For the wife: 550 XP or Grizz 550?

[Giz400ex]

We are in the process of buying 2 wheelers, I'm getting the 850 XP. My wife on the other hand is debating on the XP 550 and the Griz 550. Both with EPS but she needs the most comfortable, ease to ride. I know the best thing is to ride them but thats hard to do. I'm hoping someone has experienced these 2 rides up close?

[Wildhorse800]

Just had a ride on a 700 grizz. I don't care for the power steering.
It just takes too much feedback from the steering. Almost wrecked the thing on an open trail by oversteering. I'm sure getting used to it would help.

Rode the SP 850. Much better PS, but still don't like PS on a quad.

Now, the 550s have less power...ok.
But the ride goes to Polaris, hands down. I was still getting bounced around on the grizz.

Not a subtle difference. It wasn't even close.
All the Jap quads IRS has the same problem. They use too stiff of springs. This helps save the shocks almost forever, but why have them if the ride is going to suck anyways?

Just be aware the Polaris 550 is an absolutely horrific sounding engine. Nothing wrong with it, just SOUNDS like it is coming apart.

[300cc power]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0lZ6c4EjqM

its about the 550xp

[Teufel]

550 Polaris hands down

[Giz400ex]

Thanks for the info everyone, my wife has had experience with the sportmans before and she really like it but was told by some people to consider the 550 Griz. She really likes the xp 550 so i think thats what we are doing. Again, thanks for the input

[airew]

My wife and I just picked up a 550 Touring and we love it. She is coming from a 2000 Griz 600 so pretty much any new quad will feel great compared to that. But I can't get over how much I like the PS and the comfort of the 550. We went to the dealer with the intention of getting a left over 500 SP touring for a real nice price. She test drove the 2010 550 and there was no going back to the 500.