QUAD Single Rear Axle vs Independent Rear Suspension

[180ls1]

I have the polaris sportsman 500 X seats 2 legally here in AZ. (required in AZ.) Slightly longer wheelbase but rides great.

We have one of those as well. Popped the sway bar off the rear and it also helped improve the ride.

They ride unbelievable now.

 

[Goatboy22]

If your butt is going to be glued to the seat like you're riding a couch, or you're hauling a fat chick behind you, get the IRS. If you're an active mountain and sidehill rider, standing with a knee on the seat half the time, get the get the solid axle. An old Honda Fourtrax 300 would be bulletproof!

 

[DeepI In The Rut]

I had a 2018 CanAm Outlander with IRS and power steering, sold it for a sided x side, and recently picked up a 2003 Honda Foreman Rubicon. The Honda has a solid rear axle and no power steering. Besides the Honda being bomb proof...it is a night and day difference comfort wise compared to the CanAm (I'm in my mid 40s and the sure don't mind comfort of the newer machines). Most of my riding is short utility work.

 

[Phaseolus]

You won’t regret IRS and EPS, if you ride much you’ll regret not having it, especially as you get older. I put 9000 miles on my Yamaha Big Bear and have 6000 miles so far on my Yamaha Grizzly 550 with EPS and IRS No way id trade back. Buy a Yamaha or a Honda and don’t look back.

 

[MarlinMark]

Get a Honda Rubicon. One and done.

 

[Weldor]

I like my Polaris sportsman 500 X, but my back does not. My SxS is ok but large. thinking of selling the polaris and getting a older 2 seat rzr. small enough to drag the pasture and help out durning hunting season if I can't get the can am in there.

 

[Backyard]

I have the Polaris 700 twin. Pretty smooth, no problems in 20 years with it. I like the fact that it’s made here in the USA.


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[Mule3006Elk]

IRA it is. Thanks for the input. Almost bought a SRA which would be fine. But I prefer not to get beat up on the trails.

Looking at Honda Rubicon or Yamaha Kodiac 700. Honda d/t reliability. I have read some don't like DCL d/t feeling like the transmission is always looking for the right gear. Reliability is a big factor for me. Researching the Rubicon the Yamaha Kodiak 700 comes up a lot which peaked my interest. Still highly reliable and it seems owners love the Ultramatic transmission.

I have read a fair amount of reviews where Rubicon owners switched to Yamaha and the general consensus is the Yamaha is overall a much better machine, ride quality is better, smoother transmission, more enjoyable ride, etc.

I'll likely grab one of these. Power is good, not anemic, but not excessive. I'll be a trail rider predominantly, big game scouting, turkey hunting, ice fishing, bird hunting with my GSPs, some recreation camping etc. If my big game scouting goes well I prefer to walk in and I'll leave the ATV at home.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Find a 08 or newer Yamaha Grizzly 700 with power steering. That will do everything you want to do and will get you there and back. I have had several, all with a ton of miles on them when I sold them. My son's 02 Grizz 660 is still running everyday and I have no idea how many miles it has on it. I have changed the oil and air filter, plus I have changed both rear axles (Ice can be hard on the rear axles when you are horsing around and hit solid ground). My last Grizz was a 10 and it had 8,000 miles on it and the only thing I ever did to it was oil and air filter changes. Also I have never put battery tenders on any of my grizz's unlike most of the other ATV's. I have replaced 2 batteries in my son's 02 Grizz, not bad for an ATV that is 23 years old.

Yamaha has peaked my interest. I've been looking at the Kodiak 700. The Grizzly is more of a quad than what I need. The 450 would likely be fine but I think the 700 is the sweet spot for me. Not anemic but not too much. This will be my first quad.

 

[K9kodi]

I’m a Polaris guy, like I’m a ford guy or a Cummins guy. Nothing wrong with Chevy or toyota. Just my preference.

I have two Polaris’. An older 500 ho and a new 570 sportsman with power steering and engine braking. Only bc the gf surprised me with it and I felt bad telling her I wanted the 1000, not cause I need it, but why not.

Anyhow, I absolutely love the ride and stability of the irs. It’s a utility quad not a racer. I have zero problems on our land pulling small utility trailers, loading her up behind me, both or even 2 others to go from the house to the barn. I will admit there’s more moving parts, which means more things to maintain, but the little extra possible maintenance is worth it when it comes to ride quality and mostly stability. The Honda with the smaller motor and sra is absolutely bombproof. I mean they make some durable atvs for sure. But they are the price of a loaded out Polaris or can am. Neither one of my Polaris’ have left me stranded. I’ve removed the rear sway bar from both of them, not really needed where I go and the speeds I go at. I would suggest more than anything though, if you’re going deep solo, get a winch, for sure. And get the required straps and unstick tools and or equipment. I’m a strong dude, but I’m not lifting my quad out of the sticky.