User Panel
Posted: 4/30/2024 9:57:16 PM EDT
I have been kicking around a SxS (UTV) for a couple of years now. This would be my first one. I have a 20 year old Honda Rubicon ATV with close to 20k on the odometer and it has never given me any problems. I know the UTV purchase would be different.
I am more interested in a "sport" model for trail riding, etc than a "farm" model with a dump bed and stuff like that. New prices are a bit out of my league. Sure, I'd love to drop 40k+ on the latest and greatest but thats not going to happen. I'm just looking for feedback on the various brands, etc. I am eyeing a 2023 Polaris RZR with 1600 on the odometer. A buddy of mine really poopoos on Polaris citing frequency of warranty repairs, but I think his opinion is skewed because Polaris is the biggest seller in my AO. I'm an open book. School me GD. |
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It's not just fast vs utility, it's race car level maintanence vs tractor level maintanence.
One friend has an RZR, the other has a Honda Pioneer. When the Pioneer is due for an oil change, the RZR needs a new belt and a clutch rebuilt. Sure its fast, but damn. Also figure out if you are riding wide open dunes and trails, or hitting the 50" wide stuff restricted to ATVs and dirtbikes. Those trails have far less idiots. |
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Can-Am all the way. RZRs live at the dealership.
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My 2014 CanAm Commander 1000 XT has NEVER let me down. Ten years old and runs like it was brand new. Been all over Moab, Colorado and more and more. We use it EVERY day around our place. Best vehicle purchase I've ever made.
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Originally Posted By Rock_Ranger: It's not just fast vs utility, it's race car level maintanence vs tractor level maintanence. One friend has an RZR, the other has a Honda Pioneer. When the Pioneer is due for an oil change, the RZR needs a new belt and a clutch rebuilt. Sure its fast, but damn. Also figure out if you are riding wide open dunes and trails, or hitting the 50" wide stuff restricted to ATVs and dirtbikes. Those trails have far less idiots. View Quote I am looking at a RZR 1000 non-turbo. It puts down a modest 110hp. The latest and greatest RZRs now have a full on 4 cylinder in them and are putting out 240hp+ which is crazy insane to me. The width on this one is 64" so I wouldnt be going on "ATV only" trails. |
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I race them, hence my user name. If you want some fun doing general trail riding, some work around the farm etc - I personally like the Honda Talon. It's a dual clutch transmission, auto or paddle shift. No belts.
If you must have belt I'd consider a Yamaha Rmaxx before I'd consider a Polaris. If you want to go fast as hell, Canam X3 turbo. I have a personal preference for my Yamaha YXZ. However I race in harescramble/woods races, and I really like the 5spd manual transmission. It's also easy to work on. Running 10psi boost I am getting 205hp to the wheels. It scoots. |
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I went from quads to utv 2 years ago. My wife wanted to be a passenger Instead of driving her own machine. It's been great and we ride more often. I bought the fastest machine available and it's fun but yeah the performance machines generally need more maintenance.
Canam maverick DS X3 RR. Hot as hell and loud inside. We won't even ride if it's mid 80's and above. |
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I'd put Polaris at the bottom of the list.
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Polaris is known for catching fire. I had a Can Am Maverick X3 XDS (64” model). Loved it, lots of fun and the 64” width allowed me to get into some tight trails but still would rather have the 72” wide model. Can Ams are also are almost unbearable in the cab with the clutch noise. They are loud. Haven’t rode in a new one but supposedly they are a lot quieter. Turbo models make me giggle…but can be a lot to handle on trails and when crawling.
Kawasaki is making waves in the sport SxS world even though underpowered. They are getting popular with the crawling crowd as they have a phenomenal suspension and are a hell of a lot cheaper to get into. They just lack aftermarket support but it’ll come around. Stay away from Hondas and Yamahas, IMO. Shock Therapy on YouTube has some great videos that go in depth on each manufacturer’s suspension. |
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I hated Honda quads but they’re the only SxS I would own after using a few dozen in Alaska (besides utility ones). Pioneer or Talon get my vote.
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Originally Posted By Aspida1776: My cousin in law and his father have enough money, they could own any of them. For the combo of dump bed, sxs, seats 4+, they went with Honda Pioneers. https://www.superatv.com/media/catalog/product/h/o/honda_pioneer_6_inch_lift_kit_1_1.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=70&optimize=high&crop=1:33:1&width=1600 View Quote So they picked a 2 seat model that an engineer decided to throw 2 more seats in the back . Never heard of the General or Commander |
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Also, I am 100% after a two seater. Its just the old lady and me.
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Originally Posted By LexDiamonds: I am more interested in a "sport" model for trail riding, etc than a "farm" model with a dump bed and stuff like that. View Quote First thing... suspension travel and quality of shocks are one of the FIRST things you should look at, they'll determine whether you're getting jolted around enough to hurt your neck or whether you don't even notice the bumps. You want around 12" of travel minimum, with name-brand shocks (Fox, King, etc.), not the generic OEM shocks on base models. After that, track width helps with stability, but depends on whether your trails are width-restricted. But even if you don't plan on going fast, you (and especially your passenger) will REALLY thank you for the better suspension. As for power... on actual trails, not dune/desert racing, you'll run out of suspension long before you run out of power. |
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Originally Posted By Firespecialist: Polaris is known for catching fire. I had a Can Am Maverick X3 XDS (64” model). Loved it, lots of fun and the 64” width allowed me to get into some tight trails but still would rather have the 72” wide model. Can Ams are also are almost unbearable in the cab with the clutch noise. They are loud. Haven’t rode in a new one but supposedly they are a lot quieter. Turbo models make me giggle…but can be a lot to handle on trails and when crawling. Kawasaki is making waves in the sport SxS world even though underpowered. They are getting popular with the crawling crowd as they have a phenomenal suspension and are a hell of a lot cheaper to get into. They just lack aftermarket support but it’ll come around. Stay away from Hondas and Yamahas, IMO. Shock Therapy on YouTube has some great videos that go in depth on each manufacturer’s suspension. View Quote Curious why the Honda and Yamaha hate? Talons are pretty good trail machines. Not spectacular for racing. Torquey motors. I've heard of expensive transmission repairs, but I'd still take that over a belt. Yamaha - admittedly outdated suspension design, kind of a minimalist setup, but sporty and fun. New 2024 has a 6 spd trans manual or paddle. Idk to each his own, in my experience the Yamaha has been very easy to work on, I've had mine down to the frame many times. Canned Hams, Polaris - not as easy to service. |
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Polaris is always breaking and the build is just not great . We have multiple.
They sure are proud of the new ones but all of them are expensive. There are these stores in Central and North Florida called “Ride Now”. We have patronized them some in past but they are ridiculous. I went in today to look at some accessories smdcrenered why I don’t like them. Arrogant bunch inside with 4 different women employees ignoring customers and looking at their phones. Another female appeared to be a dike in a motocross get up. Several salesmen dudes kicked back looking cool. I looked around a few minutes and did not see what I was looking for and it was a bit obvious. Nope, they were locked in on their phones and whatever. Think we are goin to go elsewhere in future. |
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Originally Posted By Tjcj: So they picked a 2 seat model that an engineer decided to throw 2 more seats in the back . Never heard of the General or Commander View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By Tjcj: Originally Posted By Aspida1776: My cousin in law and his father have enough money, they could own any of them. For the combo of dump bed, sxs, seats 4+, they went with Honda Pioneers. https://www.superatv.com/media/catalog/product/h/o/honda_pioneer_6_inch_lift_kit_1_1.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=70&optimize=high&crop=1:33:1&width=1600 So they picked a 2 seat model that an engineer decided to throw 2 more seats in the back . Never heard of the General or Commander Guess they just arent as smart as you cause, man, you are. |
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Originally Posted By LexDiamonds: Also, I am 100% after a two seater. Its just the old lady and me. View Quote Attached File |
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Originally Posted By JLPettimoreIII:
bruh. 87% of Gee Dee couldn't get laid in a Thai brothel with a black AMEX and a kilo of the finest blow on the planet. |
Originally Posted By JLPettimoreIII:
bruh. 87% of Gee Dee couldn't get laid in a Thai brothel with a black AMEX and a kilo of the finest blow on the planet. |
They're mostly owned by D-bags. Make sure and get some white framed sunglasses
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delete
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I have a RZR, friend has a CanAm.
I'm not driving it like an idiot. I keep up with maintenance. I don't do anything special with it, and it seems like every other time I take it out, something is fucking broken and needs replaced. If not that, some weird fucking electrical issue that can't get diagnosed and then just goes away on its own all of a sudden. Also Polaris are either the dumbest or the laziest people alive who will go to lengths to try and band aid recall issues any way they can as opposed to actually spending $15 to permeantly fix the problem. Friend's CanAm seems to break less, but when something does its expensive. |
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I have a Polaris general and the comments say I fucked up I guess.
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I’ve owned 3 Polaris machines without issue. My current ride is the General 1000 and for a do it all machine it’s the bees knees.
Goes plenty fast enough for me. Hauls me and my gear all over the deer lease. |
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I don't know anything about them but my buddy has one of some sort .
I'm sure it's nothing fancy, but we took the boys out around Boulder (MT) around March a couple years back and that thing kicked the shit out of my Jeep TJ in snow covered mountain roads. Granted he had knobbies and I had Hankook Dynapro ATs with some miles on them, might have helped to have decent tires or chained up but we didn't make it too far in and I was too sketched out to keep following him. Good luck in your search, they look fun. |
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Teener Crew For Life We hate 'em 'cause we ain't 'em
PASS FDEpocalypse - WSUB - 31 JAN 2015 |
Just depends. Look at the power plants. I'm very partial to Kawi Teryx and Yamaha Viking and Wolverines. My old Yamaha Rhino's power plant was in use for over 10 years in other offroad machines. Just bulletproof.
Stay away from RZRs. What's your budget? |
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Canam X3 in whatever flavor floats your boat...
XRC for rock crawling XDS for 64" narrow trails XRS for full 72" width and speed MAX versions are four seaters Turbo RR version is most HP come on over to maverickforums.net if you want to research |
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Whoever said sport models take more maintenance might be onto something. Neighbor I fish with like to take his smoking fast razor up the mountain, except it’s usually in the shop lol. We take my Yamaha most of the time, it’s never in the shop.
Attached File Not fast Not sexy Climbs like a goat and always gets us back. |
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
Originally Posted By USCG_CPO: OP, I have a Kubota Sidekick and work the shit out of it. It is not as fast as some of them but I got mine to work and casual play. A 3 cyl Subaru gas engine, governed to 41 mph which is plenty fast for farm use. Metal bed with 1,000 lb capacity, 2,000 lb tow capacity. I will be honest and say I have overloaded mine in the bed and tow capacity and it didnt let me down. It has locking dif, 4 low, 4 high and regular 2 wheel drive. Never had an issue in 3 years. The are around $14K and Kubota always has zero percent interest. https://cdn-fastly.atv.com/media/2022/10/24/8778326/2018-kubota-rtv-xg850-sidekick-review.jpg?size=1200x628 View Quote @uscg_cpo Pics of yours? We are going to get a kubota tractor. If we can do zero percent financing on both as a package deal that’s a win. I prefer Japanese made for everything. It’s quality. |
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connoisseur of fine Soviet and European armored vehicles
Let's go Brandon CINCAFUGD |
Just got a Yamaha Wolverine R-MAX after doing a lot of research...big sale on too.
Best belt tech...imo |
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For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
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For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
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Originally Posted By ACEB36TC: My 2014 CanAm Commander 1000 XT has NEVER let me down. Ten years old and runs like it was brand new. Been all over Moab, Colorado and more and more. We use it EVERY day around our place. Best vehicle purchase I've ever made. View Quote I beat the living dogshit out of my Commander for 7 years. Jumping, rolling, dozing, etc. Never had a single failure on them. I’ve got a Defender now that I treat gently. Got that young and dumb out of my system with the Commander. We’ve had 5 Can Ams in our family, and the only failure was a single fuel pump on my Defender after about 3 weeks of nasty riding in mood dust. After looking in the fuel screen it was full of the dust, and I’m assuming it was the cause of the failure. I can’t blame that on the machine at all. |
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Originally Posted By fadedsun: @uscg_cpo Pics of yours? We are going to get a kubota tractor. If we can do zero percent financing on both as a package deal that’s a win. I prefer Japanese made for everything. It’s quality. View Quote @fadedsun EDIT: Found some on my phone. Here is a pic from a couple months ago, that’s a 14 foot trailer it’s pulling. Attached File Attached File |
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Traveled the world, currently living in Indian Territory
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Originally Posted By 9divdoc: Just got a Yamaha Wolverine R-MAX after doing a lot of research...big sale on too. Best belt tech...imo View Quote 8 or 10 year belt warranty says something. My 19 Wolverine just goes, and this was before I put good tires on. We went to the top of this picture, first tracks. Attached File |
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
Y’all don’t want to hear about a John Deere Gator XUV.
Won’t go faster than 32 MPH, tow more than 2,000 lbs, or haul more than 1,400 lbs in the bed. Nothing sexy or fun about it, but it keeps getting the job done. Not sure there is a bad UTV out there today, to be honest. I doubt 1% of the riders/users/drivers would max one out if they bought based on the strong points of any model. |
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lol, OP wants something fast and fun, without dump beds.
everyone posts pics of off road golf cart utility sxs with dump beds. lol. seriously either go Polaris RZR or Canam X3 |
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Make sure you get the loudest exhaust possible. Only operate while consuming beer and chucking the empties on the trail. Fire it up and drive everywhere at redline while everyone else in the National Forest is trying to sleep at 2am.
This has been a primer on proper SxS ownership and usage. |
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"You can't tourniquet a taint, folks." - Andrew Branca
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Originally Posted By mike3000fl: lol, OP wants something fast and fun, without dump beds. everyone posts pics of off road golf cart utility sxs with dump beds. lol. seriously either go Polaris RZR or Canam X3 View Quote You're right, I misread his OP but one person benefited from my post so not all is lost. |
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Traveled the world, currently living in Indian Territory
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Originally Posted By bondryan: We enjoy our general. Same 1000 motor as the rzr, plenty of suspension unless your ripping the dunes, more comfortable seats then the rzr and comes with a factory winch. https://i.imgur.com/lc3Dm1C.jpg View Quote Also a great deal in comparison to most quads out there. |
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Originally Posted By bondryan: We enjoy our general. Same 1000 motor as the rzr, plenty of suspension unless your ripping the dunes, more comfortable seats then the rzr and comes with a factory winch. https://i.imgur.com/lc3Dm1C.jpg View Quote Your car needs my sign. Attached File |
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton |
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Originally Posted By USCG_CPO: OP, I have a Kubota Sidekick and work the shit out of it. It is not as fast as some of them but I got mine to work and casual play. A 3 cyl Subaru gas engine, governed to 41 mph which is plenty fast for farm use. Metal bed with 1,000 lb capacity, 2,000 lb tow capacity. I will be honest and say I have overloaded mine in the bed and tow capacity and it didnt let me down. It has locking dif, 4 low, 4 high and regular 2 wheel drive. Never had an issue in 3 years. The are around $14K and Kubota always has zero percent interest. https://cdn-fastly.atv.com/media/2022/10/24/8778326/2018-kubota-rtv-xg850-sidekick-review.jpg?size=1200x628 View Quote The one real downside to the XG-850: It's fucking retarded way too twitchy throttle control; it's especially a PITA at low speed and worse for reverse. I'm surprised that there aren't class action lawsuits against Kubota for that clusterfuck. |
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I'm not Retired, I'm a Professional Grandpa!
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Originally Posted By 9divdoc: Those aren't made in Japan View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes |
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I'm not Retired, I'm a Professional Grandpa!
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Originally Posted By Aspida1776: My cousin in law and his father have enough money, they could own any of them. For the combo of dump bed, sxs, seats 4+, they went with Honda Pioneers. https://www.superatv.com/media/catalog/product/h/o/honda_pioneer_6_inch_lift_kit_1_1.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=70&optimize=high&crop=1:33:1&width=1600 View Quote |
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Who makes the quietest SxS? We rented a Razr a few times and they are so loud I can't hear anything over the engine noise.
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The honda talon is pretty decent. I think they moved to a gen 2 machine in 2022. The transmission problems are the result of moving from high range to low range while still moving. The maintenance on them is not difficult, all fluids can be changed in 1 hr.
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Originally Posted By mike3000fl: lol, OP wants something fast and fun, without dump beds. everyone posts pics of off road golf cart utility sxs with dump beds. lol. seriously either go Polaris RZR or Canam X3 View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By mike3000fl: lol, OP wants something fast and fun, without dump beds. everyone posts pics of off road golf cart utility sxs with dump beds. lol. seriously either go Polaris RZR or Canam X3 USCG posted some good info here. I am looking for a SXS to use at our ranch. Haven't decided if it's gonna be one of the kei trucks or a Kubota like USCG's. Originally Posted By USCG_CPO: @fadedsun EDIT: Found some on my phone. Here is a pic from a couple months ago, that’s a 14 foot trailer it’s pulling. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/249630/IMG_5697_jpeg-3202517.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/249630/IMG_5698_jpeg-3202518.JPG That's cool as hell and answers the questions I have about it pulling our 10 foot single trailer Originally Posted By USCG_CPO: You're right, I misread his OP but one person benefited from my post so not all is lost. Thank you for posting what you did! I am looking into them. Originally Posted By 9divdoc: Those aren't made in Japan Japanese designed |
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connoisseur of fine Soviet and European armored vehicles
Let's go Brandon CINCAFUGD |
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