Power Couples

Excluding cobra bites, speeding tickets and rootwith better handling characteristics and a sense of
canals, many things are best experienced instability around corners or over uneven terrain -
combinations of two. Think margaritas with salt, beerwhich you'll undoubtedly encounter on any trail. Cat's
brats and sauerkraut or a day off in the outdoors"ride-in" suspension lowers the center of gravity over
with your spouse, children or a good friend. Duality isprevious models, while maintaining 11 inches of ground
one of life's enduring themes.clearance, second to the Can-Am's foot of clearance.
Let's be bold and add riding ATVs to that list. SomeIn addition to the aforementioned niceties, key
might say 2-up ATVs have been made obsolete byfeatures include durable automotive-style paint, an
two-person side-by-sides, but we strongly beg toelectronically locking differential, a built-in 2-inch
differ. UTVs have their advantages, and are veryreceiver, a driver's cup holder and four-wheel dual
fun, but two-passenger ATVs are allowed on moreA-arm independent suspension.
trails, take up less space, usually cost less and canFrom The Backseat
provide a more physically engaging ride, which isCurvy handholds and a deluxe rear seat made the
important to enthusiasts like us.Arctic Cat a popular choice for passengers, with one
It's worth noting that 2-ups account for about 6.7tester calling it the best seat in the test. The grips
percent of the ATV industry - a profitable segmentare less rigid than the others, a nice quality that
that's grown in recent years, hence the expandingallows the seatand handholds to absorb some of the
proliferation of choices now available.shock for a less tiring ride.
We recently honored the Polaris Sportsman TouringOne problem noted by all was that the curvaceous
800 EFI as our 2008 ATV of the Year, but somehandholds arc in toward the passenger too far in the
new competition from Can-Am's freshened Outlanderfront, leaving some with bruised thighs. A simple
Max and Arctic Cat's innovative Cruiser models setdesign fix would make the Cat's backseat nearly
the stage for a full-on 2-up comparison test.flawless.
Our test team included three couples - one set ofThe rear seat bottom is curved up just slightly,
friends, some soon-to-be relatives (marriage pending)enough to keep everybody in place. Also good, the
and a wedded couple that's logged many milesfootrests were large and grippy, crucial for allowing
aboard their 2-up over the past three and a halfthe passenger to stay in place and avoid being jolted
years. It was a wide array of ATV experience - theinto the driver's back.
perfect crew to dissect and review three uniqueFor The Driver
machines.Hauling around a passenger is of little consequence
We loaded up and drove to the shores offor the mighty Cruiser. There's more body roll than
Minnesota's huge Lake Mille Lacs to ride the Red Topthe other machines in turns, but high ground
ATV Trail - a typical, wooded public riding area withclearance, a stable platform and smooth engine
varied terrain. With a long washboard former rail bed,braking make this an easy machine for drivers to
wide connector trails that wind through the woodssupply a tranquil ride. With peppier engines, the
and a technical "High Adventure" section, Red TopCan-Am and Polaris are a bit more fun to
had the variety needed for a comprehensiveaggressively pilot through the woods and on long
investigation.straight stretches, but the Arctic Cat hits the
3rd Place - Polaris Sportsman Touring 800 EFIintended mark: two-person comfort. The Cruiser 1000
With four distinct models, Polaris has a wide selectionundoubtedly has plenty of power for all conditions.
of 2-up variants serving different audiences. Its X2sAt the first trail break, everybody wanted to check
have a folding rear seat that transforms into a cargoout the smart-looking lockable rear cargo box that's
bed, while the more comfortable Touring models arecavernous by ATV storage standards. Its operation
designed for couples looking to put on serious mileswasn't up to expectations, with one calling it "flimsy."
with a larger, plusher fixed rear seat that's a dramaticMastering its proper closure and locking was a team
improvement in passenger accommodation over theeffort, but we figured it out and utilized the space
compromising X2.for hauling drinks, pens, notebooks, a tire repair kit
Based on the old Sportsman chassis, as opposed toand extra layers of clothing. All gave Arctic Cat high
the superb, new XP introduced last summer, themarks for providing such abundant storage, useful on
Sportsman Touring is available as a 500 or an 800.almost any ride, but the box could use some
We wanted to test the best 2-ups available, so werefinement.
went for the Touring 800, with its powerfulThe cool looks of the windshield and side mirrors
twin-cylinder 760cc mill.were also betrayed by poor execution. The plastic
Featureswindshield vibrated loose several times throughout
As its chassis has been on the market for years, butour test, while the mirrors also came loose and were
constantly updated, the Sportsman Touring holdsgenerally hard to adjust into a useful position. Mostly,
few surprises. That doesn't mean it's without greatwe looked at a vibrating reflection of ourselves.
features, though, like a one-wheel drive VersatracLastly, the Cruiser's speedometer also indicated an
Turf Mode for inconspicuously traversing your yard,EFI diagnostic issue, and the machine failed to start
abundant storage bins and the Polaris-exclusivebriefly. It may be a one-time glitch, but it wasn't
Active Descent Control, which provides four-wheelreceived well by the peanut gallery. We're still
engine braking strong enough to stop a fully loadedawaiting dealer word on what that was all about.
quad heading down a mountain trail without using theOne could always save some cash with the TRV 700
brakes.H1 that comes without the windshield, heated grips
Passenger-centric features include a rear seat that'sand trades the storage box for an optional plastic
reclined back more than the competitors from Arcticcargo bed, but the Cruiser would be better in cold
Cat and Can-Am, two built-in cup holders, angularweather ridingconditions, with its big shield and heated
"vibration-isolating" handholds and rubber-and-plasticgrips. For summer riding, we removed the rattling,
height-adjustable foot rests that also seek todirt-collecting windshield and mirrors.
minimize vibration.Even with a few disconcerting bits like the EFI
Other goodies include on-demand all-wheel drive, aspeedo issue, the clunky cargo box and the
fully independent suspension with MacPherson strutsremovable, annoying windshield, the Arctic Cat TRV
up front and dual A-arms in the rear, a one-inch rear700 H1 EFI Cruiser is a pleasant machine that's
receiver, an attractive painted finish that Polaris sayscomfortable for the driver and the passenger, has
is nine times more scratch resistant than regularphotogenic good looks and enough storage to really
plastics and sharp cast aluminum rims. With a price oftravel off the beaten path.
$9,699, the Sporty was the least expensive machine1st Place - Can-Am Outlander Max 800R EFI XT
in the test by a mere $230 vs. the Arctic Cat - butFrom the turn of the theft deterring key to the
it's the only machine here without a winch.fancy digital gauges, the comfy seats to the superior
From The Backseathandholds, the rumbling exhaust note to the
As mentioned, our group was a motley crew ofintoxicating power that planted everybody back in
testers - some riding 2-up for the first time, otherstheir seats, the Can-Am Outlander Max 800R exudes
very familiar riding quads in pairs. Each documentedquality and fun.
their impressions, rating various aspects of comfort,It's motivated by the most powerful engine in the
perceived quality,features and performance. Alltest, and one of the strongest in the ATV
ratings placed a strong emphasis on passengermarketplace, and all but one member of our
comfort and accommodations.six-person test team voted the Can-Am the most
What was the latest and greatest 2-up in 2008 hasappealing rig in the group - drivers and passengers.
lost its luster according to our six-person team. EachFeatures
of our testers unanimously rated the SportsmanIts as-tested price just below 11 grand is highest in
Touring as the least comfortable rig for passengers.the group, but ours was a mid-level XT model (as
All riders cited a cheap feeling backrest that's reclinedopposed to the opulent LTDs) that's still decked-out
too far back and offers little lumbar support. Theby most anyone's standards. Less generously
passenger seat bottom is satisfyingly cushy but itsequipped models are available for less; they just
relatively flat shape made it hard to stay put overcome without the winch and the fancy wheels.
rough terrain, occasionally bouncing the rear riderBut we like the snazzy aluminum wheels and always
forward into the driver's back - no fun for anyone.want a winch on a machine that's far too heavy for
The square-edged handholds do the trick, but weremanhandling.
singled out for being too close to thighs and tooMost of what's good about the Can-Am also makes
sturdy, transmitting more bumps to the passenger'sit unique - a "surrounding spar" frame that helps the
arms and shoulders than other, more forgiving handOutlander weigh a bit less than the others, a TTI
grips.rear suspension that reduces wheel scrub yet
The passenger footrests were also the targets ofprovides a sporty and soft ride, a no-brainer
some griping. The beef? They're too short, withautomatic locking front differential, a digital security
boots hanging off the front, and they lack thesystem and that wild, explosive V-twin engine.
metallic serrated pegs that the driver gets. While theThe inboard hydraulic discs, while unique, are the
rubber reduces vibration, it doesn't have themachine's greatest flaws with cheap sounding
much-needed grip to keep the backseat drivercreaking when pulling hard on the brakes. Previous
properly in place.experience with Can-Am's four-wheelers of similar
Speaking of shaking, our passengers said the reardesign have shown these brakes to be highly
position of the Polaris was far too bumpy over roughsusceptible to water - a questionable design call on an
trails - even in the softest spring settings, the rearall-terrain vehicle, we'd say.
suspension proved to be too stiff. It's a roomyThe 2010 model with dual-mode power steering
platform, though,and better suited to slower-pacedwasn't available for our test, but would only sweeten
or shorter jaunts, which might be all some users arethe deal in our eyes, as low handlebars and high
looking for.steering effort are slight Outlander demerits.
For The DriverFrom The Backseat
From the driver's seat, it's hard to tell there's even aFor passengers, the Can-Am has few glaring faults.
passenger on-board as the Sportsman easily hasThe grips aren't heated like the luxuriant Arctic Cat,
enough power and suspension capabilities to handlebut they're curved away from the driver, causing no
the added load with full composure.black-and-blue marks on our passengers' legs. The
From a driver's perspective, the Sportsman is fun torear seatbottom is curved up to keep the passenger
drive and utterly predictable. Active Descent Controlin place, which works great, but one female tester
makes it especially easy to judiciously regulate speedsaid this seat hump was a bit intrusive. This makes
for the passenger's comfort, which is a great qualitythe rear seat an uncomfortable place for men.
in hilly terrain or on tight woods trails with constantA full foot of ground clearance on this machine
changes in vehicle speed. One tester said the engineproves you can have the best of both worlds: a
braking was too strong for his liking, but it can bechassis that avoids boulders plus sporty handling with
turned off with the flip of a switch. A roomyminimal body roll. For one couple, at least, the
platform allowed plenty of room for both riders toCan-Am seemed to encourage the occasional power
stretch out without being too close for comfort.slide on wide-open, smooth trails. In the rougher,
Like most Sportsman models, the Touring is smoothrockier sections, the Can-Am provided a smooth ride
riding, offers low-effort steering, a pillow-soft seatfor both riders, if slightly less forgiving than the Arctic
and is all sorts of fun once you start exploring theCat.
burly engine's abilities - enough though it was hard to"I could ride on this machine all day on smooth trails
tell the passenger wasn't sharing in the fun. A quickor the rough terrain," said one happy camper. "As the
slap to the back of the helmet made things crystalpassenger, I enjoyed this machine the most."
clear.For The Driver
One passenger eager to switch rides summed theBehind the bars of the Outlander, it's hard to tell
Touring's rear-seat experience clearest: "I didn't enjoythere's even a passenger hanging on back there.
it. I was struggling to stay on the entire ride." As anyOff-camber sections, fast braking, rough trails, steep
parent who reluctantly drives a grocery getterhills and sharp turns all failed to upset the stable
knows, passenger comfort and safety is your highestchassis, and the suspension and power were easily
priority when carrying human cargo. We anxiouslyup to the task.
await an improved 2-up from Polaris based on the XPIf you're looking to scare the bejesus out of a
chassis.passenger, this machine has the speed to do it. It
2nd Place - Arctic Cat TRV 700 H1 EFI Cruiseralso has the poise and polish to bring any passenger
Everyone was excited to test out the fancy Arcticon a casual, pleasant ride, though the quick-hitting
Cat 700 Cruiser, with its upmarket steel blue metallicpowerband does make the machine a bit jumpy.
paint, attractive aluminum rims, capacious andAs we know many 2-up owners only ride with a
color-matched rear storage trunk, heated driver andpassenger a portion of the time, we like that the
passenger grips and windshield with integratedCan-Am's rear seat is removable, and can be replaced
side-view mirrors that gave it the semblance of awith a small storage box. Making the swap couldn't
high-class touring motorcycle. In fact, with itsbe easier or faster, in contrast to the Cat's fussy
standard winch, this may be one of the mostaccessories. They both lock in with a reassuring click,
luxurious ATVs on the market.so you can be sure everything is properly secured.
We had hoped to test the 1000 Cruiser model,At the end of the day, all but one rated the Can-Am
powered by the Thundercat's rip-roaring 951cc H2Outlander Max 800R as their favorite ride. Looking at
engine, but we had to take what was available - thethe facts it's easy to see why: evident quality, a
700, with a potent single-cylinder engine we'vecomposed chassis, an overachieving engine, a
previously commended for its smooth, progressivecomfortable seat,proper hand and foot grips and the
power. The 700 Cruiser also costs $2,500 less thanability to quickly transfigure between a one- and
the 1000 model, so it will likely appeal to a widertwo-person machine.
audience.If you're riding solo or with a co-pilot, the Can-Am
Featuresover delivers on expectations, and looks great while
Based on Arctic Cat's largest TRV (two-rider vehicle)doing it. We suspect the addition of power steering
chassis, the lengthened Cruisers have a wheelbaseand slightly toned down graphics will only improve the
that's been stretched 8 inches over theirMax for 2010 - our new favorite, no-compromises
single-passenger comrades. This imparts the Cruisers2-up ATV.