I am considering coming back to the polaris family of quads after switching to some of the Japanese quads for a few years. I want to buy an new 2005 700efi or 800efi. There is only one thing holding me back...engine braking with only 2 wheels. The Japanese belt quads can be switched into 4wd(3wd) with the flip of a switch and it locks in. The Polaris switches into AWD and when the back wheel slip the fronts lock up and presto, true 4wd. When descending steep slippery hills whether it be icy in the winter time or wet grass or rocks in the summer time the ebs in the back tends to lock the back wheels and wants to swap ends. I don't like having to feather the throttle to unlock the back and then applying the brakes again constantly fighting each other.
Does anyone know how you could wire in a "override switch" to fool the AWD system into locking it up until you turned the switch off? This is the only reason from keeping buying another polaris. TO some this matter might not be aconcern but to me it is a huge deal. I ride with my small children in the mountains in the winter time, and safety while riding downhills is critical. If I can't find a wau around this problem, I'm going to buy a new King Quad.
Thank you all for your help.

 

I agree with you lyle1, this seams to be the only flaw in what to me anyway is the best 4wheel drive system(AWD) out there. Other than wedging I know of no other way to have 4wheel engine braking on the sportsman....

 

Lyle1,
I agree totally. The lack of front hub engagement makes the engine braking practically useless. I hope Polaris is listening to some of these customer gripes because they are losing customers, you for example. Without engine braking, slick downhills are more dangerous than need be. Polaris is aware of the problem and will have to get sued over a death or two before they invest in a new system. Polaris has given up being the leader in ATV innovations. Sorry to say my next quad will be Japanese.

 

I disagree, any half decent rider can control the front end to brake by using the brakes thats why they are there. As far as being sued, I think the persons total lack of riding ability will more than get polaris off the hook (it is not a malfuction it will be rider error).

 

You must be Superman when it comes to riding and not locking up the rear EBS. Imagine a two hundred pound rider, a fifty pound child, loaded quad box weighing fifty pounds a 900lb wet weight polaris quad traversing down a mountain trail with 6" of snow and ice and you say you "any half decent rider can deal with this? I have been riding quads and snowmobiles for over twenty years. In the past ten years I have owned polaris explorers, 500 ho's, 700 carbed polaris, 660 grizzly, 500 Vinson, 650 prairie, 700 prairie, 650 Rincon. I am obviously not the expert rider that you are, but I think I can hold my own. I have been riding in the steep mountains both in summer and winter with many friends that have had the rear locking problem. Maybe you just ride the flatlands so the braking isn't an issue. I think Polaris make a great quad....but unles I have a solution to this problem, I'll be staying with the Japanese quads.

 

I'm looking to buy a quad soon, and this is actually what has turned me off of Polaris. The dealer for Polaris here is really good too. I think that although the single lever braking can be nice at times, or for new riders, it only makes the problem worse since you can't apply only the front brakes to balance out the engine brakes in the back. If Polaris changed these two problems, I would have a hard time choosing something else.

 

I would have to agree with that 100%

It really doesnt seem to bother me when it comes to riding time. However I can see where it would in extreme situations,,,especially if the rider learned to ride on a machine with seperate brakes,,,,and good compression braking.

 

lyle1...Just a note, if you are traversing down a steep mountain trail with 6" of snow and ice on a fully loaded machine, how careless are you to put ANY passenger on the quad, let alone a CHILD?

 

Totally agree! That's just plain STUPID. And if something happens, he wants to sue Polaris!

If you don't like the way the AWD works, buy something else. Don't come bitching here were 99% of us PREFER the way the Polaris AWD works to that sorry-*** 3wd excuse most other quads use.

 

Hey Lyle1

I live South-West of Rocky Mountain House and we ride the same range. The only thing that I don't love about my machine, is the rear enginge braking. When your going down a hill and you go to stop, which set of tires does the weight transfer to??? "Nuff said". I went with riding with a bunch of guys last year and there was this steep 15 yrd decline,,,no problem, right?,,the only problem, trees at the bottom with a quick right turn. I skipped my way down and ended up making it. Later that day we came to the same hill and I was doubling behind on another guys machine, which is a auto-shift. I jumped off, knowing the problems I had and I put my hands on the rear racks walking behind. He strarted down the hill and I ended up trying to push him down. I couldn't make the quad skid. That is engine braking at its finest. I always say that Polaris are meant for going forward and once you get them going its hard to hold them back. LOL