ATV; Polaris Sportsman 570 or 2021 Honda Foreman

I am looking at buying an ATV for ice fishing and plowing snow from the driveway. With the cost of used units it seems the best route is to buy new. I have it down to either a 2022 Polaris Sportsman 570 or a 2021 Honda Foreman. Both would have the same accessories (power steering, winch, blade, handwarmers, chains), and the Honda is about $750 more.

Any thoughts on these two models?

Anything I am not thinking about that I would need for this setup, or would be good to have? I’ve driven plenty of ATV’s but never owned my own. I would also be purchasing a small trailer.

I owned a first model year Sportsman 570(2014). It was plagued with issues, the biggest one is when the side panel started on fire…Anywho, I believe they’re sorted out now and it’s tough to beat their price, but for only $750 more for a Honda…the choice is obvious IMO.

Honda.

Honda. Heard way too many issues with Polaris and you can’t beat Honda for reliability

Honda

Honda. Someone in our group has a 2018 Polaris sportsman’s and it’s being traded in already as the things had so many issues.

I have a 2015 Polaris Sportsman 570. It has very low hours and has been maintained well. They have fixed the issue mentioned above about the side plates melting, they now have heat shields and all that did not can be retrofitted under warranty. It has been a decent machine for me. More than enough power. The only issue I have had with it was when the fuel pump went capoot. Left me stranded about 10 miles from base in the U.P.. Could not get it fixed when I was up there, this sorta messed up my our plans for more trail riding that week. Since replacing the fuel pump, I have not had any issues. This said I have not put many hours on it since. My $.02.

Honda or Suzuki both are great!

Hard to say much bad about a Honda. Pretty reliable

Polaris and reliable can’t be said in the same sentence.

Honda aren’t flashy but they just run forever with very few problems. Honda is the Energizer Bunny of ATV/UTV’s.

I have a 1986 honda four trax this thing goes and goes no belts no problems. polaris are junk unless snowmobile!! Just my opinion you will not regret honda for 750.00 more my son has the exact same wheeler his is bullet proof as well

I have a 21 foreman and love it. You won’t ever go wrong with a Honda.
The polaris I don’t have any good things to say about the 4 guys I ride with who have them. Had a 03 rancher and that went through absolute hell and back. Buddy still beats on it every day.
Honda is hard to pass if you don’t need flash or a big power house machine.
The only problems with Honda is the electric shift if you go with that option, which I would never recommend.
I was pulling that 21 polaris home in that pic due to broken clutches with 230 miles on it.which seems to be the normal when riding with the polaris guys. It’s either axles, limp mode, electrical issues, or broken belts clutches and housing.

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Have a 2016 sportsman 570, other than a few batteries over the years and 900 miles it’s been pretty solid for me. Awsome ride and very quick and responsive ( great polaris clutching) for its motor size. Each year has made improvements in design and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one, have a friend going back to polaris from Can am as well.

We have a 2017 570 2-up at the cabin. It rides great on the trails, has a lot of power and pushes snow great.

It’s been plagued with electrical gremlins. Replacing the ignition switch fixed the display so it quit flashing and going dark intermittently. If it’s cold out, the power steering quits working, the winch loses power and sometimes the fuel pump loses power. I have taken the front cover off to access the relays more times than I can count. We have replaced the relays and it’s been to the dealer, but the issues still come and go. Another guy on the lake had similar issues and finally traded on a Yamaha.

I had a RZR 900 that never gave me any problems, but this 570 has been a nightmare.

I have a 15 Honda Forman Rubicon, no issues after about 1500 miles. Mine even sat on the bottom of a lake for 24 hours a few years ago. They can be a bit hard starting in the cold, but mine has never left me set while ice fishing in ND.

I don’t understand the polaris thing I had a 2018 570 had 2800 miles on it zero problems. Just picked up my 2021 saturday! New ride has improved battery placement and a built in battery tender hook up.

casey walters wrote:

I don’t understand the polaris thing I had a 2018 570 had 2800 miles on it zero problems. Just picked up my 2021 saturday! New ride has improved battery placement and a built in battery tender hook up.

Polaris issues are pretty well known. It’s no secret these days.
Some are good and lots have a million issues that never end.

Maybe we hear about so many Polaris issues because there seems to be so many around here. It seems to me I see at least 2 maybe 3 Polaris for any 1 other brand on trails in Minnesota. I’ve owned polaris and Suzuki they all have some issues. Currently running a couple of 2016 Polaris 570sp, no problems yet and the comfortable ride sure is nice! Have fun and good luck with whatever brand you choose.

Smoker wrote:

Maybe we hear about so many Polaris issues because there seems to be so many around here. It seems to me I see at least 2 maybe 3 Polaris for any 1 other brand on trails in Minnesota. I’ve owned polaris and Suzuki they all have some issues. Currently running a couple of 2016 Polaris 570sp, no problems yet and the comfortable ride sure is nice! Have fun and good luck with whatever brand you choose.

I’m just telling him what I’ve seen in person. All on 2018 and newer machines.
Besides the 15 that burned itself down at the moose lake pits. Watching all that is definitely enough for me to stick to my guns and not own a polaris. That and the fact it took them so so so long to figure out where a battery should be located

Just to be clear. I have towed a Can-am, Honda, Polaris, Suzuki and Kawasaki out of the woods. They all have their issues that come up…To say it’s only a Polaris that breaks is wrong, they all break. Clutch rollers and fuel pump relay on the can-am, fried DCT on the Honda, Exploded clutch and fuel pump on Polaris, Cracked piston on the Suzuki and exploded secondary on a Kawasaki…Also towed many Polaris and Ski-doo sleds for melted engines.

After read this, if anyone wants to ride with me, I’ve got a tow strap and winch on my X3

Pick what you think suits you best and go with it. It’s gonna break.

404 ERROR wrote:

Just to be clear. I have towed a Can-am, Honda, Polaris, Suzuki and Kawasaki out of the woods. They all have their issues that come up…To say it’s only a Polaris that breaks is wrong, they all break. Clutch rollers and fuel pump relay on the can-am, fried DCT on the Honda, Exploded clutch and fuel pump on Polaris, Cracked piston on the Suzuki and exploded secondary on a Kawasaki…Also towed many Polaris and Ski-doo sleds for melted engines.

After read this, if anyone wants to ride with me, I’ve got a tow strap and winch on my X3

Pick what you think suits you best and go with it. It’s gonna break.

Agree. EVERYTHING BREAKS. Just depends how you ride. I’ve never had any gremlins with any honda I’ve owned. But I’ve had many broken parts. I also beat on all my stuff but I do maintenance daily as well

On the Honda Foreman, anyone worry about the ground clearance? It seems a little lower than others. I also want an “automatic” transmission, and don’t want to have to manual shift (foot or hand).

Any opinions on how various ATV’s handle the snow out on the lake? I know there are times when a snowmobile is better, but it seems some ATV’s handle deeper snow better than others.

Other consideration, I’m a big guy and typically have another person (son, fishing buddies) with me.

acarroline wrote:

On the Honda Foreman, anyone worry about the ground clearance? It seems a little lower than others. I also want an “automatic” transmission, and don’t want to have to manual shift (foot or hand).

Any opinions on how various ATV’s handle the snow out on the lake? I know there are times when a snowmobile is better, but it seems some ATV’s handle deeper snow better than others.

Other consideration, I’m a big guy and typically have another person (son, fishing buddies) with me.

Mine is foot shift and my brother’s is auto. I prefer foot shift my self, but bro has 0 issues with his. Hondas biggest down fall is on machines with electronic shifting.
For snow, mine is all I use in the winter. I plow and ice fish daily. Chains are recommended and I put 27 inch tires on it. I wouldn’t go 28. Gives me plenty of clearance. The true locking diff is awesome. I get stuck in 2 wheel, really stuck in 4, then lock the diff and can usually crawl out. We ride hard and love deep stuff. Like I said my honda takes abuse.

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I HAD an 05 sportsman 700. Bought new and at 9 miles overheated in the winter and left me stranded on the trail. That thing was awesome when it ran but unfortunately it had way too many ongoing issues to keep it. Something was always going wrong. I also have an 03 Yamaha kodiak 450 again bought new and both machines were beat on and treated the same and the Yamaha has never let me down. Yes I have had to repair it over the years but it has been a great machine. Not as flashy as the Polaris but looking cool being towed is not cool.

My 2002 rancher 350 electronic shift is a nightmare. They have vastly improved the design, but not sure to what extent. Doubt the new automatics have the same issues, but they may. I frequently finding myself digging out the manual shifter under the seat to put it back into 1st or neutral…This machine has 6,000 incredibly tough miles.

Yamaha Grizzly is my vote no problems.

Why not have awesome power AND outstanding reliability?

Kawasaki Brute Force or Yamaha Grizzly/ kodiak all the way.

But between your two stated options I’d say it really depends how you intend to use it. If you’re mudding things WILL break and polaris parts are abundant, so is service if you aren’t a DIY type. If you’re working with it Honda all day. Trail riding lightly, whichever.

I only put about 150 miles per year on my Brute Force but they are usually in the mud, at WOT, or some combination of the two. Love this machine.

Billy, 900 miles on your polaris wow that’s alot

billy03z71 wrote:

Have a 2016 sportsman 570, other than a few batteries over the years and 900 miles it’s been pretty solid for me. Awsome ride and very quick and responsive ( great polaris clutching) for its motor size. Each year has made improvements in design and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one, have a friend going back to polaris from Can am as well.

I was a diehard Polaris fan for 25 years. going from can-am back to Polaris? That’s funny. Can-am builds a way more solid machine than Polaris.

I had a Polaris 570 ranger for a year and a half and it was bulletproof with no issues but ride anything can-am and you can tell a difference