The 500 Club
 We Compare The Big Bore Utility Beasts



On The Job Skills
Utility is what these machines are all about. Sure, we trail ride these big 4x4s often. And we even see enthusiastic owners racing these heavyweights in cross-country competitions. But these ATVs perform best at slow speeds, in low gears, and when accompanied by a trailer, loaded racks, or other burdens of work.

What makes a good utility 4x4? Strength, for sure, but an elephant can be difficult to operate. We want an ATV with the power of a Mack truck and the handling ease of a compact car. It needs to be comfortable enough to sit on all day long, and it should offer convenience and ease-of-use features that assist us in our jobs. Considering all that, here's how these big workers compare.

Strength
We tried a few different ways to figure out the brute strength of these competitors. We towed heavier machines - from a Polaris Ranger to a loaded utility trailer to a Ford Excursion - across the flats. We climbed steep and slippery hills. We even attempted a tug-of-war. The muscle crown goes to the Bombardier Traxter. The competition was close, however, and it's not just about horsepower and torque. You can build a powerful engine, but it's no good unless you can effectively put that power to the ground through the wheels and tires. With the Traxter's super-efficient front differential, engine power is directed through all four tires providing excellent traction, and strong performance.

The engine power of the Traxter is nearly matched - but not quite - by a few machines. The Polaris Sportsman and Magnum, which use virtually the same 499cc four-stroke engine, are definitely strong competitors. The straight axle on the rear of the Magnum seemed to make it a little stronger than the independently sprung Sportsman, at least in the loose desert dirt where we did much of this testing.

Yamaha's Grizzly proves that big-displacement doesn't necessarily mean big power, especially on the low end of the curve. The 600cc Griz is the fastest of these machines, but it's not the strongest. The machine lacks low-end pull, especially when compared to the super-strong Traxter.

The Suzuki QuadMaster and QuadRunner (that's the automatic and five-speed versions of Suzuki's entrants) have strong engines, but the shorter wheelbase hampered their ability to act as powerfully as the others.

The Honda Foreman S is equipped with the smallest engine in the class. Its 432cc air-cooled four-stroke just couldn't match the pulling power of the others. Also, the quad's weak front differential leaves it with just three-wheel drive when the going gets tough. This just wouldn't let the Honda pull when pure power was needed.

Working convenience
Pure power isn't always that easy to put to work, especially for a long day in the field that includes a variety of jobs spread across a large worksite. Fortunately, these machines aren't tractors; they're designed to be easy to use and comfortable for a variety of uses. Some, of course, are better than others.

Our favorite for an all-day work session is the Polaris Sportsman 500. It's among the stronger machines in this class, but more importantly it's comfortable, easy-to-use, and has all the features we like.

For slow-speed comfort, the Sportsman's independent rear suspension is tops. We would prefer, however, if the Sportsman's rear suspension were even more independent. The Sportsman uses a stabilizer bar that connects the two sides of the rear end, stiffening it a bit. This does help when trail riding at faster speeds, but it makes the rear less independent than we'd like. To test this, we've disassembled the stabilizer bar from the quad. This gives the rear end true independence, and a perfectly supple ride over big bumps and farm-field ruts. We've told Polaris engineers about this, and asked them to make a quick disconnect for the stabilizer. They weren't as excited about this as we were.

The Sportsman's front-end MacPherson struts provide a very comfortable ride and easy steering. And now that some aftermarket companies are offering adjustable springs for Polaris struts, we can stiffen these when running a snow plow or carrying heavy loads up front. We hope Polaris can make this a standard feature some day.

This quad has a trailer hitch that's easy to use. There is a complete set of gauges for keeping track of operating time, miles traveled, and more.

The automatic transmission does a great deal to ease the use of this quad for all-day chores. Put the shift lever in high or low gear, and go. While we still prefer manual transmissions for some chores - seeding a field or toting a sprayer usually requires a specific speed that can be hard to maintain with a self-shifting auto tranny - you can't beat the automatic for operating ease. And now that Polaris has added an engine-braking feature to this machine, there is little to complain about.

The Polaris Magnum 500, a nearly identical twin to the Sportsman, fits right in here, too, for all the same reasons. But its single-shock swingarm rear end makes it more of a sport-utility quad than the much-more work-oriented Sportsman.

Polaris brought auto trannies to the ATV market back in 1985, and nearly every other manufacturer has similar technology in place, and mostly in this class of quads. So Polaris is not the only one with a claim on the automatic ease-of-use feature. The automatic, 90cc kids atv Honda Rubicon will be out soon. That leaves just Bombardier without an auto tranny quad.

Even as a five-speed, we put the Traxter in a close second-place to the Sportsman for working convenience. The big Bombardier uses a five-speed transmission with push-button electric shifting, similar to that on the Honda Foreman ES. This makes a quad nearly as easy to use as an automatic, and it offers the engine-rpm control that only a manual tranny can give. There are times when we want to stay in second gear, and we like that about the Traxter, or any other manual machine.

We've become quite fond of the Traxter's unique step-through seating, too. We first found it odd, then we had a hard time getting used to it. Now when we try to swing a leg over the loaded racks of a competitor, we wish for the Traxter's step-through ease. We've never had trouble riding this opened-up machine; the seat is comfortable and plenty secure on its own.

The Traxter has an innovative shift lever you move to shift from reverse to high, low, neutral or park. It's a nice idea, we just wish its practice was as good as its theory. We've had a few different Traxter test machines, and they've all been difficult to shift.

With its huge storage bin up front, work chores are made easier. Once you load the front rack, however, you can't get to that handy compartment. We also appreciate the engine access. Just pop off the seat, and you can get to anything on this powerplant.

The relatively small Honda Foreman S is still one of our favorite work machines. The rear end is a bit stiff for really rough terrain, but the soft seat and superb ergonomics help make up for that rougher ride. While the Foreman has less power, and a less-effective front differential, it has strong work habits anyway. The super-low first gear gives good pulling power, and the incredibly smooth five-speed transmission makes shifting through the range simple. Even shifting into reverse, which can be tricky at first, soon becomes old hat, and you can keep both hands on the grips.

While some have doubted that the Honda's air-cooled engine can stand up to a workday in the heat, we know better. Honda engineers design the engines for superior heat dissipation, meaning you won't overheat the powerplant, and you don't have to worry about the extra weight of a radiator, nor adding coolant. Chalk another one up for Honda's awesome reliability and ease of use.

The two Suzukis - automatic QuadMaster and five-speed QuadRunner - are decent workers. A short wheelbase makes maneuvering these machines easy. With 8.5 inches of ground clearance, these kids atvs can also maneuver through difficult terrain confidently. The suspension - a traditional dual A-arm setup in front with a sturdy four-link dual shock swingarm in the rear - gives controlled handling with a good mix of stiffness for trail riding and damping for control.

A two-speed subtransmission gives these Suzukis low-gear strength for serious tasks. We spent most of our time on the automatic QuadMaster during this test. The shift lever is located on top of the gas tank for easy access.

Of course, the Grizzly is a strong workhorse; we appreciate its muscle. We do wish, however, that it was a little more refined for 9-to-5 jobs. The big 600cc cylinder gives off more than its share of noise and vibration, and that gets tiring after a short time at work. With this quad, there's no doubt that you can get a great deal of work done. There are more comfortable options, however.

We'd like a softer rear suspension option on the Grizzly. It also needs a better gauge package. And Yamaha needs to do something to smooth and quiet the engine. The heat shields that were added last year helped a good deal. Let's keep the Grizzly improvements coming.

On The Trail Manners
Now we're getting personal. Some people like to ride fast on the trails. Some ride tight wooded trails that require a nimble machine and don't allow hot top speeds. Still other ATVers like the rocky, technical, suspension-testing trails. There is not one "best trail machine" for all these interests. We've ridden all of them in all these circumstances, however, and we can set the story straight.

If you want an easy-to-use but powerful trail machine for all but the roughest terrain, go with the Polaris Magnum 500. Like a bit more top speed and the accompanying growl? Go with the Yamaha Grizzly. Like a more refined but still sporty 4x4? Choose the Magnum. These machines are very similar, with MacPherson struts up front and single-shock swingarms in the rear. This setup gives both machines good steering up front, assisted by a stiff rear end that allows firm cornering and playful slides.

The two Suzuki 500s will act similarly, and can have a more aggressive feel due to their shorter wheelbase. We could also call this a less stable feel. It all depends on your riding ability, the trails you're on, and your trail speed.

The Foreman is a good trail ride, though first gear is too low, and there's less top speed for those long straight trails. We like the suspension for trail riding, but the full-time four-wheel drive won't allow big sliding turns.

You might be surprised to know that the Bombardier Traxter is one of our favorite trail machines. The awesome front differential gives the Traxter the steering ease of a much-smaller quad. The ergonomics are good for long rides. And the engine provides plenty of power throughout the rpm range.

We don't like the Traxter's transmission. It's rough enough to prevent smooth and fast shifting. The rest of the five-speeds in this class offer buttery smooth shifts. The Traxter shifts slowly and a bit rough. Also, the rear suspension is too stiff for really rocky terrain. The soft seat does help where the suspension falls short.

The Sportsman is on the bottom of our trail ride list. Sure, it's a comfy ride, and that can be nice for long, slow-speed cruises. But that softness, especially in the rear end, along with a tall ride height, causes us some concern when the riding becomes more aggressive. We doubt Polaris had high-speed corners in mind when it designed this quad, though.

Put this same Sportsman on a rocky rough trail, where the bumps are bad and the speeds are slow, and we might pick it first. Might. It's still a tall machine, and that automatic transmission can hamper super-slow rock crawling. Give us a five-speed Sportsman for better throttle control.

The wide and stable Traxter, with its killer front diff. and five-speed tranny is one of the better rock climbers. This quad delivers instant power at any speed for climbing obstacles. You just don't want to get its 700-pound girth stuck.

Rock-And-Roll
All the same attributes for extreme four-wheeling apply to the big-bore 4x4s as to the smaller ones.

The Polaris ATVs offer traction but also are tall and tippy. The Grizzly has no front traction, and a CVT tranny that engages at too high an rpm to be a good crawler. The Foremans work well, and are well balanced, but are hampered by the need for a better front.

Fortunately, in the big-bore class there are several ATVs that really shine. Just like the smaller machines, the big Arctic Cats are the best of the average, offering good traction with a small amount of tipsiness due mostly to the soft suspension.

But then there are a couple of really great machines. Both of the Suzukis are low centered, small-feeling machines with good front differentials. And the Traxter, although much larger in size, offers perhaps the best traction and lightest steering of any 4x4 ATV. Add in the step-through design that allows extreme body english, easy bailing when even that isn't enough, and you have an ATV that really excels in the extreme stuff!

Pick One?
You skipped ahead to this point expecting us to pick one best utility quad, right? Can't do it. Here's what we can do. In the specifications box, we've scored each quad - one to five stars with five being best - in five different categories: Work Power, Work Convenience, Trail Power, Trail Manners, Rough Trails. Look at the scores, considering what type of riding you'll do.

And we'll still make a pick. Our favorite for all-around utility use is the Bombardier Traxter. You can't beat its big power, and it's filled with innovative convenience. Our favorite for trail riding is the Polaris Magnum 500. It handles aggressively and easily at the same time.

Where, Oh Where Has Our Arctic Cat Gone?
We tried, but couldn't get an Arctic Cat 500 for this comparison test. But we've ridden these things through the Canadian Rockies, the Midwestern woods, and the Florida swamps. We know what they can do. For work power, the big Cat - auto or five-speed - would likely compete with the Polaris quads and the Grizzly. And that's a tight battle for second-place behind the Traxter. We give it high marks for work convenience, thanks to its superb suspension. It's not a completely independent system like the Sportsman, but it's soft enough for super comfort, and firm enough for load-hauling control. And with the new automatic tranny, you just put it in high or low gear and go. There's still a five-speed option, with a low-range subtransmission, for engine rpm control. On the trail, the Arctic Cat is a powerful and fun ride. It won't slide like the Magnum, but it does handle aggressively and ably for a quad of its size. And we applaud Arctic Cat for recognizing that the huge tires offered on the 1999 model were simply too big for everyday use. The 2000 models use normal-sized 25 x 8-inch treads up front, much better for easy trail handling. You can always add big mud meats later.
Arctic Cat 500 4X4 Automatic (5-Speed) Specs
Engine	493cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke
Suspension (front, rear)	Dual A-arm, semi-independent rear
Transmission	Automatic (CVT) with reverse, hi/lo range (5-speed with reverse, and hi/lo range
Dimensions (width, wheelbase, weight)	45 in., 51.6in., (50 in), 648 lbs. (645 lbs.)
Price	$6,599 ($6,299)