So, we bought a new quad.

[Finn farmer]

As the title says. Our 2014 Polaris Sportsman 570 was a sorry excuse of a quad. On wednesday we went to pick it up from the repair shop (as usual), drove it in our van and just jokingly asked how much would it cost us to change to Can-am Outlander 570 Pro+. We got the price, talked about it outside and decided to push our Polaris back to the shops yard. Our 2020 Outlander should arrive next week.

Interesting thing is, we priced a Yamaha Kodiak 450 and 700 with almost the same equipment as Can-Am (wider and higher tyres, winch, eps, 60km/h tractor plates, belly plate) and the Kodiak 450 came in the same price as Can-am. Kodiak 700 was 2100€ more than Outlander, even though they are almost the same on paper. Outlander even has some "extra extras" baked in to the pro+ package (aluminum rims, the bigger tyres as standard, handlebar and throttle warmer).

I would've loved a Kodiak, but my love isn't enough to justify the extra cost. Time will tell, as they say. I might even buy a smaller Outlander 450 for my private use if the 570 Pro+ proves reliable and nice to drive.

It looks like this, but doesn't have the horrendous backrest, since we had the one that has only legal seating for driver.

 

[fergie35]

MY20 models don't come with Alloys just so you are aware...The first of them are just being delivered, we just got some into stock

 

[Finn farmer]

MY20 models don't come with Alloys just so you are aware...The first of them are just being delivered, we just got some into stock

The dealer said that they come with alloys. We'll see then. Won't be a big disappointment if they come with steels. Finlands pro+ might differ a bit (the dealer said that reindeer farmers have given valuable feedback and option opinions that are adapted to the Pro+)? Do you get heated handlebar and throttle?

 

[Two Tone]

As Deer farmers, we need a quad that is really well built and doesn’t fall to bits or apart with the abuse it sometimes has to endure.
The original Japanese built Honda was brilliant, but the US built ones literally fell to bits.
Ironically the US built Yamahas at first were bomb proof. We still have one here that is 14 years old.
Tried the latest version and it went back to the dealer with cracked plastic rear quarter guards.

Tried and bought the Can-am 570 Outlander and it is brilliant. Built like the proverbial brick sh!t house and reliable.
It is a lot cheaper that’s nearly all the competitors and I was worried that you get what you pay for. It seems not!

 

[Cowabunga]

I was looking at my MF300 just the other day, because it now leaks oil from the transmission/engine out through the half shaft seal. It was then I realised that it is fully fifteen years of age.

It has not been perfectly reliable but nothing major has gone and cost us either. The biggest issue was frame rust with the front suspension anchor points and then the main frame inboard of the footplates failing. These were comprehensively replaced/reinforced a couple of years ago and its been fine since.
Main other issues have been front suspension bushes, the ECU module [I think it was.] and a penny dropped out of its head. All reasonably easily and cheaply sorted. It doesn't do many miles but it is used most days.
It is a re-badged Arctic Cat but the biggest issue now, probably an imaginary one because it hasn't effected me yet, is the lack of Arctic Cat dealers. Not sure whether they are currently imported.

 

[Finn farmer]

Polaris has been to shop for various fueling, cooling, electric and mechanical issues. Last summer it caught fire at the middle of a field. Unfortunately my brother was there with the Deere and we had our fire extinguisher there. Would've been much easier to just let it burn.

 

[milkloss]

We’ve got a yam 550 that’s about ten years old and it’s about to get expensive I think. Bushes all round, just had a new starter, has had maybe 5 new cv boots, needs new bearings in the rear diff and probably cv joints to go with and new steering ball joints all round. The most annoying one is New callipers as the edge that holds the dirt seals in has corroded away so they fill with muck.

Is this everyone else’s experience?

 

[michael N123]

I was looking at my MF300 just the other day, because it now leaks oil from the transmission/engine out through the half shaft seal. It was then I realised that it is fully fifteen years of age.

It has not been perfectly reliable but nothing major has gone and cost us either. The biggest issue was frame rust with the front suspension anchor points and then the main frame inboard of the footplates failing. These were comprehensively replaced/reinforced a couple of years ago and its been fine since.
Main other issues have been front suspension bushes, the ECU module [I think it was.] and a penny dropped out of its head. All reasonably easily and cheaply sorted. It doesn't do many miles but it is used most days.
It is a re-badged Arctic Cat but the biggest issue now, probably an imaginary one because it hasn't effected me yet, is the lack of Arctic Cat dealers. Not sure whether they are currently imported.

They get imported under all sorts of names there’s a ‘diesel force’ for sale near me

 

[Hooby Farmer]

Health to enjoy the new motor

 

[Al R]

The dealer said that they come with alloys. We'll see then. Won't be a big disappointment if they come with steels. Finlands pro+ might differ a bit (the dealer said that reindeer farmers have given valuable feedback and option opinions that are adapted to the Pro+)? Do you get heated handlebar and throttle?

I’ve specced my last few hondas and my current Yam with heated handlebars and throttle - I think it’s around £185?
I’ve seen some smashed up CanAms in the last few months but it could be the operators?

hope the bike goes well for you

 

[Hilly]

Polaris are shyt , can am are cheapest and best , best bit about them is even the theif s don’t like canam , you did the right thing binning the Polaris .

 

[NI farmer]

Our canam eats belts
Hard to beet a Yam 450

 

[Blue.]

Our canam eats belts
Hard to beet a Yam 450

What are you doing to eat belts?
Had my can am near 5 years and it’s been faultless,never leave it in drive while running,always in park if your not driving.

 

[Nithsdale]

I was looking at my MF300 just the other day, because it now leaks oil from the transmission/engine out through the half shaft seal. It was then I realised that it is fully fifteen years of age.

It has not been perfectly reliable but nothing major has gone and cost us either. The biggest issue was frame rust with the front suspension anchor points and then the main frame inboard of the footplates failing. These were comprehensively replaced/reinforced a couple of years ago and its been fine since.
Main other issues have been front suspension bushes, the ECU module [I think it was.] and a penny dropped out of its head. All reasonably easily and cheaply sorted. It doesn't do many miles but it is used most days.
It is a re-badged Arctic Cat but the biggest issue now, probably an imaginary one because it hasn't effected me yet, is the lack of Arctic Cat dealers. Not sure whether they are currently imported.

Your bike is a Suzuki King Quad 300 in an Arctic Cat chassis with a MF badge...

We had an Arctic Cat 300 4x4 (same bike as yours) when they first came out in 1998. Front ball joints were crap, and the battery is located in a stupid place (we had a lot of bother with mud and water sitting on top of it corroding the terminals), but it was a brilliant bike, way ahead of its time. Made our neighbors Honda of same age look stupid.

AC dealers are few and far between but still in UK. Failing that for engine/gearbox parts talk to a Suzuki dealer.
Not available in the UK, but the King Quad 300 is still being made in pretty much its original form, and is in its 33rd year of production.

 

[Nithsdale]

They get imported under all sorts of names there’s a ‘diesel force’ for sale near me

That is not an Arctic Cat.

 

[Cowabunga]

Your bike is a Suzuki King Quad 300 in an Arctic Cat chassis with a MF badge...

We had an Arctic Cat 300 4x4 (same bike as yours) when they first came out in 1998. Front ball joints were crap, and the battery is located in a stupid place (we had a lot of bother with mud and water sitting on top of it corroding the terminals), but it was a brilliant bike, way ahead of its time. Made our neighbors Honda of same age look stupid.

AC dealers are few and far between but still in UK. Failing that for engine/gearbox parts talk to a Suzuki dealer.
Not available in the UK, but the King Quad 300 is still being made in pretty much its original form, and is in its 33rd year of production.

Yes, the major parts are Suzuki. Yes the front ball joints have needed changing but I would not say they were crap for the work we give it.
The design is notable for the engine and gearbox being mounted so far back in the chassis.

 

[Cowabunga]

Arctic Cat are now owned by Textron, who have a vast number of businesses, most notably Cessna, Hawker aircraft and Lycoming engines. It has not yet fully reorganised the AC business and does not export to the UK currently. Not sure about the rest of Europe, but it has apparently closed its German factory, or is in the process of doing so.

 

[Nithsdale]

Yes, the major parts are Suzuki. Yes the front ball joints have needed changing but I would not say they were crap for the work we give it.
The design is notable for the engine and gearbox being mounted so far back in the chassis.

The at the time newly promoted authorised Arctic Cat dealer for Dumfries sold their first 2 bikes - both 300 4x4 - one to us and the other to the estate we are on for the head shepherd. The estate bike wore out ball joints in under a years use. Ours lasted longer but needed replaced after 18months.

Ball joints were notoriously poor for wearing out on all early models. Yours at 2004(?) would have the upgraded ball joints - which had inaccessible grease nipples fitted to extend life. Not long after, the entire range of bikes was changed and the ball joints redesigned at that time. This cured that failing, but the new design bushes became a problem... one which they only corrected with the release of the Alterra range 5 years ago.

 

[Nithsdale]

Arctic Cat are now owned by Textron, who have a vast number of businesses, most notably Cessna, Hawker aircraft and Lycoming engines. It has not yet fully reorganised the AC business and does not export to the UK currently. Not sure about the rest of Europe, but it has apparently closed its German factory, or is in the process of doing so.

The dealer network is still here. Having an Arctic Cat diesel, I still get parts from their nearest dealer to me. But things are difficult, to say the least. The 400 and 450 are Kymco bikes, only the 700(petrol) is an Arctic Cat. They do not import the 570, which is a shame as it's better than anything available in the UK currently.

There is and has been an awful lot of upheaval. Textron dropped the Arctic Cat name not long after acquisition, but that lasted a year at most and the Cat name is now back because the rebranding lost lots of sales in the States. They also dropped the new Alterra bikes, to bring back the older models... only to then drop them again and relaunch the Alterra models. It's all been hard to follow.

 

[neilo]

The dealer said that they come with alloys. We'll see then. Won't be a big disappointment if they come with steels. Finlands pro+ might differ a bit (the dealer said that reindeer farmers have given valuable feedback and option opinions that are adapted to the Pro+)? Do you get heated handlebar and throttle?

^this. Actual spec varies slightly in some countries. I chased up a model i’d Found on Google, that had extras over the 570 Pro that I bought, and was told they weren’t available in the UK.

Great bikes, but I still prefer the 500 I traded in.