If you're looking to hit those restricted forest trails, a 50 inch sxs is basically your golden ticket to the best spots in the woods. While the off-roading world seems to be obsessed with wider, faster, and more aggressive machines that look like they belong in a desert race, the humble 50-inch wide side-by-side remains the most practical choice for many of us. If you've ever pulled up to a trail head only to find a set of narrow steel bollards blocking anything wider than four feet, you know exactly why these machines are still so popular.
The Gate-Keeper Factor
Let's talk about those trail gates. In many national forests and state parks, especially in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, trail systems are strictly regulated. The authorities put up these 50-inch gates to keep full-sized Jeeps and wider side-by-sides from tearing up the narrower paths meant for ATVs.
If you own a 50 inch sxs, you just cruise right through. If you're in a 64-inch wide performance machine, you're stuck in the parking lot watching your buddies disappear into the trees. It's a frustrating feeling to have a $30,000 rig that can't actually go where the riding is best. That's why the narrow width isn't just a "feature"—it's a necessity for a huge portion of the riding community.
Maneuverability and the Tight Woods
Beyond just fitting through the gates, there's the actual experience of driving. When you're deep in a dense forest, the trail doesn't always go in a straight line. You're dealing with off-camber roots, tight squeezes between ancient oaks, and sharp switchbacks that would make a wider machine do a three-point turn.
A 50 inch sxs handles these environments like a dream. It feels more like a nimble ATV but with the added comfort of a steering wheel, a roll cage, and a seat for your favorite passenger. You can pick lines that simply don't exist for the big boys. If there's a massive rock in the middle of the trail, you can often just scoot around it, whereas a wider machine might be forced to climb over it (and potentially high-center).
Top Contenders in the 50-Inch Class
Even though the market has shifted toward wider platforms, several manufacturers still lean into the 50-inch category because they know the demand is there.
The Polaris RZR 900 Trail
This is often the first machine people think of. Polaris really pioneered this segment. The RZR 900 Trail packs a surprising amount of punch in a tiny frame. It's got a decent power-to-weight ratio, meaning it'll still put a smile on your face when you hit a straightaway, but it's skinny enough to slip through the tightest gaps. It's also got a massive aftermarket, so if you want to customize it, you'll have plenty of options.
The Can-Am Maverick Trail
Can-Am entered the 50-inch game a bit later than Polaris, but they did it right. The Maverick Trail has a longer wheelbase than some of its competitors, which helps with stability. If you're worried about a narrow machine feeling "tippy," the Can-Am geometry goes a long way in making you feel planted. Plus, the interior is arguably a bit more refined, which is nice if you're spending six hours in the saddle.
CFMOTO ZForce 800 Trail
If you're looking for value, the ZForce 800 Trail is hard to ignore. It comes from the factory with a lot of the features that other brands charge extra for—like a winch and roof. It's a solid 50 inch sxs for those who want to get out on the trails without taking out a second mortgage. Over the last few years, CFMOTO has really stepped up their reliability game, making them a common sight at trailheads.
The Stability Trade-Off
I'm not going to sit here and tell you that a narrow machine is perfect for everything. There is a trade-off. When you have a machine that is 50 inches wide and roughly the same height as a wider model, your center of gravity feels a bit higher.
If you're coming from a sport quad or a wider SxS, you have to adjust your driving style. You can't just whip a 50 inch sxs into a high-speed corner on flat ground and expect it to stay level like a 72-inch wide race rig. You've got to be a bit more mindful of your lean. However, for most trail riders, this is a fair trade-off for the ability to actually access the trails. You learn how the machine moves, you get a feel for the suspension, and you adjust.
Transport and Storage Convenience
One of the most overlooked benefits of the 50 inch sxs is how easy it is to deal with when you aren't riding. Not everyone has a massive 20-foot flatbed trailer or a dedicated barn to store their toys.
A 50-inch machine will fit on a standard utility trailer that you can tow with a mid-sized SUV. In some cases, if you have a full-sized pickup truck with a long bed, you can even fit these machines right in the back. That saves you the hassle of registration, tires, and maintenance on a trailer. Plus, when it's sitting in your garage, it doesn't take up much more room than a couple of lawnmowers.
Don't Forget the Utility Side
While most people think of these as "trail" machines, some 50-inch models bridge the gap into utility. The Honda Pioneer 500 and 520 are great examples. They are narrow, incredibly reliable, and use a gear-on-gear transmission instead of a belt. They might not have the "zip" of a RZR, but they're absolute workhorses. If you need a machine that can help you haul firewood on Monday and hit the trails on Saturday, a narrow utility-focused 50 inch sxs is a smart move.
A Note on Tires and Modifications
Here is a pro tip: if you buy a 50 inch sxs because you need to fit through gates, be very careful when you start modding it. It's tempting to throw on some beefy aftermarket wheels and wider tires to get more grip. However, if you choose wheels with a different "offset," you can easily push your width to 52 or 54 inches without realizing it.
I've seen guys spend thousands on upgrades only to realize they can no longer squeeze through the local trail gates. If you're going to upgrade your tires, try to stay with the factory wheel offset to keep that narrow profile. You can still get plenty of traction with high-quality 27 or 28-inch tires while staying within the legal limits of the trail.
Is a 50-Inch Machine Right for You?
At the end of the day, it really comes down to where you live and how you ride. If you spend your time in the wide-open dunes of Glamis or the high-speed desert washes of Arizona, you'll probably find a 50-inch machine a bit underwhelming. You'll want the width for stability and the long-travel suspension for those big bumps.
But if your idea of a perfect Saturday is getting lost in the Appalachian mountains, weaving through tight timber in the Pacific Northwest, or exploring the forest loops of Wisconsin, the 50 inch sxs is honestly the better tool for the job. It's about accessibility. There's something deeply satisfying about reaching a trail marker that says "No Vehicles Over 50 Inches" and knowing you don't have to turn around.
It's not just a budget choice or a beginner's machine. It's a specialized tool for tight-woods navigation. It keeps the spirit of traditional trail riding alive while giving you the comforts of a side-by-side. So, before you go and buy the biggest, widest machine on the showroom floor, take a look at the local trail maps. You might find that 50 inches is exactly what you need to see the best parts of the world.