Not so much warranty but yes consumer neglect in a lot of cases. What most people didn't understand is that no 2 stroke ever made could last as long as most 4 strokes simply because of their design. Dozens upon dozens I've seen that grenaded because the owners didn't hear or pay attention to the warning signs of piston slap,marbles in a tin can sounds telling them it was way past time for at least a top end job.Plus the stock cast Polaris 400 pistons didn't have the best reputation either. As many people as I warned that transitioned from 4 strokes to a 2 stroke that maintenance couldn't be neglected and simple things like dirty air filters could destroy a 2 stroke engine quicker than any 4 stroke,a lot of this went in one ear and out the other. 4 strokes are for the most part more forgiving on maintenance and what a lot of people were used to. Plus in a lot of cases people will jump on a good "cheap" 400 2 stroke thinking they can get it back in running shape without a sinking in a great deal of money only to find themselves in a money pit.. Buying used machines can damage one persons view on a whole brand also,like what hydrex went though.. Sometimes you can inherit another persons problem child. It's not just a Polaris problem,but all brands. I've had people come into the shop that have said that they'd never buy a Honda,Suzuki or Yamaha again and meant it.. Like the old saying,if you have a good experience with a certain brand you'll tell several people about it. If you've have a bad experience on a certain brand you'll tell even more people..

 

Thanks everybody for weighing in! For a variety of reasons, I decided to pass up this one. In talking with friends, some love them, and some hate them. For me, being lazy in maintenance, I will stick with the 4 stroke for now.

 

If you're lazy then you don't need one..

 

I have always like the two strokes, but that is just my preference. I like to tinker and I am very meticulous about maintenance so my machines run great. The thing about two strokes around here is, I can usually pick them up for hardly nothing because no one wants them. They don't get maintained well and become bothersome to keep running so they just sit and I can come along and get them dirt cheap. With there being so many choices for older four strokes now like the 325, 330, 425 and 500, I think the older two strokes have fell off the price chart because the prices for four strokes are pretty reasonable. I wouldn't trade my 400's or 350's for anything because I have treated them well and keep up on service and run quality fuel and oil through them. There is nothing better than the feeling of a nicely tuned, older steel racked two stroke coming alive as I'm riding it, but.......it takes a lot of patience to keep it that way, lol.

Good luck finding a machine and I hope it treats you well.
Mike

 

 

The older 2 strokes are cheap now, that is true. I could have bought a Scrambler 400 4x4 recently for $800 that supposedly ran well. At that price, its worth it. I actually wish it had been a 2wd one. Been pondering adding a 2wd auto sport machine. Basically the Scrambler 400 and 500 and Kfx 700 are the only ones on that list. Have seen some Kfx 700's pretty cheap too, some in the $1500-$2000 range.