honda, can am, or polaris

[aangus]

Was thinking of changing quad or getting a decent secondhand back up bike.
Have a honda 350 now but could do with a little more power to pull the snacker.
Just wondering what peoples experience are of a can am or polaris, and has any one got a honda 420 with the DCT transmission?

 

[Nithsdale]

All Honda's have the DCT as far as I'm aware... it's very reliable.
The new model 420 is getting good things said about it - I know a few who dropped from the old 500 to the new 420 (because of the price!) and say they are very happy. Fuel economy is markedly better than the old model.

Everyone on here will tell you get a CanAm. But, avoid the 450... The 570 is thirsty as hell from what I've been told from someone who has just finished doing a lambing with one.

Polaris 570 (can't get the 450 anymore in UK) is an absolute bargain. @Gator is the man with experience of these bikes. Right now the Polaris 570 or Yamaha 700 are the only 2 bikes I'd look at, personally.

 

[Hilly]

CANAM first honda second, walk third, polaris fourth.

 

[Gator]

All Honda's have the DCT as far as I'm aware... it's very reliable.
The new model 420 is getting good things said about it - I know a few who dropped from the old 500 to the new 420 (because of the price!) and say they are very happy. Fuel economy is markedly better than the old model.

Everyone on here will tell you get a CanAm. But, avoid the 450... The 570 is thirsty as hell from what I've been told from someone who has just finished doing a lambing with one.

Polaris 570 (can't get the 450 anymore in UK) is an absolute bargain. @Gator is the man with experience of these bikes. Right now the Polaris 570 or Yamaha 700 are the only 2 bikes I'd look at, personally.

Shame you carnt get the 450, not had any problems with mine as of yet. Nice to ride, pulls the combi clamp and prattley with ease.

 

[GTB]

Remember that the new Honda can't shuttle from forward to reverse and that the gear changes are very jerky.
The can am has the gear stick on the wrong side IMHO and looks like a Chinese quad.
Know nothing of the Polaris I'm afraid.
We ended up buying a Yamaha 700, so far so good. Very comfy bike to ride.

 

[hally]

Had a go with a mates Honda foreman today full spec machine. Very impressed with ride and power steering compared to my old foreman hydrostatic but crap reverse mechanism and gearbox no where near as good as my own. Seemed very revvy before changing gear which was not that smooth but simple and got to better than a bloody belt ( had enough fun and games with belts on my gator, walked home on more than one occasion ).

 

[hilux]

What about a Kawasaki ?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Around here it seems to be
Suzuki
Can Am
Honda
All clearly in front then a couple of rowdy ol Yamaha
Polaris
Kawasaki
First 3 pretty even, last 3 pretty even. That's numbers on the ground, but the can am is the best bike if you don't mind giving it a drink.

 

[aangus]

Thanks all, have phoned local dealers and have demo bikes coming!

 

[Y Fan Wen]

One comment I make is that I prefer the solid rear axle rather than irs as it feels more stable on side hills.

 

[DaveJ]

Polaris 570 is as previously said, a bit of a bargain. Mine currently has an easy life so can't really say how it would be up to heavy use, but we ran a Diesel in the same chassis for years until they stopped supporting the chronically unreliable engine. And said engine apart it was grand. I still maintain nothing on the market touches them for comfort. The stupidly long range lever is horrid though. Why they couldn't have stuck with the old H pattern I don't know.

 

[Joe S]

Had a go with a mates Honda foreman today full spec machine. Very impressed with ride and power steering compared to my old foreman hydrostatic but crap reverse mechanism and gearbox no where near as good as my own. Seemed very revvy before changing gear which was not that smooth but simple and got to better than a bloody belt ( had enough fun and games with belts on my gator, walked home on more than one occasion ).

That have been irs and all? I've been on the manual version of that bike

 

[Nithsdale]

Polaris 570 is as previously said, a bit of a bargain. Mine currently has an easy life so can't really say how it would be up to heavy use, but we ran a Diesel in the same chassis for years until they stopped supporting the chronically unreliable engine. And said engine apart it was grand. I still maintain nothing on the market touches them for comfort. The stupidly long range lever is horrid though. Why they couldn't have stuck with the old H pattern I don't know.

What did you have before your 570?
Also, what is the fuel consumption like?

 

[Nithsdale]

One comment I make is that I prefer the solid rear axle rather than irs as it feels more stable on side hills.

Iv heard that complaints a couple times on the new Honda's... but IRS is light years ahead in terms of ground clearance, ability and ride.

It's nice Honda have finally caught up with where Suzuki were 30 years ago, though...

 

[vinnie123]

All Honda's have the DCT as far as I'm aware... it's very reliable.
The new model 420 is getting good things said about it - I know a few who dropped from the old 500 to the new 420 (because of the price!) and say they are very happy. Fuel economy is markedly better than the old model.

Everyone on here will tell you get a CanAm. But, avoid the 450... The 570 is thirsty as hell from what I've been told from someone who has just finished doing a lambing with one.

Polaris 570 (can't get the 450 anymore in UK) is an absolute bargain. @Gator is the man with experience of these bikes. Right now the Polaris 570 or Yamaha 700 are the only 2 bikes I'd look at, personally.

Has the can am 450 been giving problems? @Nithsdale Farmer ?
Tell us more pls as I'm sizing one up atm

 

[Nithsdale]

Has the can am 450 been giving problems? @Nithsdale Farmer ?
Tell us more pls as I'm sizing one up atm

No problems from what I know... but everyone on here says they are noisy and a bit gutless. If your buying a CanAm the 570 is the only one to buy. But it's very thirsty.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Iv heard that complaints a couple times on the new Honda's... but IRS is light years ahead in terms of ground clearance, ability and ride.

It's nice Honda have finally caught up with where Suzuki were 30 years ago, though...

Well I hopped on my neighbours one and it gave me a fright.
He's traded it in back to a solid again.

 

[Nithsdale]

Well I hopped on my neighbours one and it gave me a fright.
He's traded it in back to a solid again.

We have had Suzuki King Quads, and 2 Arctic Cats (old 300 petrol, and currently a diesel) all IRS, alongside trailing rear arm Kawasaki's, Suzuki's and Honda's. IRS is superior - only rigid axel which came close was the Suzuki Eiger.

IMO it is the Honda dimensions which let it down. Arctic Cat and Polaris full size bikes have a much wider track-width, with stronger springs/higher ratings. The new ones also come with sway bars. This all adds to stability (and increased ground clearance), an area where Honda has always struggled IME.

 

[Downton_shep]

No problems from what I know... but everyone on here says they are noisy and a bit gutless. If your buying a CanAm the 570 is the only one to buy. But it's very thirsty.

They are better on fuel than a Suzuki 500 king quad, but thirsty compared to Honda 500. You can hardly compare the Can am to the Honda. Not only 20hp difference but so much nicer to ride. Very comfortable.
I wouldn't touch a 450 with a barge pole!

 

[Jerry]

Can am 450 here now for couple months and no issues at all. Like it a lot over last bike, only thing it misses is a horn!

Ok on fuel, and plenty enough power. Rack load tolerance is excellent. Had a slug pelleter full with 100kg of Fert on it and no problems.

Engine braking is excellent.

Not noticed lack of power, it flies up our steep stuff fine enough.

The 570 is a very quiet bike though compared to the 450.