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ATV Buyer's Guide 2009
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Meet the sweetest rides yet for getting anglers and hunters to exactly where they want to be
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By George Gruenefeld, photos courtesy of manufacturers
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Yamaha - Grizzly 550 FI EPS
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POLARIS - Sportsman XP 850 EFI
While Polaris' sporty RZR side-by-side will make grown men drool, the mainstay of the company's off-road stable is its traditional quad lineup, now expanded with the addition of the XP-read Extreme Performance-550 and 850 models. There's no question the big 850-bore is one bull of a machine-you can feel its power the moment you hit the electric start. Outwardly, Polaris hasn't done a great deal to distinguish it from the ever-popular Sportsman 800 lineup, but here's what to look for. First, there's the power plant. Built in Wisconsin by Polaris, the liquid-cooled in-line twin can generate 70 horsepower. That's right, the engine is inline to the shaft and slightly canted. Hence another subtle difference-a substantially narrower centre well for more comfortable seating as well as more floorboard foot room. A bigger rad and more efficient pump keep the big engine running cool, while electric power steering kicks in to help tame the beast. Then there's the long-arm suspension to help smooth out the roughest trail. What impressed me at the launch of the 850 was the reliability of the machine's Active Descent Control function on steep hills with plenty of loose sand and gravel.
Learn more: 1-800-765-2747; www.polarisindustries.com
SUZUKI - KingQuad 500 AXi Power Steering
After a one-year hiatus, Suzuki's 500 is back for 2009, now in a KingQuad configuration, complete with power steering and hill descent control. Powered by a 493-bore four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine, the machine generates enough torque to get the job done. The capacity discharge ignition-widely used in both motorbikes and automobiles-ensures reliable starts. The two-, four- and differential-lock four-wheel-drive switches are easily at hand on the handlebars, along with the gear selectors. The long-travel suspension boasts five-way preload shocks. As far as the chassis goes, I like the 11-inch ground clearance of this machine, as well as the 83-inch length and the width just short of 48 inches. Four colour options are available, plus camo for an extra charge.
Learn more: (905) 889-2600; atv.suzuki.ca
SYM - Quadlander 600
Built in Taiwan and distributed here by CMI, this machine benefits tremendously from SYM's long history in the automotive and motorcycle fields. The Quadlander 600 runs on a liquid-cooled four-stroke thumper fed by a regular carburetor and ignited by an electric starter, which is backed up by a recoil starter. Power to the ground is delivered through a continuous-variable transmission, while effective stopping is promised with a double-disc front brake backed up with a single-disc rear brake. The machine is 83 inches long by 45 inches wide and comes in blue, red, green and yellow.
Learn more: 1-877-463-3940; www.symcanada.ca
YAMAHA - Grizzly 550 FI EPS
Last year, Yahama had a noticeable gap in its ATV lineup, jumping from a 421-bore straight through to a 660. For 2009, it's filled that gap by taking the essential Grizzly 700-with all its bells and whistles-and fitting it with a 558cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke workhorse fed by Mikuni electric fuel injectors. And it kicks over with a computerized DC-CDI starter responding to a 32-bit engine control unit. Power to the wheels, meanwhile, is via a sealed V-belt that offers a range of gear options along with four-wheel, full-time braking. Handlebar-mounted push buttons offer two-wheel, four-wheel, four-wheel lock differential and direct-shaft drive options. It also has electric power steering that responds to torque and speed-a blessing on long, tough rides. The Grizzly 550 measures in at just over 46 inches wide and a fraction more than 81 inches long.
Learn more: (416) 498-1911; www.yamaha-motor.ca
GREEN DRIVEN
So, where to next now that many of the finest innovations from the automotive world have been implemented by the off-road ATV crowd? Think environment.
There's every indication the shift to green technology taking place in the automobile industry will soon be paralleled in the development of greener, more environmentally friendly quads and side-by-sides. Witness already the increased availability of diesel-powered machines from several manufacturers, including Arctic Cat with the 2008 release of its 700 quad. That workhorse is capable of firing up on six different diesel fuels, including biodiesel, and offering 50 per cent better fuel mileage over the standard gasoline engine.
At the same time, the industry is also looking for the means to wean itself off fossil fuels completely. Battery-driven side-by-sides are nothing new on golf greens and trap ranges, but recent breakthroughs in dry-cell rechargeable batteries are making electrics more feasible for long-range outings. One manufacturer-RTEV, which unfortunately does not distribute in Canada-boasts a four-wheel-drive side-by-side with a range of 80 kilometres on a single charge, not to mention a top speed of 35 kilometres an hour. So far, there's been no serious talk of a hybrid machine, but I'll wager somebody's already working on it.
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| 1. Arctic Cat, Can-Am, Club Car, CMI |
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| 2. Cub Cadet, E-Z-Go, Honda, John Deere, Kawasaki |
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| 3. Knox Outdoor Products, Kubota, Kymco, Midwest Motorsports |
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| 4. Polaris, Suzuki, Sym, Yamaha, |
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| 5. ATV Specs |
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