Can-am Outlander 400 vs Sportsman 500

Looking at buying a used wheeler in the next month or two, and have narrowed it down to either a Can-am Outlander or a Polaris Sportsman 500. I am looking in the 2004 or newer can-ams, and 2005 or newer Sportsmans (due to upgraded suspension in 2005+ models).

I originally was fairly set on buying a Sportman, mainly because they are so common and can be had for a decent price. I rode a 2008 this winter and man did that thing ride nice!

Then, I started talking with a friend about it and he said he would go with a Honda or Can-am over the polaris. His main reasons were the Polaris has many grease zerks that need maintenance after going through water, where the Honda and Can-am don’t. He also said the Can-am and Honda have fully sealed drivetrains, vs the Polaris that doesn’t. He goes on weekend rides with groups and said that they see more problems with the Polaris’s than any of the others, which are mainly Honda and Can-am.

My main uses for it would possibly include plowing a 125′ driveway in winter, dragging a disk for a food plot, and possibly moving a boat around once in a while. It would also take me back to the backside of my property which at times can include some muddy/wet terrain.

Anyone have any additional insight here?

Can am for sure I owned a 2005 can am 400 for 3 yrs. 3ver had one problem just oil changes worked great. I own a 800 can am now I’ve owned kawasaki Suzuki and Polaris as well and the machines I’ve spent the most time under are Polaris then kawasaki. I belong to a ATV group and 3-1 Polaris have issues over the rest of the machines. There never major things but problems that end there ride for the day and have to be towed back and couple hundred bucks later there back up and running. I’m not biased on atv machines at all so I’m giving you my most straight honest answer I can. But one thing g I know is 90% of any machines problems come from how you drive it on the ATV so keep that in mind and always lean towards the one best taken care of and best deal.

I would have to say the Can-Am as well. The Polaris ATV’s although they ride nice, just aren’t built to the same standards. We ride a couple times a month, year round, and the Polaris ATV’s aren’t holding up like the others.

I dont know about those two models but having low-range could be a big plus disking fields. Same for plowing. I always use low range pushing snow. Other than that it seems like water can be an issue with all eventually. That’s why I dont drive through deep water or even mud. I use my quads mostly for recreational driving. One of them for plowing. None of my 3 quads have grease zerts and it hasnt been an issue.

Gosh, grease zerts an issue. I would think that would be a plus so you make sure these areas stay lubricated. I have owned Polaris’ since 2005 with very little problems. The only issue has been the batteries and that was because I did have a trickle charger on the batteries over winter. I have pulled a 500 LB disk and plowed a lot of snow over the years. Having a good maintenance program (the same for all machines) helps to not have to worry about my Polaris. Good luck with your choice.

Honda’s are not real frilly but they about as bullet proof as anything out there. They also hold there value very well. The reg. Foreman & Rancher models are shaft drive no belt to get wet.

gmartell wrote:

Gosh, grease zerts an issue. I would think that would be a plus so you make sure these areas stay lubricated.

I wouldn’t say it’s an issue, but it is additional maintenance. If other manufacturers have engineered their machines in such a way the zerts are not needed, I would tent to prefer less maintenance vs more.

I have a 2009 Polaris Sportsman 500.

I don’t think either is a bad machine, Can Am have certainly upped their game in recent years, so IMO it’s more about which one you like personally and which ones is best for your particular needs.

Your buddy’s “reasons” for NOT buying Polaris are only proof that he doesn’t know much about ATVs. Keep in mind, ATVs are use-specific. What makes a good work machine for your uses will not be the best choice as a trail machine for the weekend warrior.

Grease zerks are a bad thing? Ummm, no, it means you can actually grease something vs having it just be a wear part that eventually will fail and need to be replaced. It doesn’t mean more maintenance, it means you can maintain rather than spend time replacing parts later.

I don’t know what he’s talking about with this “fully sealed drivetrain” either. All drivetrains are fully sealed except where shafts come out of cases, breather tubes come in and out, linkages enter, etc and in these cases they all have the same potential failure points with seals and bearings. If he’s considering the belt drive and clutches on the Polaris being “unsealed” and comparing it to a shaft drive system or chain drive system, this is apples to oranges. All drive systems have pros and cons, neither is objectively better for all users and uses. The Polaris belt drive is no exception, on the pro side I’d say that it’s user maintainable, and a time-proven system for durability and reliability. It has downsides like every other drive system.

As to the more broken down Polaris machines, well, could that just be because there are just plain MORE Polaris machines out there in the first place? For almost a decade, Polaris was selling more ATVs each year than Honda and Can Am combined. Sampling bias, kind of like people complaining about Windows computers. Everybody has a horror story because everybody owns one.

I’d say try machines and buy based on your own needs, not your buddy’s theories.

Grouse

Thanks all. I agree with zerts being worthwhile and a good thing, just wanted to understand if there were difference between manufacturers and engineering of the mechanics. One suspension may have more grease points due to the style of suspension. The more I look into it the outlander has a number of them as well, just not as many possibly due to front suspension (struts – no upper a-arm).

Perch, you are probably correct about his reference to the clutches/belt vs what the others have. This was my words, probably not exactly as he stated it.

As far as his reference to the break downs, he was referring to the large group he rides with up north for weekend trips. They see more breakdown with the polaris bikes vs the other brands in his group. I know they do water and mud, so I think that may be why he doesn’t prefer the polaris clutch/belt setup.

Thanks!

I didnt want to get brand specific but couldnt hold back anymore.
Kawi Brutes ROCK!! Easily the most visceral sport utility on the market if you like that sort of thing.

suzuki wrote:

I didnt want to get brand specific but couldnt hold back anymore.
Kawi Brutes ROCK!! Easily the most visceral sport utility on the market if you like that sort of thing.

There’s a lot of good machines out there these days. Getting tough to make a bad choice, really.

But the complexity is also going up. EFI, power steering, very intricate suspension systems, traction control… It isn’t going to be long before repair bills start to really soar on the machines that are coming out over the last 3-4 years.

Grouse

Grouse, you running carb or EFI? If carb, any issues with the machine not starting in sub zero weather?

I had a 2004.5 Sportsman 500 carb. I never had an issue even in the coldest weather. You had to leave the choke on for maybe 20 seconds and then you were good. It never died on me because of the cold.
DT

311hemi wrote:

Grouse, you running carb or EFI? If carb, any issues with the machine not starting in sub zero weather?

I have the carb model. No issues starting in any weather. Choke and it fires right up when cold. In very cold weather the need to run and warm up a little but that would be a good idea no matter what.

Grouse

2013 500 carb here. No regrets what so ever. No cold problems at all.

I do run non oxy gas

EFI certainly has some advantages, fuel economy being one of them.

But the carbs are not the great evil that some make them out to be. They are a proven technology that is reliable and easily serviceable. If something in a carb breaks, most people who know small engines will be able to diagnose and fix it.

If your EFI breaks, hope you got a trailer handy, because you’re going to be towing that ATV all the way to the dealer if you want it fixed.

Contamination in fuel affects both carb and EFI machines. The idea that EFI machines are immune to fuel contamination including water contamination is urban legend. Particles in fuel and water contamination will kill an EFI just a surely as they will kill a carb machine.

Grouse

Thanks everyone. Ended up picking up an 05′ Sportsman 500HO last week for a decent price. 1200 miles and came with a plow.

I was watching the 500 EFI’s and the Can-ams, but haven’t seen many come up in the price range I was looking.

I think you’ll be happy with that machine. I was amazed by the numbers of 4 wheelers out there that are like the one you found, 5-10 years old and less than 2000 miles. People own these things and then don’t use them. Your machine has less than 125 miles per year put on it!

My 2009 had about the same mileage as yours (1200) when I bought it last year. As far as I could tell, the previous owner (an older gent) used it mainly to go get the mail ever day at the end of his 200 foot driveway. He said he took it trail riding a couple of times. Must have been short rides.

In one year of ownership, I haven’t doubled the mileage on it, but I’ve put 2X the hours on it. Good work machine.

Grouse