I have a couple of threads already about my search for a side by side and decision to go 50" vs 60". and I have gotten a lot of great information, but I wanted to post in this forum as my search turned up a lot of replies such as "get the s it’s far better" or "no replacement for displacement" and I know that in an open area that is for the most part true, however my area is for the most part "tight" and I know that everyone’s version of tight is different…
let me preface this by saying that if finances were not an issue and I could pick any brand new machine and had the coin to set it up with all the items on my wish list I would probably start with a new 900 XC as it seems to have the best of both worlds…unfortunately finances or lack there of put that out of my reach at this time, and this first machine may end up being a stepping stone/learning experience for me.
570 vs 800 vs 800(s) is the dilemma for me. along with my limited budget of 8k. unfortunately finances to not allow me to pick the brand new machine setup exactly as I would like so I must find something used that ticks enough of wish list boxes within my 8k budget. Now I fully understand that whatever I purchase will need some modifications for my rocky, generally tight and technical terrain.
I also know that my measly 8k is my entry point, I will likely dump much more coin bit by bit after the purchase….
now having said that everyone’s interpretation of tight trails is different, and many people have said to ask my friends what they suggest which sounds logical….however I have friends that ride both 50" and 60" machines and each will point out why theirs is better….and no I don’t have any 50" gates to fit through, but we do have lot’s of tight trees to get through….
the 60" guy says don’t go with anything less than the S, i watch the other guys in their 50" 800’s in front of me and they look like bobble head dolls with their heads bouncing side to side….and I just glide through like it was paved road…..
the 50" guy says.."the long travel suspension is better..I’m not gonna lie, but if you want to ride the tight stuff and go anywhere a quad can go you just aint gonna do it in the S.
I have been looking for a couple of months and I still couldn’t tell you which is better, but I have learned that you can always make a 50" into a long travel wider machine (if you throw enough $$ at it), and it might not be so easy to start with the 60" machine and go the other way.
whichever way I go I want the machine to have power steering as I would like to let my 13 year old daughter drive on some of the easier trails. and I know that can be added to anything for ~$500.
now I have narrowed my search down to 2 local used machines that couldn’t be more different from each other. taking into consideration that any 50" machine I would be modifying the suspension with at minimum a 2" lift, springs and larger tires right off the bat..and then possibly shocks
1. 2015 base model 570 with less than 8 hours on it…basically done stock for $7500…so basically a brand new machine for $3k less than new
pluses I see for this machine
newer pro star engine
newer transmision
basically brand new so I don’t have wonder how badly it was abused
50" machine easily fits in my ford superduty short bed
I would be starting with a clean slate and modify to suit my needs
only my hands have worked on the machine (maybe good or bad…lol) but at least I’ll know the history
better on fuel
easier to work on??
minuses for 570:
have to do suspension work imediately
possibly poorer resale value
2. 2013 800 S (FOX) with 1250 miles (second owner) $8000
pluses I see for the S:
long travel Fox suspension is no doubt better than Sachs
doesn’t need a lift kit
little more top speed (but that doesn’t matter much to me)
comes with roof, half windshield and pro armour doors
minuses for the 800 s :
second owner did not know the first (dealer purchased)
he has only owned it for ~200 miles so most of the history is unknown
800 is now the older generation motor (don’t know if I would call this a negative)
I believe it still fits (barely) in the truck bed..maybe a little more nerve racking to load?
now both machines will need the following to suit my needs:
alum skid plates
windshield (front and rear)
winch
front and rear bumpers
and my reason for posting in the general forum is that I know many 570 owners have come from 800’s or know/ride with people with the larger displacement and width machines. I’ve done a lot of reading on the 570 and I’ve seen some impressive you tube videos and I’m not afraid of the smaller displacement machine especially given the tighter more technical nature of my terrain. coming from the dirtbike world for the past 20 years that rider skill beats hp all day long and in technical trail less is almost always more. I understand that when the trail opens up the 800 and certainly the 900 will walk away from a 570 and I’m ok with that…
so some of my questions/concerns for the 570 are:
Will the 570 have enough power once I add lift tires accessories and passenger?
if I find out I want a larger machine will I have a harder time selling the 570?
now I’m going to be honest, when I look at the two machines side by side the 800’s get’s my vote as it just looks aggressive and like it’s ready to rip…. but I also know that the 570 is not in the form it will be once I have it ready for the trail and I guess part of the appeal is that I’m starting with a clean slate (basically new machine).
Thanks is advance for any guidance!
