I have over 700 miles on mine and it's held up excellent to the abuse and I ride 99% at the dunes and the other 1% at the local MX track. I'm in no way bashing Rhino's but they are tough and slow in stock form and would probably do good on trails if the width isn't an issue. But then I had a 06 660 Rhino and couldn't keep the damn thing running I think I may have had a total lemon though. Maybe you can find a rental place and take some sxs's for a test drive?

 

The easist way to convnce your self is to ride one, and see if you can get the grin off of your face.

 

I have had my RZR for 2 months approx. I have friend with stck Rhino and RZR because I mostly trail ride, the RZR was the best all around choice for me and I didnt ever expect to have more than me and one other rider.

Go to your local Polaris and Yamaha dealer sit and ride.

 

Well, I can say this, like you I was always a yamaha fan, for years. I wouldn't own anything but yamha or honda. I wouldn't even ever consider a polaris. I finally traded my dirt bike a few years back for a polaris sportsman to use to hunt and it was actually sprisingly good. I used it all the time and it held up great. I eventually traded it in for a Polaris ranger a year ago. The ranger has held up great and I have never had the first problem out of it. It holds back great going down hills in fact I have in low ranger you almost have to give it gas to go down hill. I would recomend it to anyone! I just got my rzr a few weeks ago and haven't had anytime to ride it because I've had it stripped doing work to it. But if it's half the machine that my ranger is, It'd be worth every penny. Again, I have rode a rhino before and it's still a super machine and did great the day I rode it, but in my opinion it won't out work my ranger or out play my RZR, so I have the best of both worlds. I do know stock vs. stock the rhino wouldn't touch it. I guess it all depends on what you wan the RZR for. Just my 2 cents.

 

I love my RZR go ahead and get one you will love it!

 

they all break and most of the problems are overstated on boards... but all in all what fits you and catches your eye is the one you want they all have pros and cons if you want a sxs for narow trails the rzr is the only one that works for that if you need to haul alot of stuff the rhin or ranger are the choices the kawi teryx the bed dosent tip ...fast stock the rzr need to haul more than 2 people back to the ranger or rhino or teryx... so go look and dont be afraid because they all will break all depends on you!!!

 

if your not in a hurry wait 4 mounths and see what comes out for 2009. if your in a hurry look at the kawi drive it if you can. than look at the rzr drive it if you can. i think you will like the rzr. unless you have a hard time getting in and out of it. the ranger is a tough work horse. and thay have cool plastics know. but im not an old man. if i needed a work and play toy. kawi. but i needed a play toy so i got the rzr. its just right for my wife and i. we have lots of fun playing on the trails. as for the brakes i dont think the rzr has ebs like the sportsman. but i dont use my brakes much in fact i use them less than i used my sportsman brakes.

 

Everyone who has driven mine ends up giggling like a kid. It makes me grin so big I'm afraid if I close my mouth I'll bite off my ears. 200 miles, no problems.

 

Had ours for six months now, my only regret is not having enough time to go out more
600+ miles of various terrain and the RZR keeps surprising us with it's ability.
You asked about engine braking, one of my concerns before buying. It DOES brake downhill quite nicely but you have to feather the gas pedal to slow it down! Sounds weird, but we have been down some REALLY steep and loose trails with no loss of control and never touching the brake pedal, just giving it a little gas!!
Go for a test ride, but before you do, negotiate your best price with the dealer. It will be impossible to get any discount with that ear to ear grin on your face after your test ride!!!

 

I bought a can-am 800 had it for 2 months....rode in my buddies rzr for 5 minutes and bought one. very smooth power,and a well though out machine.jonnycat8 said it best (they all break) It does take some hard riding to do it. ride all of the others and then the rzr last. mine still puts a grin on my face.

 

I ride the same mountains you do. Got my RZR last June, no breakdowns or problems so far. Got over 1,000 miles on it now. It takes a little getting use to having always owned a Honda but I wouldn't trade back.

 

what they said.. everytime i take somebody for a ride the first question after they get the grin under control is. "do you know where i might find one of these?"
on the engine braking thing.. they dont really have engine braking, meaning the clutch will come fully disengaged when the rpms get down low enough.. but, you can tap on the throttle for engine braking.. all you have to do is keep the r's up enough to keep the clutch engaged then you can use your engine to keep it under control..
i know some of the quads have something called active descent control, i believe that is the engine braking.. the rzr doesnt have this, but it may be something that could be retrofitted i dont know for sure..

 

Wow someone with a similar question to mine.

I just sold our Kawi Prairie 700s to fund the new SxS. I have researched several sites and keep coming back to teh rzr. I like the looks and the power over the rhino.

I ride the trains in Evarts as well - great place can't say enough good things about them.

One problem we had with the SRA was the low clearance ance getting hung up. I know the Rzr is 10" clearance and the Rhino is 12".

Is the 2" lift worth it? How tough is it to install? I can change fluids etc.. but I am no where close to being a mechanic.

I would love to wait 4 months and see what 2009 will bring, but I doubt I can stay off the trails that long.

 

Buy one and don't look back, the most fun you can have with your clothes on

 

I agree Jim!

 

Does anyone know how much assembly work the dealers have to do on the RZRs?

Just looking to get an idea of what are potential factory problems and what are dealer problems.

I had my front sway bar bushings fall out on me in the dunes and I always wondered if that was because the dealer forgot to tighten them up or it came from the factory loose (not complaining, I was going to disconnect it anyway)

I know on quads the dealers have to do some assembly because they are stripped down for easier shipping.

 

they come with their cages removed, (actually turned around.) pretty much everything else is all put together
i think the dealer puts the cage on and the door nets..

 

I bought the RZR because:
1.) It was faster than all the other SXS's.
2.) It rides like a dream.
3.) It is shorter and narrower than the other SXS's and can follow ATV Trails easily.
4.) It fits in my 115" long toy box on my Komfort Karry-All and it is narrow enough I can put two Quads in the Toybox also.
5.) I mounted a rear seat and our children ride with us.
6.) It is fun to offroad and can climb a tree literally!
7.) We can go as a family to Olds Hill or I can ride my Quad and my wife can carry the children.
8.) I can pull my 1200# Trailer around with ease fully loaded with firewood
9.) You can ride in the creeks and not get wet like on a quad.
10.) It is a fun machine to ride and very comfortable it doesn't beat you up like a Quad does...