I'd take the 30hp less of the X2. You can always make more power. The reliability/fit and finish on the Yamaha is worlds better over the common classic polaris problems. Not to mention the X2 can be had for thousandsss less. Being a huge fan of the old school Yamaha Rhinos. Gotta pick the yammy.
Went to purchase a brand new 2021 General 2 weeks ago, the fit and finish was absolute trash! The drivers door was seized and plastic gaps and paint blemishes were everywhere. Three days later I came home with a new 2021 RMAX, beyond satisfied!
HOLY CRAP! A SALES MAN THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS THE PRODUCTS HE IS SELLING AND THE DIFFERENCES! THATS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPEIANCE BEFORE. HA HA HA, AND IM NOT JOKING. I WISH YOU WERE MY SALEMEN AT MY DEALERSHIP!!!!!!!!!
We love our X2 se & the dependability that the Yamaha has ,1,700+ miles on it so far & not one issue!. We ride with a sea of Polaris machines, rzr,s, generals etc. Seems always our ride is cut short or delayed waiting on trail side repairs, belts, air box, wiring issues etc. Polaris may be 'the way out' but Yamaha is the way out and back in IMO. Yamaha,s 10 yr. belt warranty, what do you say to that Polaris? Nice video & thank you.
This is a great and honest review, because at the end of the day this guy wants to sell both machines. He tells it like it is, and you decide what you want/need/can afford. I have nothing against polaris, I own a polaris sportsman 850 sp, and its been a good machine with no problems. Also own a Yamaha Grizzly with no problems. The Polaris engages the belt around 2000 rpm and if you are aware of this you can engage the belt smoothly. On the yamaha with the Ultramatic which keeps constant belt tension you never feel the belt engage, its just like a honda, give it gas and go with no jerks or catches. We are looking at getting a new sXs and we are down to honda and yamaha. We considered Polaris, but the fact that it weighs twice what our 850 sportsman 4 wheeler does just spells belt trouble sooner than later. The yamaha has much more comfortable seats for passengers than the honda, and who cares about running 70mph? We are trail riders, mostly in the mountains, probably average 10-30 mph most of the time. Low end torque and instant power is all I care about! The only thing that might be a draw back on the yamaha vs the honda is gas mileage. I know the honda gets a decent amount better mileage than the yamaha and that can be a concern on an all day ride.
I’ve looked at both. As far as performance and ride the Polaris wins overall. Interior and accessories the Polaris wins. Value a little bit harder to gauge as neither models are actually equally compared, still overall if money is your concern Yamaha wins. Both are great units. Myself went with the General as the ride, power and comfort could not be had at the same level in the Yamaha. It meets my work and riding style better. Note: I disagree that the Yamaha has the better suspension system. Although it has more settings that’s true, if you don’t know what your doing it makes it harder than the polaris fox shocks to adjust. The fox are overall better valued, and sprung than the KYBs on the Yamaha. The settings are easy to change. I do enjoy my setting on the lowest setting. But also you have options to resprung the Fox’s with dual rate springs as well as having the shock internals customized for even more spirited driving.
Nice review of these machines. Nice to see a list of features without a ton of marketing fluff. Hope the Wolverine is just a start to Yamaha making a full scale comeback in the UTV market. Their machines have always been hands down better build quality than any of the competition, sans maybe Honda. I know the competition has narrowed the gaps, but when I'm buying a UTV, I'm looking at something I'll keep for 7-10 years, and that's where the Yamaha advantage has always shined. Thanks again for the great review!
@Randy Savage absolutely spot on 100% i worked at Polaris. Engines blowing, clutches cracking, diffs falling apart. Axles axles axles Polaris are utter dog shit and anyone who buys one is a fool
My dad's owned the general for a few years now with no issues, comfort style and performance,ride, and accessories goes to the general. I like the x2 but one down fall is it's door entry and exit it not the best that shoulder pad needs to be cut off first thing. I would actaully cut it off soon as I got it home. Other than that the bike seems nice all around.
Yamaha is $4k cheaper, equally equipped. You can get an aftermarket sheave and weights for $500, and ECU tuner for $250...So for $750 you can get about 62-65mph in the wolverine. Not to mention the reverse chain breaking in the general is a real issue that can cost you thousands if you're not careful if/when it breaks. Your money, spend it how you want, but I spent mine on the wolverine and plan on doing the upgrades. The fit and finish on the yamaha is also far greater. Hell Polaris didnt even bother covering the rear-mounted battery or radiator to protect them from debris. You have to buy grizztech shields for another $400 and it also has plastic skid plates only through the center of the machine, whereas the Yamaha has full steel plates front to back, side to side.
When I saw the new x2, and the awesome plug in electronics, I decided almost immediately that I was trading in my Pioneer 500 and getting the x2. I went to the dealer with my P500 on the trailer, fully intending to buy one that day, till I actually sat in the x2... I could barely shut the door- I'm kinda wide- I couldn't keep my arm inside the machine without 'scrunching' or leaning uncomfortably over the giant center console, and that shoulder bolster thing was just brutal. A couple reviewers made brief mention about the bolster and tight fit for us (ahem) wider guys, but for a machine so much bigger than the p500 the limited space was a real shocker- I sit very comfortably in the P500. I was, and still am, really disappointed. I hope they address this issue with the newer models.... as far as Polaris, completely out of the question.
Excellent specs comparison review. What the spec comparison review doesn't mention is the heat/sound/vibration from each (which understandingly it won't) where the Wolverine X2 will win. The General does get its extra inch of ground clearance from it's larger tires so fitted with equal size tires, ground clearance would be the same. As already mentioned the General isn't as nimble as the X2 due to being much wider having a foot less turning radius and is already illegal on most standard 62" width-restricted trails.
EVERBODY wants to dog the Polaris , but as I watch how people drive them , NOTHING WILL HOLD UP.. I do have the general and when I ready for a new one IT TOO WILL BE A GENERAL
Im 48 yrs old and have had Yamahas since i was 8. I have a can am outlander and i enjoy it but there is no comparison to the quality of aYamaha. Polaris is along the same quality or less than can am, thats my opinion anyway
I dog Polaris because i worked for them. They fall to pieces. Badly engineered from the get go. Save a few grand for clutches, diffs and belts. Yamahas dont require tools
When I was looking for a new ride. I compared both of these vehicles. The Yamaha was so hard to get in and out of for me. In the end I went with the Polaris General and so far I like it.
I’ve done quite a bit of research. I think for me in the spring I’ll be buying a Yamaha Wolverine x2 with the 850cc twin engine and lockable diff 4x4 and Yamaha quality its an easy choice
Great job, well done, and I agree with your assessment.... now 2021 RMAX will give General some pretty step Competition at the Upper end models ... Yamaha is turning up the Heat.. :)
AWD on Polaris, more sophisticated and a boatload of electronics to fail. That’s why when the new Kawasaki 1000 came out the RZR went away. The new owner is thrilled with the RZR so everybody is happy. Excellent presentation.
The Yamaha costs thousands of dollars less, and won't be in the shop as often as the Polaris . It also has a much quieter interior. The locked front diff is much better than the on demand system in the General. The General looks good, but I'll take the Yamaha all day long.
I have an X2 and it is BY far the quietest SXS out there...theres also zero cab heat ( unlike the can am or Tyrex) its not a speed demon up top as it maxes out at 52 BUT, low end is amazing and its a billy goat on the trail.
TRUTH... YAMAHA WILL RUN FOREVER AND COST NEARLY NOTHING IN REPAIRS. the POLARIS WILL BREAK YOUR BANK IN REPAIRS AND GUARANTEED TO CATCH FIRE. There's so many different Polaris models catching fire. I own 3 Polaris atvs. Every time I park my sportsman 1000xp in my shop I'm afraid its gonna catch fire while its parked. It happened again Saturday morning. Rode in cold weather to my ice fishing spot. Parked it and half hour later smoke starts coming out of the front rack... voltage regulator is fully on fire. 12km walk home after. That's scary. I called Polaris. Talked to mitch. He said he'd call my dealer n set up a diagnostics. HE NEVER CALLED. They obviously just don't care if I get burnt.
Easy choice, Wolverine X2 over Razor any day. Polaris Razr: low quality & bad engine/transmission. X2: high quality & best trany/engine on the market. If ur skeptical, do ur research & check UTV forums
Jerry Antonetti I want to replace my 06 Arctic Cat ATV it’s still a great machine I use it to plow my driveway and haul firewood I’m thinking about the Yamaha woolveren 2 Seater utv what do you think?
I think Massimo (Chinese OEM) has surpassed Polaris in product quality. It's pretty obvious that the bean counters have had their way at Polaris in recent years with cost-cutting of materials and engineering everywhere you look. It's really a shame that such a good company has stooped to this low level, but when public companies allow "shareholder value" and stock prices to be the driving factor, it can happen.
Had a 2019 yamaha Viking se for about a month, suspension was like riding on a park bench. Sold it, lost some money and got a Polaris. I agree that the Yamaha will be more reliable but rides like crap. I'm much happier with my Polaris.
The generals is too wide and too expensive and it’s not as good as the Yamaha on the trails. Yamaha has a much much better CVT transmission then Polaris. But the general is a good looking machine
If Yamaha would just redesign the door latch for ease of entry/exit. Despite that flaw, I’m hard pressed at getting something else as a former Wolverine R-spec owner.
I agree I am a bigger guy tried to get into an x4 with a lift kit and I barely got my self up and twist around that shoulder pad and food latch. I wouldn't even try the back seat. Not sure what they were thinking I guess small Japanese guys tried it lol
Yamaha would be a home run if someone would make front & rear arched offset A arms to allow 32s. Turf mode on the General is a deal breaker for a serious off-roader, will end up needed a spool or a welded up diff.
You want a trouble free machine, you buy Yamaha. You want to keep throwing money into maintenance and repair, go buy any Polaris machine. Polaris is quickly becoming the old AMF that turned Harley Davidson into junk back in the 70's.
Yamaha # 1 . $5500-6000 less , I would put on better 1 size or two bigger tires , winch , a good ecu tune and a big smile 😃. The Yamaha will outlast the Poolaris all year after year , slightly slower after a tune ,but weighs couple hundred pounds less also . That Cvt trans and locking diff you can’t beat !!! I’m more of a Yamaha Viking guy but still .//
I will take the Wolverine, better fit and Finish then Polaris, and more reliable. Also, with Wolverine gaining so much popularity , there has become more and more accessories to choice from...
I own a 2016 wolverine. Ok so far except for 3 exhaust pipes coming off the head that cracked. In the same place. Crappy design. Might sell it. Buy accordingly.
Raymond Pruitt With the 4 to 5 thousand in price difference you could buy better wheels and tires and still have thousands left over for additional accessories.
Polaris offers alot but no reliably clutches are junk the CV shafts are junk fuel lines I'll never buy another Polaris ever yamaha is best bang for your buck all the time
![Eminem - The Death of Slim Shady [Graveyard Album Trailer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vOJD-6vQpXU/mqdefault.jpg)
I'd take the 30hp less of the X2. You can always make more power. The reliability/fit and finish on the Yamaha is worlds better over the common classic polaris problems. Not to mention the X2 can be had for thousandsss less. Being a huge fan of the old school Yamaha Rhinos. Gotta pick the yammy.
You are correct.
Went to purchase a brand new 2021 General 2 weeks ago, the fit and finish was absolute trash! The drivers door was seized and plastic gaps and paint blemishes were everywhere. Three days later I came home with a new 2021 RMAX, beyond satisfied!
good job on the compare of the two toys
HOLY CRAP! A SALES MAN THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS THE PRODUCTS HE IS SELLING AND THE DIFFERENCES! THATS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPEIANCE BEFORE. HA HA HA, AND IM NOT JOKING. I WISH YOU WERE MY SALEMEN AT MY DEALERSHIP!!!!!!!!!
Shut your annoying ass up
We love our X2 se & the dependability that the Yamaha has ,1,700+ miles on it so far & not one issue!. We ride with a sea of Polaris machines, rzr,s, generals etc. Seems always our ride is cut short or delayed waiting on trail side repairs, belts, air box, wiring issues etc. Polaris may be 'the way out' but Yamaha is the way out and back in IMO. Yamaha,s 10 yr. belt warranty, what do you say to that Polaris? Nice video & thank you.
This is a great and honest review, because at the end of the day this guy wants to sell both machines. He tells it like it is, and you decide what you want/need/can afford. I have nothing against polaris, I own a polaris sportsman 850 sp, and its been a good machine with no problems. Also own a Yamaha Grizzly with no problems. The Polaris engages the belt around 2000 rpm and if you are aware of this you can engage the belt smoothly. On the yamaha with the Ultramatic which keeps constant belt tension you never feel the belt engage, its just like a honda, give it gas and go with no jerks or catches. We are looking at getting a new sXs and we are down to honda and yamaha. We considered Polaris, but the fact that it weighs twice what our 850 sportsman 4 wheeler does just spells belt trouble sooner than later. The yamaha has much more comfortable seats for passengers than the honda, and who cares about running 70mph? We are trail riders, mostly in the mountains, probably average 10-30 mph most of the time. Low end torque and instant power is all I care about! The only thing that might be a draw back on the yamaha vs the honda is gas mileage. I know the honda gets a decent amount better mileage than the yamaha and that can be a concern on an all day ride.
Good comparison review.
I’ve looked at both. As far as performance and ride the Polaris wins overall. Interior and accessories the Polaris wins. Value a little bit harder to gauge as neither models are actually equally compared, still overall if money is your concern Yamaha wins. Both are great units. Myself went with the General as the ride, power and comfort could not be had at the same level in the Yamaha. It meets my work and riding style better. Note: I disagree that the Yamaha has the better suspension system. Although it has more settings that’s true, if you don’t know what your doing it makes it harder than the polaris fox shocks to adjust. The fox are overall better valued, and sprung than the KYBs on the Yamaha. The settings are easy to change. I do enjoy my setting on the lowest setting. But also you have options to resprung the Fox’s with dual rate springs as well as having the shock internals customized for even more spirited driving.
Great comparison.
Nice review of these machines. Nice to see a list of features without a ton of marketing fluff.
Hope the Wolverine is just a start to Yamaha making a full scale comeback in the UTV market. Their machines have always been hands down better build quality than any of the competition, sans maybe Honda. I know the competition has narrowed the gaps, but when I'm buying a UTV, I'm looking at something I'll keep for 7-10 years, and that's where the Yamaha advantage has always shined.
Thanks again for the great review!
@Randy Savage absolutely spot on 100% i worked at Polaris. Engines blowing, clutches cracking, diffs falling apart. Axles axles axles
Polaris are utter dog shit and anyone who buys one is a fool
This was an absolute fantastic presentation! The guy didn’t sound like a robot, or that he was reading from cue cards!
Thank you very much Alex!
My dad's owned the general for a few years now with no issues, comfort style and performance,ride, and accessories goes to the general. I like the x2 but one down fall is it's door entry and exit it not the best that shoulder pad needs to be cut off first thing. I would actaully cut it off soon as I got it home. Other than that the bike seems nice all around.
Yamaha is $4k cheaper, equally equipped. You can get an aftermarket sheave and weights for $500, and ECU tuner for $250...So for $750 you can get about 62-65mph in the wolverine. Not to mention the reverse chain breaking in the general is a real issue that can cost you thousands if you're not careful if/when it breaks. Your money, spend it how you want, but I spent mine on the wolverine and plan on doing the upgrades. The fit and finish on the yamaha is also far greater. Hell Polaris didnt even bother covering the rear-mounted battery or radiator to protect them from debris. You have to buy grizztech shields for another $400 and it also has plastic skid plates only through the center of the machine, whereas the Yamaha has full steel plates front to back, side to side.
When I saw the new x2, and the awesome plug in electronics, I decided almost immediately that I was trading in my Pioneer 500 and getting the x2. I went to the dealer with my P500 on the trailer, fully intending to buy one that day, till I actually sat in the x2... I could barely shut the door- I'm kinda wide- I couldn't keep my arm inside the machine without 'scrunching' or leaning uncomfortably over the giant center console, and that shoulder bolster thing was just brutal. A couple reviewers made brief mention about the bolster and tight fit for us (ahem) wider guys, but for a machine so much bigger than the p500 the limited space was a real shocker- I sit very comfortably in the P500. I was, and still am, really disappointed. I hope they address this issue with the newer models.... as far as Polaris, completely out of the question.
Excellent specs comparison review. What the spec comparison review doesn't mention is the heat/sound/vibration from each (which understandingly it won't) where the Wolverine X2 will win. The General does get its extra inch of ground clearance from it's larger tires so fitted with equal size tires, ground clearance would be the same. As already mentioned the General isn't as nimble as the X2 due to being much wider having a foot less turning radius and is already illegal on most standard 62" width-restricted trails.
EVERBODY wants to dog the Polaris , but as I watch how people drive them , NOTHING WILL HOLD UP..
I do have the general and when I ready for a new one IT TOO WILL BE A GENERAL
Im 48 yrs old and have had Yamahas since i was 8. I have a can am outlander and i enjoy it but there is no comparison to the quality of aYamaha. Polaris is along the same quality or less than can am, thats my opinion anyway
I dog Polaris because i worked for them. They fall to pieces. Badly engineered from the get go. Save a few grand for clutches, diffs and belts. Yamahas dont require tools
Hows that shitty General holding up lmao
When I was looking for a new ride. I compared both of these vehicles. The Yamaha was so hard to get in and out of for me. In the end I went with the Polaris General and so far I like it.
How do u like it a year later? Just wondering because I'm looking to buy??
Compare the way both boxes lift, lower and lock and you’ll quickly see the better refinement and fit and finish of the Yamaha. But I’d take either.
I’ve done quite a bit of research. I think for me in the spring I’ll be buying a Yamaha Wolverine x2 with the 850cc twin engine and lockable diff 4x4 and Yamaha quality its an easy choice
Great job, well done, and I agree with your assessment.... now 2021 RMAX will give General some pretty step Competition at the Upper end models ... Yamaha is turning up the Heat.. :)
AWD on Polaris, more sophisticated and a boatload of electronics to fail. That’s why when the new Kawasaki 1000 came out the RZR went away. The new owner is thrilled with the RZR so everybody is happy. Excellent presentation.
Why do people compare the loaded option machine everytime I'd like to see base models side by side compare that most people buy and use
The Yamaha costs thousands of dollars less, and won't be in the shop as often as the Polaris . It also has a much quieter interior. The locked front diff is much better than the on demand system in the General. The General looks good, but I'll take the Yamaha all day long.
2020 base model is $12,699. Gives you plenty of extra money for bigger tires winch and windshield etc. Still have thousands left over.
Yamaha Wolverine X2 XTR all day long!
Really? You prefer 62hp than 100 hp front the Polaris General and way way better suspension
How about a sound comparison? I've been told that the Yamaha is the quietest in this class, compared to Polaris, Can-Am, and Kawasaki. Is that true?
I have an X2 and it is BY far the quietest SXS out there...theres also zero cab heat ( unlike the can am or Tyrex) its not a speed demon up top as it maxes out at 52 BUT, low end is amazing and its a billy goat on the trail.
TRUTH... YAMAHA WILL RUN FOREVER AND COST NEARLY NOTHING IN REPAIRS. the POLARIS WILL BREAK YOUR BANK IN REPAIRS AND GUARANTEED TO CATCH FIRE. There's so many different Polaris models catching fire. I own 3 Polaris atvs. Every time I park my sportsman 1000xp in my shop I'm afraid its gonna catch fire while its parked. It happened again Saturday morning. Rode in cold weather to my ice fishing spot. Parked it and half hour later smoke starts coming out of the front rack... voltage regulator is fully on fire. 12km walk home after. That's scary. I called Polaris. Talked to mitch. He said he'd call my dealer n set up a diagnostics. HE NEVER CALLED. They obviously just don't care if I get burnt.
I’m looking at the Ranger 1000 2019
Or a Honda. Not sure what I’m going to do.
Honda hands down
Polaris will leave you broken down
Could you do a video on the polaris sportsman 450?
Absolutely!
Easy choice, Wolverine X2 over Razor any day. Polaris Razr: low quality & bad engine/transmission. X2: high quality & best trany/engine on the market. If ur skeptical, do ur research & check UTV forums
Fit and finish. Along with reliability. Yamaha wins. Nobody can hold a candle to them except maybe Honda.
SIGNIFICANT price difference between them ! Love them both but the Polaris cost is definitely higher by a couple grand !
I’ve heard a lot of bad reliable issues with the Polaris is this true?
Sure is
Absolutely.
The only good thing about the Polaris is the radiator cap,...in screw it and place it on the Yamaha and drive away.
Jerry Antonetti I want to replace my 06 Arctic Cat ATV it’s still a great machine I use it to plow my driveway and haul firewood I’m thinking about the Yamaha woolveren 2 Seater utv what do you think?
I think Massimo (Chinese OEM) has surpassed Polaris in product quality. It's pretty obvious that the bean counters have had their way at Polaris in recent years with cost-cutting of materials and engineering everywhere you look. It's really a shame that such a good company has stooped to this low level, but when public companies allow "shareholder value" and stock prices to be the driving factor, it can happen.
So the General is a 1000 CC what is the Yamaha?
850cc(847) to be accurate
Had a 2019 yamaha Viking se for about a month, suspension was like riding on a park bench. Sold it, lost some money and got a Polaris. I agree that the Yamaha will be more reliable but rides like crap. I'm much happier with my Polaris.
The generals is too wide and too expensive and it’s not as good as the Yamaha on the trails. Yamaha has a much much better CVT transmission then Polaris. But the general is a good looking machine
If Yamaha would just redesign the door latch for ease of entry/exit. Despite that flaw, I’m hard pressed at getting something else as a former Wolverine R-spec owner.
I agree I am a bigger guy tried to get into an x4 with a lift kit and I barely got my self up and twist around that shoulder pad and food latch. I wouldn't even try the back seat. Not sure what they were thinking I guess small Japanese guys tried it lol
ruclips.net/video/kDbnYiXOXSo/видео.html
Machine only has 1300 km on it.
Yamaha would be a home run if someone would make front & rear arched offset A arms to allow 32s. Turf mode on the General is a deal breaker for a serious off-roader, will end up needed a spool or a welded up diff.
The rear diff can be either locked or unlocked.
@@Holden-McGroin yes but he means reliability wise once you put a larger Mudd tire on chances are that rear diff will fail.
You want a trouble free machine, you buy Yamaha. You want to keep throwing money into maintenance and repair, go buy any Polaris machine. Polaris is quickly becoming the old AMF that turned Harley Davidson into junk back in the 70's.
How can you even compare these? 🙄
Those watching, keep in mind the 2020 X2/X4 models have some improvements: ruclips.net/video/cEzdFmSTXoI/видео.html
Yamaha # 1 . $5500-6000 less , I would put on better 1 size or two bigger tires , winch , a good ecu tune and a big smile 😃. The Yamaha will outlast the Poolaris all year after year , slightly slower after a tune ,but weighs couple hundred pounds less also . That Cvt trans and locking diff you can’t beat !!! I’m more of a Yamaha Viking guy but still .//
Save your a click it's a Polaris sales add. A dual a deal that sells a lot of a certain mol will push that model only!
Yamaha 100% the best always will be always has been anymore questions???
I have a Yamaha Wolverine.
I would not trade it for two of
anything else......
The problem with the general is......it’s a Polaris.......noooo thanks!!!!
I will take the Wolverine, better fit and Finish then Polaris, and more reliable. Also, with Wolverine gaining so much popularity , there has become more and more accessories to choice from...
I own a 2016 wolverine. Ok so far except for 3 exhaust pipes coming off the head that cracked. In the same place. Crappy design. Might sell it. Buy accordingly.
You need a fuel tuner. The 708 runs WAY to lean and make the motor super hot. You can get one for 200 bucks and it makes a world of difference
YAMAHA
The Yamaha will need the extra traction
hahah , Wuuuuut?
Jason Lewis duh
@@raymondpruitt5421 extra traction for what ? Do you have a point or just like to blabber like an idiot ?
No you’re the that sounds like a idiot and DUH
Raymond Pruitt With the 4 to 5 thousand in price difference you could buy better wheels and tires and still have thousands left over for additional accessories.
I will take the Yamaha all day long
Polaris offers alot but no reliably clutches are junk the CV shafts are junk fuel lines I'll never buy another Polaris ever yamaha is best bang for your buck all the time
Popo junk Yamaha all the way
Polaris are junk.
Woah what insight
This guy has no idea how the 4wd's work on these machines! What a crappy salesmen!