing to risk my hard-earned $ on that experiment.
What a great comment. Thank you. I tell alot of people this... if your happy with what you have, its not a bad idea to stick with it. The Polaris will be better in all the ways we talked about in the video, but you need to know what the priority is for YOU and buy a vehicle that satisfies it. If the honda has what you want most, go for it. It IS a great ATV.
Notice how everbody bashes Polaris and their quality? why.... they've probably have owned one at some point. *I'll take a Yamaha or Honda any day* TBH i haven't tried a Can-Am but They look sharp.
Devilmonkey I love my 2008 Yamaha Kodiak 450. Bought it last summer, had 92h, 1,000kms. It's tough, never gets stuck. Yamaha and Honda for sure the top bets.
Same here, 1100 miles on my 570...trails, sand dunes, mud...not one issue either. An AGM battery and some Duro Buffalo tires made my machine unstoppable so far. Mine also is not a submarine.
we do alot of moose hunting beat the Honda for ever never broke down I think your played off Polaris Honda is twice the machine Polaris are cheaper because there made cheap
we use atvs for ranch purposes. we have 2 300 fourtrax, 5 ranchers, a 2016 rubicon and a 2016 rincon. we have had polaris atvs in the past and all they are good for is keeping the parts counter open. my cousin bought a 2015 570 sportsman and it was traded on a rubicon in less that 6 months due to parts breakage. polaris atvs simply do not hold up for our purpose. honda's suspension has come a long way as well. still not as silky smooth as a polaris but good enough to not leave you feeling beat up at the end of the day.
I live in Alaska oh, my wife and I have written a 2005 and 2006 Polaris Sportsman 500 and 450 for years. Granted I am really big on routine maintenance, we have never ever had a malfunction or a problem ever. Polaris makes a great machine, Honda makes a great machine, Yamaha and Suzuki makes a great machine. They're all good it's just how you maintain them. Even the best can die if it's left to rot.
100 percent all machines last unless they are Chinese if you maintain them and don’t take them deeper than the seat in water all machines are good
Gotta say man, glad you said this, I have a 05 500, just rebuilt the engine, only reason I had to do it was because the last owner put a Chinese piston in it. But as long as you take care of it. With the exceptions of the 1000 motors, they'll all last forever
I have owned several POLARIS 4 wheelers and never had problems it's HONDA people that bad mouth POLARIS because their jealous
Current quality of everything is not what what it was in 2005. You have some of the best sportsman years...don't ever sellthem....
@@tylerrusty1122 why did they put Chinese parts? Oh wait it,s been re.built twice.
when will we see a "shoot out" that involves more than specs and trail rides? drag some trees around, load the racks, climb some hills, tow a trailer loaded with wood, pull some implements and see which one over heats first, drown them out and see which one costs more to get back running. that to me is a utility atv shoot out. which one rides softer and is faster is not the way to measure utility atv's.
it seems like none of these shows test the utility aspect of atv's. they are all about how "sporty" the bikes are. that doesn't mean squat to me.
Exactly!!!
cjr4497 look, utility machines are not meant to be compact tractors...rather than complain about the trailability factors that they focus on, just go to the local john deere or massey dealer & buy a tractor if that's what you're looking for.
Btw if you drown a honda, just get it back up and then start it... Tested by mud puppe. (If tye honda even stalls.)
with polaris, its a different story.
i don't want or need a tractor. utility is in the name. utility atv's are meant to be UTILIZED for many applications. speeding around a dirt road in 2wd is one aspect hardly compares these 2 atv's ability's. tractor's are not allowed in many areas and can't be UTILIZED to haul out wood, haul out big game, drag a tree off the trail, drag an implement, or pull a trailer. hence the need for a UTILITY atv, not a sport atv, which is the way most treat them on these review's.
Your right don't do everything you know the Honda is going to feel on I said to ho made the vid Fu Honda's are the best and 470ccs vs 570ccs that is un Fair
I was looking to purchase a 500 class machine when this video came out. I am a long time Honda owner. I test drove this machine & a Honda Rubicon IRS EPS. The Polaris had a better ride quality, better power & was around $500 cheaper. I decided to give the Polaris a shot. I am 4 months into owning the Polaris 570 SP. It immediately began to not start correctly. I would turn the key & it would click like a dead battery or bad solenoid. Turn the key again, It might fire right up or it might not. After I had to walk home once I got more serious about getting this fixed. 4 months later the dealer has replaced battery, solenoid, key switch, break switch, starter and now the voltage regulator...possibly the power steering unit next. They have had the bike 1 month of my 4 month ownership. I really like this ATV when it is running. But, it is not dependable. I called the Polaris customer service line about maybe getting the bike replaced or declared a lemon. They told me I would have to work that out with the dealership & that Polaris does not have a buy back or compensation program. The dealer is not the problem they are doing everything they can to help. Poor Polaris quality and poor customer service is why I chose to write this.
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I completely agree. my friend owns a polaris and a honda. I have ridden both. The polaris is TRASH. I repeat TRASH. the steering colum is loose and it will easily turn out from under you. I have ridden the equivelent. An '86 honda fourtrax and it has much beter handling, not even mentioning the CVT. It is trash. It does not deliver torque or speed when you need it. The DCT is always in the right gear, and engages right away. So, to sum it up, the polaris is TRASH!!!
Ozark HayandCattle yea I think the Honda is more reliable. Less power. But the how much power does a person need? The Honda has all the power I need for hunting. And has no trouble to pull a trailer loaded with five to six hundred pounds of moose meat
Polaris makes better UTVs in my opinion but you can’t beat Honda when it soles to ATVs
Did you mistreat your machine? Thats usually the problem, people get ridiculous with them and tear them up. Not saying you did this, just asking if you abused the machine like most mudders and rock climbers do.
Lol typical polaris
I keep hearing about Polaris not being as good, but honestly, I bought a new polaris 500 H.O. in 2011 and have put that thing through hell the past 8 years and not 1 thing has gone wrong. 3 oil changes and 2 battery changes have been done since 2011. The thing just doesn't die or break.
I have both of these machines… the Sportsman out preforms the Honda but the Honda seems to be bullet proof.
@@sevenspineiii7524 Sounds like his Polaris is too. I know my 08 450 Sportsman has had less than $150 in repairs with 4k miles.
Fuji life
I rode my honda 300 4x4 at our hunting property for 21 yrs. Everyone else had Polaris. All of us are older men and never abused our machines. Almost all polarises had some sort of problems. Never had one issue with my honda in 21 yrs. One of the other hunters even mentioned that my honda never had an issue. I gave it to my adult son. It is now 30 yrs old and the starter finally went bad. I saw him hit the decompression lever and push the kickstart with his hand and it starts first kick. Amazing machine,
You missed the most important category of them all... RELIABILITY!!! That's why people buy Hondas. Initial cost may be higher, but factor in maintenance, parts and durability over the life of the machine and the Honda will cost much less. Also, I wonder why Polaris's cheap, bullshit plastic brush guard and racks weren't mentioned?
THANK YOU.
it is a pain in the rear to strap anything down on a polaris. i don't know whey they still have that junk.
I was about to comment you forgot the most important category. Reliability. But you beat me to it and said it better then I ever could have. 👌
I won't buy another honda. When they break you need a loan to fix the piece of shit. The polaris is simple and cheap to fix. The polaris engine and trans are just fine!
Kris N thank you and there super reliable never had any trouble
you don't mention reliability. -the MOST IMPORTANT.
Honda person 😂🖕🖕
But you have to remember, this guy is probably autistic, so be nice to him.
Polaris is reliable, and most people won't keep there quad for 20 years. Pluse replacing a belt every half a year is well worth it
Both are ultra reliable
@@gatorunleashed275 nothing is ultra reliable.
Honda has a reputation for solid, long lasting, and reliable engines. That is the marketing appeal and reason for more expensive price. They will also hold their value longer (like Toyota trucks over Ford as example)
Riding fast and hard is may be fun if you do tricks or racing but as an investment for long term considerations you should think about the engine too. That's my 2 cents
Hi whtat do you think about CF ATV Quality?
Nice...same Opinion with me bud
agreed
Yeah I asked firefighters in California and Pacific Northwest why is it always Red Hondas I see and do they ever heard of CanAms?. They said Honda's survive and they are preferred as there's no breaking drive belts when in middle of nowhere.
@@santiagogamboa4484 super gay
Polaris might be better new but the honda will outlast it
Shook this reminds me of comparing a z71 to a frontier pro-4x
With the Chevy being the Polaris and the Nissan being the Honda
For sure
Kalil H Chevrolet would out last a Nissan easy
Your dam right it will
Even the old Artic cats out last Polaris. 2000 cat 500 has 5600 miles on it and still does circles around any Polaris.
I work at a Honda/Yamaha dealership and we sell many Polaris quads too. Those Polaris machines are of course used trade ins but normally only a couple years old. Now I am biased towards Honda but I agree 100% with the reliability argument. Honda had a couple poor transmission designs in the past but this dual clutch setup has been bullet proof for us. Polaris is not the same junk it was in the 90's, heck I own a Rzr900, but I still think Honda has better build quality especially long term. I do wish Honda would take more chances and build sportier machines to compete with Polaris, can am, and Yamaha. "Cool" products are the reason Polaris does so well, aka scrambler 1000, rzr turbo, etc. they are probably not top sellers overall but they are statement machines that keep the name out front but when it comes to overall quality Honda for the win.
probably the smartest comment so far.
I think Honda’s utility vehicles are what they’re best at not going super fast or being super comfortable but being able to work reliably every do to do what has to be done.
Polaris owns market share in the ORV market. And they do build a better product. Tested both and work at a Polaris, Honda, and Can Am dealership.
I have an '09 Rincon and a '16 Sportsman 570. The Sportsman has a nicer ride and more power even though the Rincon has a performance muffler and a power commander. However, the Honda has better quality suspension and drive line parts than the Polaris. I had to replace the wheel bearings and the right front and rear axles on the Polaris at around 950 miles the left front went at 1100, and the rear lived until 1400 or so. Replaced all a arm shafts and bushings too. The front differential is also a weak link. the way the front drive shaft pushes at an angle on the pinion gear causes the bearing to become loose and the seal to wear so it begins to leak. next thing you know you have no oil in the front diff and it stops engaging and disengaging. 2200 miles and my front diff is no good needs replaced at a cost or $1600.00 as per Snows Polaris in Chicora PA . Now at 2600 I need to start over plus the right front spring broke Sunday The Honda needs some work too but it is seven years older with a lot more miles. I love the performance and the drive of the Polaris but, for climbing steep hills the Rincon feels less prone to flipping over backward (I flipped the Sportsman backward right after I got it on a too steep hill atWellsville OH.) although going down steep hills is a two handed thrill ride. It feels like the front tires are trying to steer themselves and I don't get that feeling on the Polaris. The rincon doesn't ever track straight and it could be because it was wrecked or something before I got it but I've adjusted the toe numerous times and I just can't get it dialed in. On the Sportsman you can enjoy a beverage while steering comfortably with only one hand. Both Quads have the same exact tires SunF 27 inchers. Great all around tires with good side hill stability
There is my two cents.
That's fine and all but Yamaha is just as reliable as Honda, I have a 2000 Kodiak 400 and I haven't broken a single thing on it. I can appreciate that you admitted to your bias but if you didn't I would have called you out on it because it's obvious. The reliability argument is the only argument Honda fans seem to have, and there are better 4wheelers with more power out there that have the same reliability. Hondas are good bikes though and they will go anywhere anything else will, it just annoys me when Honda fanbois make the same argument over and over. Personally, I'm annoyed with Yamaha and Honda for not giving us better options in terms of power and no mud package like Can-Am and Polaris.
Polaris makes nice stuff.
BUT years of reliability and toughness surround Honda.
1984-2001. Then they quit trying until it was too late.
Sadly Hondas line up is pretty lack luster. I bought a 2020 polaris 570. 7900 out the door. Ive owned every brand. They all have their problems.
And Suzuki
Honda’s are reliable because there slow and they have like no horsepower
Noob Noob lol no my rubicon tops out at 57... not fast enough?
I got a Honda and it's a tank
I'll take a Yamaha or Honda any day over a Polaris
I wan't reliability
Devilmonkey lacking the power to break itself is not reliability...it's just a lack of power. Look, I hate polaris...but if I wanted a tractor, I'd buy a used john deere...hondas are overpriced junk as far as atv's go.
Polaris's have been breaking down for years.... that's what you get when you buy Mexican crap.
FYI I use to work for TEAM industries... they made parts for every ATV on the market one time or another.
And Polaris has been and always will be the worst on quality.
If you don't believe me go look them up on Consumer reports.
Devilmonkey that polaris' break is a given, so do any of the others that will get out of their own way. Polaris has made progress on their suspensions lasting a bit longer (bushings not needing replaced every 3 rides, lower ball joints on the strut front ends being a bit more forgiving etc). I still say honda only lasts because they do not make enough power to break themselves. The fact that it's generally an older demographic buying thim has a lot do do with them never breaking too.
Some people want realiabilty (honda). Some people want power (polaris). I've got a 01 polaris 500 ho rebuilt only because the last owner left the atv outside and wasn't taking care of it. My polaris goes through everything, from wet terrain to rough terrain. The polaris awd system is undefeatable. The power is amazing. I even raced a 2012 honda foreman and it beat it. I love my polaris and when it breaks down, it is not a major problem. I am not a honda hater. I like honda for there reliability. There built tough and also for work but when they break down there a pain in the ass to fix. I experienced with my cousin.
Hondas are basically bullet proof tho. And they start up easily
Kawasaki brute force
Charles Smith Smith Get a grizzly it’s a more powerful but slightly less reliable honda
Heck yeah ol son
Facts
Bullet proof? The better be for that price along with that low HP!
I'd still get the Honda. I'm orig owner and still have my '77 CT90, '91, CT70 '09 Rubi. All under powered, but all start and run great with no issues, ever!
Do a cost of ownership comparison. Over a year or two.
My parents have three different Honda foreman’s that have 12,000 Miles+ on them and their fourth one is a 13 and has 9,000. You’ll never see that out of a Polaris. Honda all day!
That's what I'm saying. We have two Honda ranchers 420cc and its a 2007 model bought them in 2008. I could bet you they have over 50 to 60 thousand miles on them and they work amazingly
AJ Harris I have browning 500 sportsman 06 Polaris with 11,000 miles on it and it still works I don’t believe this sorry
AJ Harris it’s never given me any problems
AJ Harris also have a 1999 Polaris with 13,000 miles on it the reason a lot of Polaris’s break down is the riders are more rough on their stuff than Honda riders in my experience I’ll give Honda riders that they don’t beat their stuff like Polaris riders do
I still have a 1986 honda 200 six and runs like new
Bought a new 2018 Rubicon and love it. Wish I could have got the 2020 with the new 517 engine.
Well you could have but you would have had to have waited and at the time there was no way that you could have known about the impending upgrade for 2020. So now you can always just trade up though selling your quad privately will bring you more money for/towards the purchase of the new one. Completely worth it if you can find a buyer quickly and easily enough where you live.
1100 km on my 2017 Polaris 570sp with one rollover (to fast on a turn and too soft of suspension, 2 rolls and no damage to bike) in 3 months of owning it. I was going to buy a Honda but no one wanted to help me and Polaris is closer to home so... both are good bikes. If you want to snorkel a Sportsman you louse the front storage, Honda I don't know. If you beat the crap out of things they will brake. Myself, I love my Sportsman. not a fan of CVT's but it seems to be doing ok. Prolonged high speed will make your feet rather warm (100km at 60-70 km/h), but hit a mud hole and things are good. If you want a work bike Honda might be best. just my 2 cents.
my polaris with 2000km on it cost me thousands in repairs, got a grizzly and it costs me so far zero in the last 4 years
Honda now has a 2020 Rubicon 520 cc I'd like to see another shootout!
Yeah the new 520 only goes up to 48 mph super slow for a 500 cc class atv my 2018 570 will run al over that new honday even the honda 680 thats like the worst honda ever
my 420 rancher will run faster than the 520 my 420 will run 56 but average out 50 to 52
thats why honda last a long time since they have very little power
48MPH? Seriously. I can remember in the late 90's checking my 1989 Honda 300 2wd on flat pavement and after a year and a half of winding out, it touched 51mph on a GPS. Seriously, even if that wasn't 100% correct, its still close and this new wave 520 will only run 48? I'll stick with my 19yr old Grizzly 660.
I can't believe how slow they are 48mph lol, I had a Yamaha tri Moto 125 three-wheeler in the 80's that would go 45mph lmfao 😂
1000 miles on my 2014 sportsman 570 eps
$1500 in repairs so far.
And the steering post is loose in the non serviceable eps
I have a 2013 sportsman 500 and have put almost 2,000 into it and my steering is loose aswell
Have put bearings 3 cv shafts bushings brakes and driveshaft bearings into it
I got a tip for you buy a honda.!
1000 miles on my 570 and $50 in repairs.
23000 on my honda and no engine faults
Ive had the 450 HO for 2 years and has been a rock solid beast, really comfortable as well
The real shootout totals should read:
Honda 5
Polaris 2
Power & Delivery - Polaris Wins - I completely agree with Dirtrax - with 44 HP there is no denying that Polaris handily wins this category.
Braking - Honda Wins - Again I agree with Dirtrax - with better front-rear breaking and engine braking the Honda wins this category.
Ride Quality - Polaris Wins - Again, I agree with Dirtax - Polaris has a softer ride.
Handling - Honda Wins - Sorry Dirtrax you got this wrong. Honda has superior handling, you guys said it, there is more body roll on the Polaris which is dangerous on the trails and outweighs the additional feedback through the handlebars. I don't think the EPS is better on the Polaris either. I think this category belongs to Honda.
Rider Comfort - Honda Wins - The ergonomics and seat position are just better.
Features - Honda Wins - Sorry Dirtrax, wrong again. The Honda includes standard brush guards, better tie down options with steel racks, ACG electrical output, auto-mode or manual shift, true diff-lock, and superior build quality. The Sportsman only has more storage and a better digital display. Honda should win the feature category easy with all things considered.
Value - Honda wins - Sorry Dirtrax wrong again. I see the argument that the Polaris is cheaper but that’s because it’s made cheaper. If you want to re-label this category on which ATV is cheaper then sure Polaris will win. If you are talking about value it has to go to the Honda. The Honda will be running with less maintenance and less wear and tear, years after the Polaris is in a scrap yard. Honda is more expensive on the front end but a better long-term value.
Clint Reeves Well said buddy. I’m all out with you.
I've had both and sportsman wins in all category's except braking but not by much. Only thing I wish Polaris would of done was put metal rack on back instead of plastic.
@Clint Reeves You're somewhat of an idiot.
Polaris is more fun, but Honda is better quality.
Ha you are so wrong dumbass
Honda should sucks big time
That’s why you buy a Yamaha, fun and reliable, maybe even more than a Honda. 🤔
I bought a 300 honda brand new 1999 and it still runs perfectly
@@Patrick-re5zr All 10 horsepower still going strong!
You forgot one segment, durability which the Polaris doesn't have
Ethan Williamson cause never broke down during the tests.
True. I don’t buy Honda for value. I buy because I know it will last forever
Did they ride em for 10000 miles?
I’ve owned my 2011 Polaris 550 for 8 years and it’s never given me one problem and I’ve put it through hell and back. I can’t get it suck it’s been through ponds, jumps, trails, snow, heat and cold. It’s the best ATV I’ve ever had.
Outdoorsman 88 I have a 96 sportsman 500 and I’ve only changed the left side shock absorber. But I’ve had Honda 3 wheelers from the 80s and have only changed chains
you guys are drunk. quality and reliability Honda is the best. shocks can be changed tires also for ground clearance. anyone who knows anything wouldn't compare a Honda to a polaris.
17madracki17 a complete and total lack of power is all that makes hondas reliable. For the price you're paying...you may as well find a decent used X series john deere subcompact...you'll get a better ride out of it.
17madracki17 is 100% correct most people riding trail speed won't even notice a power difference but they will regret not having Honda reliability.
hondas are about 10 years behind in every way at all times
17madracki17 honda good poliras sucks
17madracki17 I've got both the Honda is a huge disappointment
Over time nothing lasts like the Honda. Also the shaft drive on a Honda is way better than any belt drive.
I own a Sportsman Polaris 500 H.O. 2010 and it still rides great.
Good for you
No matter what. You can't beat reliability. I've owned both tho a few years older. The Polaris is smoother and more powerful but uncomfortable and if you don't have the fuel injection then it has no torque due to Polaris's great CVT transmission. And yes I'm being sarcastic. But I'll buy the Honda every day of the week before I buy another Polaris.
Traded in my sportsman 570 today for a rubicon. Best choice I ever made. 2wd engine braking (non ADC programmed models), overly powerful engine brake, rough running and sometimes hard starting engine, lots of gear backlash in the trans caused tons of noise, over powered power steering programming and finally at 330 miles and 76 hours after 2 fluid changes in the front diff a large chunk of metal from a axle shaft bearing support broke off and managed to lock up the tires. Didn't crack the case, came out with the fluid but that was the last straw. A year old and the CV was flopping around and Polaris pretty much said F-off... not gonna buy another Polaris there quality is terrible. The rubicon is so much better and honestly not that much slower but performs way better over all and is more predictable. I do miss the sportsmans suspension tuning but to have 4wd engine braking, actual 2/4wd control on MY DEMAND I'm very happy. Took a hell of a lo$$ on the trade in but showed me the new Polaris products are nothing like my 98 and 05's were. Shame on Polaris....
Gear backlash in a CVT? That's a good trick.
@@Pendragon501 You do know it has a gear transmission right....?
Honda all day. Polaris has issues with belt slipping in water my step dad has one. I gotta 2001 rancher 350 recently and love the manual mode
i got the same bike, mine is AWD
I have an Rancher 350 semiautomatic and a Sportsman 500. Love them both. Use the Honda to grade the driveway and the Polaris for the trails.
Amazing review! However i wish you would also bring up reliability and easy of maintenance. How about reputation? I know 10s of 20 yr old honda quads still running cant say the same about Polaris. People buying UTILITY quads are most likely not worried about horsepower. Its like car reviews comparing a kia to a benz because it has all the same features and horsepower. There are some things you cant measure. I can still buy parts for a 70s model honda dirtbike. Still have a thumbs up from me however some of these things should also be mentioned and could have edged a potential buyer one way or another.
I’ve owned several of both Honda and Polaris, much of my life I bought the Honda brand, because that’s what your supposed to do. At this time I own two 570 sportsman and two 450 sportsman. My Honda’s was and aren’t better machines!! Many! Many hours of riding on my four Polaris machines and not a single problem! I also want to say without going into a lot of detail my machines are used due to a lot of land I manage. I personally love the 450 to be honest, it’s not overbearing and has good power, for what I need. Anyhow it’s everyone’s Choice and I’m sure they are both quality machines but don’t let anyone tell you Polaris is a machine that isn’t reliable they are just fine!
I'd love to see a Polaris quad put on 20000 kms, and have minimal to no mechanical failures. You can not beat the lasting quality of a honda atv.
Dustin Deschene Honda for farm and slow trails and Can Am for fun haha
Dustin Deschene who the hell keeps an atv for that long. And putting around of course the weak pos will last for 20 years
Ross MK ya if you like replacing piled up diffs
longboardguy of course everybody replaces their regular ridden bike every once in a while. I’ve had can ams and Honda’s , like them both. Polaris just has let their quality go down the shitter in the longevity department. The bike I’m talking about is a 96 foreman 400, which plots and drags my Drive ways in weather down to minus 40. Some people don’t disregard equipment just because it is old.
When you are smart enough to do preventative maintenance to take care, and make your toys last, then you have made a smart investment.
To me it comes down to reliability and how long it will last over comfort
Honda all day!
I grew up on a Polaris magnum 500 and I love it. It has lots of power when we pulled trailers and our jet skis around and also my johnboat. Polaris is a great machine besides the belt system. Honda is a great machine and I think I might get a Honda. All atvs are great you just got to take care of them.
Our 04 Foreman 450 ES is still going strong 13 years later. Had to clean the carb once, and the kill switch developed some corrosion but both were pretty minor problems/fixes. It's been through mud up to its headlights, launched our waverunner many times, thousands of kms of trails and just keeps tickin. Great machine.
Plz do a Honda foreman rubicon 500 build, with the manual transmission xD!! I bet many would like to see that.
I'm looking for my first atv to start my offroading addiction. This is very helpful, thank you.
Yeah honestly I would go for one of the Japanese brands like yamaha, kawasaki, honda, etc or a can am, since they're pretty reliable too
Hondas are almost impossible to drown, but I love them all! polaris. can-ams and hondas and yamahas
Finally a man worthy to lift mjolnir
There's no reason to argue which is better. I may say this because I'm a Polaris fan, but choose what you like better. People need to realize that all companies try to make money with lazily made things in at least one of the categories in the video. As much as I love my Polaris, there are things that could be nice about also getting a Honda. As I said, personal preference. And one last thing, people need to stop arguing about which is better because you're not swaying opinions of anything at all. I'd likely take any brand given a low enough price and a good deal.
You forgot kawasaki
Our family went up to Berlin to ride, we only had Polaris and Honda ATVs. We put them all through hell, out of the 6 Polaris ATVs all 6 of them came back with something broken; blown shocks, bent hubs, broken steering, our rzr even caught fire due to a fuel pump leak that caused 2nd degree burns to the passenger, because putting a fuel pump directly under the passenger seat was seemingly a good idea to Polaris. But out of the 4 Hondas, all 4 came back like nothing ever happened. I probably won't ever buy a machine from Polaris just because of what happened those 2 days
Going from riding my 2012 sportsman to hopping on my 2016 grizzly, I feel physically assaulted and raped after driving the polaris
I have a can am 1000 and a grizzly 700 fully loaded. I don’t get all of the Yamaha hype. Think people just want to give some love to the smaller motors that’s all bc my grizzly beats my ass on the trails compared to my smooth riding can am
@@jhetwinston1342 ok sure bud and im the queen of england
@@jhetwinston1342 the yamaha will be a turn key machine 10 years from now and youll be on your 3rd can am by then
I’m torn between the new Rubi and Kingquad. What keeps me with the Honda side is the tow rating is up there with all the big bores. I assume fuel burn is way better on the 520 rubi than the zook 750. Sportsman had 20 more HP but is only rated to tow 20lbs more? Seems odd.
It’s because the Honda has Real Automatic DCT Transmission. Not a belt style Polaris cvt gokart transmission.
Polaris is the best I’ve ever owned I have a 570 they just said 10,000 miles But the older Hondas made a hell of a good machine
Yeah. One thing you won't say - once you walk out the door with the sportsman, you couldn't sell it but for half the price. Honda holds value
I would like to buy my first atv, im truly amazed how people talk about hondas durability!!
For reliability, Honda Atvs are second to none! Always have been and likely always will be. Yamaha is a very close second (I have owned as many of these as I have Hondas & they are great as well!) with Kawasaki & Suzuki tied for a very close third place reliability wise. The Japanese machines are just built to last (& they always have been) and most if not all of them are built here in the US!
Couldn't agree more with the posts here, reliability is absolutely crucial in many cases when buying an ATV. You're out on a lake when its 20 below zero, or miles from anywhere, it needs to start and run because your life depends on it. Polaris makes a real nice machine, but it will cost you more in repairs, and isn't as reliable. (2003 Foreman owner, starter is the only thing that has failed in 15 years....but has a pull start back up) :)
Dirt Traxx host has always favoured the Polaris product. I have a 2012 Honda Foreman and even pulled out a bull elk whole with it not having the locking differential. Although I had some minor problems with the electrical shifter due to heavy packing grease. I have over 7000 kms on it and it’s a tank indestructible. The Honda is a purchase for the long haul.
My 2008 450 Sportsman has only had the bushings replaced, which was my fault, and the battery. I'd say that's pretty good for the long haul and it's still running great.
💯 FACTS
I'd take 1 Honda over 3 Polaris anyday!
Had both brand. The extra grand for reliability and lower maintenance on the honda is well worth it. Especially if you work hard with it. I love my sportsman but there is always something to fix on it.
Ok...Have you tried PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE? It really helps with the whole "my shit is broken" thing...
Exactly!
Brandon Crimmins yes. I put more time on it in maintenence in 2 years than I did in 8 years on my 420.
I have owned 5 Polaris in the last 20 years and only had to be towed out of the woods once. Have never broken an OEM belt and 2 belts overall, it's mostly knowing how to ride them and use low gear when necessary.
My current Sportsman 1000 (and most all) are way more fun to ride too!
@@skipperskipper2936 haha.
i still have my 2000 scrambler 400. On my 3rd sportsman because I wanted to update to powrstreeing etc. Other was side by side RZR and Snowmobile.
I've sold 2 sportsman in 20 yrs.
Impressive Review !! Superb narration with flawless sequential editing and equipment demonstration !!
I have about $6000.00 saved up and I'm stuck between a Honda, Polaris, or Yamaha . . . guess I just have to watch more vids here . . . but thanks !!
Really is comes down to personal preference.
Polaris = Loads of power but is a big POS that is going to break a lot unless you get a miracle bike if we being honest here... lol
Honda = Slow as hell and rough as hell but is going to give you every pennies worth out of it.
Moe Sparks that's pretty much it moe, many people get hooked on all the power and comfortable ride so they don't care if it isn't reliable .
I've owned 2 of them , if you want to play the Polaris lottery then I would personally stick 570cc and below . Once you go 850cc and up its a Crap shoot. If you don't need a ton of power, stick with Japanese brands for reliability .
Yep honda is the best bike brand i have ever bought never buying anything else
tropical shockx nah lol
Ummm.....Me and all my friends have Polaris Wheelers. And we beat the ever living shit out of them every time we take them out and have NEVER had even a glitch...Personally I have a Scrambler 1000. I have never wanted for more power. And the stock clutching is about perfect for what that machine was designed for.
Brandon Crimmins and I won't disagree with you with your atvs but my RZR XP1K stays in the shop..
A 2018 Polaris Sportsman 450 HO vs 2018 Yamaha Kodiak 450 seems like a "must do" comparison. The entry level for both are $6,000 USD. Let us hear what you guys think about these two nice utility ATV's.
Honda for the win! Reliable, ultra high quality, superior materials, superior ergo, bomb proof.
Bob Stubs underpowered does not equal bomb proof. Civics last "forever" too...and for the exact same reason.
ROTAXD You probably dont even own a atv... and if you do you have 350cc comanche. Honda doenst have much HP, and its not really FAST. But its a lot lighter than polaris, and it has the REAL locker. You can easily spin 34" Outlaws with STOCK axels, etc. With polaris, max 28 with stock axles. If you dont believe, check mud puppy. And its bomb proof. (Btw car is really bad example of a atv bomb proofnes.)
Bob Stubs yes
ッOG BassHead I don’t doubt what you say about Hondas spinning that kinda tire but Honda needs to make higher hp atv’s before I buy another 8 to 10k is a little step for something making 23 hp. I have a 2003 foreman rubicon and I love it but my 07 brute force 750 is way more fun to drive but I blew a valve seal on it cause I ran it a little to hard at a mud hole at my buddies house. But I think Honda atvs would be worth my money again if they would at least step the rubicon up to a 700 with 50-60 hp I would shell out 10k for that. And the rhincon is not an excuse for there 700 cause it looks like shit and is a pile of shit my friend had one and it blew the head within 2 or 3 months of owning it and he babied that thing like it was his child
ROTAXD if I can run my engine on half water I’m going than you can’t tell me power is the problem also gear reduction exists and it can really crank up the low end torque
I have a 2003 Honda rancher and it still drives like a dream
What about build quality? That's the biggest deciding factor in my mind when buying a 500cc machine. And speaking from experience, do not buy a Polaris. Built like trash with lots of cheap parts.
Nothing tops Honda reliability. We've had 2 Ranchers with 20,000+ miles each, a first gen Rubicon that still runs like a dream today and a bunch of other bulletproof Hondas. Many others around here in the oil business will trust nothing but a Honda for their day to day grind. Give me a Honda over any other regardless of price any day of the week.
dash 11 personally from my experience I've owned 2 Polaris one is a scrambler 1000 and a 03 700 sportsman they've been reliable as he'll so far we also own 2 Honda sports quads and my dad's already had to take them into the shop
I'm going to have to agree with Drew Craft on this one...I too have a Scrambler 1000 and have NEVER had any issues at all other than eating up fuel like it's going out of style. I beat the ever livin shit out of it every time I get on it and if it can stand up to my abuse. It's a good product. I'm not saying Hondas are crap because quite frankly they aren't. They're just not for me.
Glad you guys have good had good luck! I bought a rzr xp brand new and what a $hit box. Currently waiting on a starter for it. I have had Yamaha's and Can-ams and will be going back to one of the 2 soon hopefully.
dash 11 you guys that own this shit probably dont even treat it good you guys just like Honda's because nothing has to be done to them maybe if you guys knew how to take care of your shit maybe it will actually run right
I had a Polaris 400 sportsman and it's been long ago I can't remember the year. it had a 425 cc motor and I couldn't believe the power it had for a 400. it was built like a tank and never had a problem with it.
What about the reliability category ?
clyde macphee He won’t the dude is sponsored by the Polaris so dat tells ya evrythang 👍
Honda goes forever
some do. I know of a couple Rubicon 500's that have been in pieces for over a decade. The ones from the 80's and 90's were bulletproof. They also were simple with less features to go wrong, kind of like old Toyotas. They built their reputation off of cars that had a clock or air conditioning for an add on option
@@andybassham2369 the hondas in the early to mid 2000s were better built then anything out there also.
@@tdozzy991 except the Yamahas
@@andybassham2369 no way i would take a early 2000 Yamaha over a Honda. Honda was still king
@@tdozzy991 I'll keep my 02 Grizzly 660 over anything Honda made in that decade
My 1986 Honda Fourtrax 350, is the most reliable machine i ever owned. Only let me down after the 31 year old clutch died. Honda for life! That was fixed. Runs as good as new now!
P.S i own a 2001 Polaris Trailblazer 250......its gross😝
I have a 91 fourtrax 350. I've owned since 2004. Been to the Rockies with it almost yearly. I've pulled many broken quads out of the trails there. Only thing I've replaced on all those years is a front driveshaft.
Yeah those Polaris’ are really comfortable when you’re sitting on it waiting for buddy guy to tow you home. Lots of power too when it actually runs.
You probably abuse it!
With a Polaris your paying more for performance, with a honda your paying for reliability.
How does honda top out I'd the 40s when my rancher 420 goes 60 CONPLETLEY STOCK and it's a 2010
Honestly it always seems like you're wanting to do a top-of-the-line comparison do a 450 Sportsman versus a foot shift Honda Foreman
The Polaris would win because 95% of buyers out there don't want a manual transmission on a work/utility specific machine...
but if you actually wanted power honda foot shift is better because automatic doesn't have they quick take off when its towing or pulling things.
I prefer the manual. It's more reliable and it lets you be in the gear you want. And don't bullshit me about the snowmobile clutch in the Polaris being just as reliable, I've seen belts burn on work machines because you can't tell it what to do. With a real transmission and a shifter the worst you're gonna do with that low HP number is spin the wheels and bury it. You can dig out and ride on, you toast belt you're getting towed or doing a ton of work to change it. Hell, it's completely encased in body work.
We prefer the foot shift on our farm it is superior in working situations except in deep mud then it does suck pretty bad. But deep mud isn't super common where I live unless you're always at the bottom of a creek
InsanityJoe87 We have a polaris sportsman 500 and we use it al the time to work really hard and play really hard, the first time we had issues was when the belt needed replacement after 10 years, also the low range works really great for riding with a trailer, and the ground clearance makes its towbar almost as high as a bakkie
I don’t know why everyone always says the Honda is under powered, and it only has 30 hp, but the reason it has low hp is because it has more torque. In fact Hondas have more torque than either most or all other atvs in that same engine size category.
You are saying the honda lacks power but forget to mention its almost 100 ccs smaller engine boar if you want to replace 27 belts a year biy polaris if you want something to plow your drive way in -45c get a honda
Lmfao the 450 sportsman puts out more power than the Honda also lol and have never had a belt problem
I’ve got both a Honda Rancher 420 and a Polaris Sportsman 570. The Honda I bought new in 2010 and it has been amazing. It’s 2WD and I have gotten stuck quite a few times. But it’s all fun either way. But I do like the ride and suspension on the Polaris much better. Was thinking about buying the Honda in this video but suspension and that transmission was why I settled on the Polaris for me. It’s all in what you are looking for. I think it’s just preference at the end of the day. Happy riding everyone! 👍🏼
Great comment! Thanks for sharing your experience!!
Get Honda Rancher 2021 u will love it I was going to get one so my dad bought me 2015 its much better than Polaris
you've helped me make up my mind on the beater/borrowed workhorse around the house. thanks for providing reviews that manufacters cannot without biasing towards thier products.
You are absolutely welcome Ben. Thanks for watching
My dad bought a 1988 Honda 350d fourtrax foreman when he graduated. Every day that fourwheeler would go out into the pasture round up all the dairy cows and bring them into the milking barns. Around 2009 the Farm bought two new Honda rancher‘s. So the foreman sat in back of the machine shed for about 10 years. Last year when I wanted a fourwheeler for my self I went and pulled her out of that shed put a new battery in her and she started right up. Till this day that four wheeler still runs now it’s not in the best of shape but when my dad bought it someone told him that the body would fall apart around the engine and so far that’s exactly what it’s done. Honda all day!
I wanna see some mpg specs
I'm waiting and hoping for a redesigned and optioned out Rincon! Any news on that?
Man, nothing yet but we're hopeful too!!
This video is from 2017. This is 2019. I own both of these. One constantly breaks. The other never breaks. I will never by a Polaris or Indian or anything from that company again. They have gotten all the money from me that they ever will. Let's begin: occasionally the belt housing gets water in it and it slips. You have to pull the plug to drain the water out and let it dry out. The extra ground clearance disappears with the softer suspension and you are literally squatted everwhere you go. You can stiffen this up. You have to if you are a grown man. The battery is located on the bottom of the frame. It goes through every obstacle that part of the machine goes through. Amazingly this has been little issue except I had to replace the battery. Maybe not a big deal. The cooling fan went out. Beyond my skill so back to the dealer. The front storage is great but the rubber latches fall apart with a little sunshine. The CV axles have both been replaced in the back. Hitting Reverse is a little tricky even though it is obvious. The headlights are held in by an o-ring that rots and falls off pretty quickly. The headlight bulbs have been replaced. The throttle lever literally broke off! Must happen often, there were aluminum aftermarket ones to buy. The single rear brake that stops both wheels through the differential cylinder hung/froze up. I had to rebuild the cylinder and rotor and pads. It will run like a scalded dog. It has the big front storage and the trailer hitch. Those are the best features. I like the longer seat but the Honda seat is softer. Since it runs so well, you have to put gas in it more often than a smaller displacement machine. You also have the grease zerks that you need to hit all the time but don't for some reason. They ride more or less the same. The information between the handlebars is not that useful on any machine when riding. Polaris has sold a lot of machines on specs alone but they are not realized by the rider. You need to be a decent mechanic or you will spend most of your time paying for fixes. At least we have RUclips and access to parts.
Love your guys reviews. I hope to get my channel to this level one day. Keep up the good work and maybe I'll see you guys on the trail one day!
You are too kind. Thanks a lot for watching!
if you have the money and the time to always taking your bike to shop a Polaris is the bike for you.They make a great lawn ornament.
On the other hand if you want reliability and all around bike, Honda is the machine for you.
Dirt Trax Television can you do a review on the 2017 Suzuki Kingquad 400
I agree with all statements stated in the video. But, roll them both down a hill and see which one still runs fine.
Ask the US military the same question. Ive spent time with a few of their guys who used Polaris ATVs and if their stories are to be believed... rolling down a hill didnt stop the Polaris for a second. I do appreciate your comment though and thanks for watching.
Luke Lester I mean I've seen it first hand. And ofc build quality is different for the military.
I wonder who at Polaris is giving dirt trax bjs because seems like Polaris wins every shoot out they do, but I know first hand Polaris is the biggest pos on the market. But to each there own I guess
Read my above statement! Sore loser!
Carolina Trail Riders Yeah, I agree, somebody must be paying as well as schlong sucking DT off for these fantabulous bullshit reviews. Only thing about Polaris is their current atv models look better than the old scoots. Their reliability has been shit, is shit and unless they change up, Will still Be utter shit. So yeah I'll say Poolaris is the Shit!
I think Poolaris is not the worst pos on thr market. Artic Crap has that title.
I know, I want to see them do a review of something that isn’t a Polaris
One thing that you didn't cover is that these are both utility ATV's. Work vehicles. Hook them up to pulling something like a disc for four hours. My money would be on the Honda. Every Honda that I have owned was bulletproof!
That's not true at all. Honda is a bomb proof. I have sunk my honda in water a couple times and I didn't even have to take the spark plug out and drain the engine. Also my foreman can easily do 60 mph with 2 people on it. Just to add to that Polaris don't have a front diff locker. Honda and Yamaha are the only companies with a true locker.
I'll take Yamaha or Honda any day.
Polaris is a garbage fire on wheels.
A grizzly 700 hits around 65-70 but I wish Honda would make at least a 700 class four wheeler
Ethan Williamson they do, it's called a rincon
Suzukis have a locking diff
What your not realizing (& a lot of people don't) about the front diff of the Polaris is that it is always locked when the 4wd system is engaged, and the reason that they can make that work without the steering being heavy all the time is that their awd system from the start of them making four wheel drive Atv's since the late 80's, is that their system, when you slide the button to awd mode, the vehicle is still only being driven by the rear wheels until it detects slip, that being a difference in speed between the rear axle and the front, at which point the system engages the front drive which is already locked left to right and then once the axle speeds are equalized it reverts to rear wheel drive until it detects slip again. The system does work well and the quad gets great traction but I still prefer to control the selection of the drive modes myself and that, along with the separate and therefore better control of the brakes along with better ergonomics and of course top notch reliability is why I think the Honda is still the superior machine, but the Polarises are incredibly capable as well if not sometimes more so in certain situations and conditions.
Buy a polaris if you like working on it. Buy a honda if you like riding.
Keith Fleming futv had both, so true. Love my sportsman tho.
Keith Fleming futv buy a honda if you want to be sore and take forever to get wherever you're going. Polaris only breaks when you have retards buying them & trying to ride it like it's a 2 stroke racebike.
ROTAXD you are stupid. (Again, a 2 stroke DIRTBIKE is really bad example of a atv...)
Buy a Honda cause it don't have enough power to break itself and is a boring ride and can't turn big tires in the mud. Buy a sport man if your a real man and know part of having fun is breaking things. Who the fuck want to have a boring ass ride on a Honda. I'd leave your ass in the hole unable to get out as I rip through having a blast.
Why does everybody think polaris is unreliable. I have a polaris trail boss 325. 2000. We got it used for 1000$ and all it needed was a chain and tires. I've had it for 3 years. And I've abused the shit out of it. And still drives and rides like a champ.
I hear that the radiator on the Polaris gets sprayed with mud leading to overheating? Up here in Alaska, a pull start is critical...does either the Honda or Polaris come with pull-start?
I’ve had a ton of issues with my friends Polaris belt went through maybe 6 inches of water and had to wait almost an hour for the belt to dry
well please clarify...how many tons of issues was that?
On ATVs it really doesn’t matter how fast you can go in the mud and on the trail on the rocks and the dct/esp is completely outshined by the foot shift option
I have a Honda from 1998 still running
My 1988 Honda foreman is still running Strong in Montana so I bought a2018 Honda foreman rubicon. I had a Polaris sportsman 500 it rode great but I had a couple belt problems
Well, a 1988 Foreman was basically bulletproof, so you did good on that one.
I'll just keep my honda, does everything I want to do and is reliable. I'll be riding it when the Polaris is in the boneyard.
I have an older Honda with ranger fuel injection and it hasn’t been to the shop since I bought it in 2012. It has amazing power and it came with a trailer hitch mount.
My friend has a sportsman 570, it’s faster and more powerful than the rancher 420, but I like the feel of the honda
just something about the rancher you cant beat
My dad bought me rancher 420 4x4 DCT ESP RT irs its powerful and fast gonna let my neice & nephew have my Polaris 06 500
My 2016 570 sportsman fuel pump went out at 15 hours and 75 miles but was over its warranty time. I have owned 3 Polaris machines now and find them to be cheaply built but function well. I have considered switching back to Honda but wish the Rubicon had more power and do not care for the dct trans or the electronic shift version. If I had to do it over again I probably would have bought the Honda though.
I don't even consider Polaris as an option when it comes to atvs or utvs. I've had 18 machines and 19th is on order. Polaris has been the worst brand I've owned. Power is great, comfort is great, but Polaris is cheaply built and has the worst warranty on the market, I do not trust them anymore what so ever.
Can Am Adventures I work at a Polaris, Can am, kawasaki dealer...we have more issues with can am products than anything by a wide margin...just saying
Good luck with can am warranty department too when it catches on fire. (27 cases in the last 17 months)
I have had 4 polaris no problem what so ever wore two of them out have a rzr and sportsman . spoetsman has 16000 miles still going strong .if honda put a motor like the ex 400 on a quad then they would have a bike
mike benoit I had a can am it ran like a top for the first year after then it was junk I put 3 tear ends in it 4 front ends bearings had to be replaced in the motor even had a whole wheel hub and all wheel fell off one day causing me to get hurt actually pretty bad and I didn’t romp on it 24/7 I don’t care for them anymore
Thanks for the shootout. I like how you categorized your comparison. These are both quads that interest me, especially as a Honda owner. There are many gray areas that boil down to subjective tastes, as you pointed out. It's hard to argue with figures like volume, suspension travel, horsepower, and price. As you've said before in other Honda reviews, Honda owners (like me) know what they're getting with a Honda, and their Honda delivers. I want to try a Polaris, but I don't know I'm willing to risk my hard-earned $ on that experiment.
What a great comment. Thank you. I tell alot of people this... if your happy with what you have, its not a bad idea to stick with it. The Polaris will be better in all the ways we talked about in the video, but you need to know what the priority is for YOU and buy a vehicle that satisfies it. If the honda has what you want most, go for it. It IS a great ATV.
Thanks, Luke.
Notice how everbody bashes Polaris and their quality?
why.... they've probably have owned one at some point.
*I'll take a Yamaha or Honda any day*
TBH i haven't tried a Can-Am but They look sharp.
Devilmonkey I love my 2008 Yamaha Kodiak 450. Bought it last summer, had 92h, 1,000kms.
It's tough, never gets stuck. Yamaha and Honda for sure the top bets.
Suzuki and Arcti-Cat are great machines as well. I'm consedering a Honda or Kawasaki for my next atv.
I have a 2013 Honda Foreman 500 with 28” backs on it and tops out at 50 mph. So how does a brand new one top out in the mid 40s with stock tires?
Kaleb Stelly they are sponsored by Polaris that’s how 😂
Never had a problem with my Polaris 570. Good machine, tough, and good value for $$.
Same here, 1100 miles on my 570...trails, sand dunes, mud...not one issue either. An AGM battery and some Duro Buffalo tires made my machine unstoppable so far. Mine also is not a submarine.
How is cfmoto(cforce500) blooming into the market. Is it ever gonna make the scene for challenge to big dogs?
we do alot of moose hunting beat the Honda for ever never broke down I think your played off Polaris Honda is twice the machine Polaris are cheaper because there made cheap
i bought a 2020 polaris sportsman 570 deluxe 4 days ago and have 123 miles on it already. i LOVE it!
Nice!!
His summary is exactly the conclusion I came to when I bought my Sportsman 570 over a Honda. Still happy with my purchase.
we use atvs for ranch purposes. we have 2 300 fourtrax, 5 ranchers, a 2016 rubicon and a 2016 rincon. we have had polaris atvs in the past and all they are good for is keeping the parts counter open. my cousin bought a 2015 570 sportsman and it was traded on a rubicon in less that 6 months due to parts breakage. polaris atvs simply do not hold up for our purpose. honda's suspension has come a long way as well. still not as silky smooth as a polaris but good enough to not leave you feeling beat up at the end of the day.
I’m getting the Honda
where did you get a black foreman?
The Honda does everything a ATV is supposed to do. Plus last forever. I would buy the honda