U guys can keep those brutes and can am junk! Can ams motors are strong but not strong enough, and there's front diff is just as bad as the brutes. I live in wisconsin and we ride hard year round, from water, mud, snow, sand and u couldn't pay me to own anything besides a polaris. Me and my friends found that out the hard way. I was a long time polaris fan, and switched when the can am came back out. Worst mistake I've made to date. I have now switched back. Along with 3 of my friends. And 2 wanting to but can't sell there crap. Ones a 06 brute and the other is a 800 can am. There's a reason polaris is number 1 in 4x4s. And its not hard to see in stock form. But if your modding them, anything can work with enough money.
I think you just put your foot in your mouth on this post. No one can claim number 1 in 4x4's unless you are refering to one specific area of expertise. They each have their pros and cons. For all out power and reliability in the mud riding/racing world that we play in here around Texas, Can-am is leading the pack by a long shot regardless of stock or modified. To each and their own!
Heck, I have 2 2003 Arctic Cat 300's and 1 2005 Arctic Cat 300 that will hands down run circles around anything else out their in reliability and mud riding. One has 32" silverbacks on crushlocks, one has 28" Outlaws, and the last one has 29.5" Outlaws. They are 13hp of pure freaking fury!!! I can assure you that I have embarassed lots of people with that little bike on 32's. You can ask Coker6303, it doesn't play games! I also have a 2008 Canam 800 with a mild built motor, I wouldn't trade it for anything unless it was another canam. I have run all the different brands and for what we do there is no comparison that Canam is the best choice.
I could go on for days on this one! LOL, dang... did I leave the Brute out of the picture? Those Brutes are cheap hp!!! Definately a blast to ride. But you won't catch me owning one unless Kawi does a lot of changes to the drivetrain, the same goes for the Arctic Cat Thundercat. The Tcat has gobs of power, but won't hold together to save it's life. I had one for about 2 months, it was fun for the whole 15min I got to ride it each time before it broke an axle or u-joint.
Russ, how did the XP do on the trails this weekend? I may have to come take it out next weekend when I am home! I have some 29.5's we can put on it for now till you figure out what combo you are going with.