ATV Spotlight: 2023 Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S

Meet the rocket ship of today’s generation.

Fact: If it weren’t for Yamaha holding down the fort, today’s ATV buyer wouldn’t be able to get a full sport/ race ATV with manual clutch. Your ATV Connection editors remember a time 15 years ago when there were no less than 18 such machines vying for consumer dollars on showroom floors. Witnessing the near-extinction of this class is disappointing to say the least.

New Breed: Thankfully the lack of manual clutch sport-centric models does not mean a lack of performance. If you’re a rider who appreciates excessive speed potential but also wants to enjoy some mud, snow, rocks and hillclimbs, this is the model spotlight for you.

Meet the 2023 Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S – a performance oriented AWD jack of all trades. Powering the beast is a 952cc liquid cooled fuel injected SOHC twin cylinder engine mated to an automatic CVT and one touch On-Demand AWD.

12″ aluminum wheels come wrapped in aggressive Duro Power Grip IIs (27×9-12).

Where the Scrambler differentiates itself from utility machines of similar spec is the suspension – Sealed high-clearance arched dual A-arms, Walker Evans shocks up front (12.5 inches of travel) and sealed dual A-arms, rolled IRS, Walker Evans shocks (14 in. travel) in the rear.

4 wheel hydraulic disc brakes bring the machine down from speed and all told, it weighs in at 881 pounds.

History: We’ve tested every single displacement option Polaris Sportsman model available in recent years. The bigger models (850 and especially 1000) always leave us wondering what such ridiculously potent engine configurations could accomplish if mated to the chassis of yesteryear’s performance days.

While the Scramble doesn’t quite answer the question entirely (this isn’t manual clutch territory here), it does come far closer than we expected.

At 55-inches wide, the Scrambler is unexpectedly stable in action. We imagined so much power on tap would make breaking the rear wheels free a non-affair (we were right) but didn’t realize so wide a footprint would make the machine extremely sure-footed on hills and rocks as well. The only downside to this spec is that many trails are rated only for 50″ wide machines.

We’re no strangers to the Duro tires and can attest they are traction sniffers of the highest order – so these in conjunction with on-demand AWD means soupy crossings, steep slippery slopes and streams are nothing to be feared. EPS means it always feels light and breezy.

One of our favorite features has to be the suspension, though – as in it allows for stability and confidence in the slow going but turns into progressive sprung, long-travel magic when the speeds start kicking in. And kicking in they will. Getting the Earth to turn into a blur of green is simply a matter of getting brave with your thumb. If you’ve never experienced 90HP on so light a machine, let’s just say you’ll be running out of nerve and real estate quickly and often.

We haven’t had a chance to review the machine fully yet, but after a few shake down runs, can report with certainty that Polaris has a winner on their hands with the Scrambler XP 1000 S. It takes only a good stab of the throttle to make even the most jaded editor forget all about the extinction of the manual clutch era.

Price: $17,799

More Information: https://atv.polaris.com/en-us/scrambler-xp-1000-s/