i've been looking at the polairs Sportsman line and wanted to ask you guys your exp with polaris. pros/cons that sort of thing. and also how good is the Independent long-travel rear suspension, and the On-Demand All-Wheel Drive?

 

The AWD is great - perfect.

I just bought my Sportsman a week ago, but I've been riding everyday in my backyard gravel pit. I can go up a steep hill, get stuck in 2wd, flip the switch to AWD (when the tires stop moving), and start moving up again without even 1/2 a rotation on the back tires. Pretty impresive.

 

I always ask myself why these machines need to be so heavy??? Even the bottom of the line 400, is 200 pounds heavier than a Honda, Suzuki, or Yamaha in that same class. What's the deal? Is this really necessary?

The several Polaris machines that I have ridden felt VERY HEAVY, somewhat top heavy, very wide between your knees, and the handling was rather clunky at best. That might get you by ok if all you do is curise the prarie or Louisiana mud holes, but it's not going to cut it on a technical Rocky Mountain trail. When the going gets nasty, you want a light machine that handles and carries its weight low in the frame. Personally, I avoid Polaris like a plague! These machines are designed so poorly. There are so many way better choices available out there.

 

Hey benefital. The Polaris machines are the some of the best designed machines out there. They are heavy for very good reasons. They are built mechanically much stronger than the others. They have more ground clearance than the others. And they have higher tow ratings than the others. They have higher carrying capacity than the others. They often have bigger/wider tires/wheels. If you put these machines next to the others, you will see the difference in component sizes. It could be the only reason the others are so light is that it saves shipping costs from Japan...LOL. To get long suspension travels and nice rides of the Polaris requires a long travel suspension. A long travel suspension means weight. The long travel suspension and clearance is also great for articulation when climbing over big obstacles such as rocks or logs. Slogging through the mud holes requires high ground clearance. Now if the only thing you drive on is well traveled trails, then get a sports quad and forget about 4wd. But if you want to go everywhere else, get a Sportsman.
I hope this helps you [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
BryceGTX

 

The polaris' are heavy for all the reasons you read on the other boards.

BF tie rod ends. KQ trannys. Etc..

Polaris is made in the US and Canada. From what a local dealer has told me, Japan mandates a 604# max weight on ATV's. As a result, as engine size and displacement rises, they must cut weight somewhere to compensate legally as well as for overseas shipping. Hence why on a BF you need to dump the aluminum tie rod ends and go get the 4 times heavier units that people agree the machine really needs.

The question really becomes, do you want a machine that is zippier and yes, maybe a little more fun to ride (Suzuki, Yammy, Kawa) or do you want a machine that is bullet proof. If you're will to trade off risk of breakdown on the trail for some kicks, buy Japan, if not, buy polaris.

 

I came upon a Polaris rider out on the trail a while back. The bike had IRS, but I can't recall the exact model. He had the bike tipped up on its side, and there were suspension parts all over the place. His entire rear end had come apart, right there on the trail. I helped him cob it back together. We had to pull bolts off of other parts of the bike to get the IRS rear suspension put back together. Got it "together" enough for him to limp home. Guess it wasn't "The Way Out" in this case! But hey folks, it's your money not mine, so buy whatever kind of carp you like!

For the record, most of those "Japanese" bikes are actually made here in the states!

 

Polaris takes a lot of heat around here, but i've been happy with mine. It really comes down to what your riding style is. There just isn't an ounce of sport in them with all of that weight. If it's for work, and extreme terrain riding, they are tough to beat.
BTW, the weight limit on Japanese machines is a USA importing Taxing class limit thingy. If they are over weight, they are taxed as industrial machines. That's why we get Kawasaki utility machines without tow-hitches.

 

Blah Blah blah Blah Blah !!!!!!!! When are people going to come to the realization they all have problems. I have yet to come in here and bad mouth some one elses ride but man I'm telling you, to hear retard-ranger go on about Polaris I just hope I can get a six pack for an even trade for my 2004 sportsman. Now the bike has 1800 miles on it with out one single problem,and every time I let a Honda or Kawasaki or Yamaha rider try it and they get off it and say WOW WHAT A RIDE !!! .I'm going to get my buddy to join here and tell you his horror stories about his Honda or maybe the two 2005 Kawasaki owners who ruined our trip because the were constantly blowing and breaking belts. I ride in some of the most extreme rugged trails you will ever see up here in Canada and I'm doing just fine with my bottom of the line undependable poor riding terrible handling POLARIS 400 Sportsman. Oh ya and I also plow with it all winter and we do get a bit of snow. @##!%%!$&^%$&^%*#%$#@%%&$^*[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

Just to let you know.....none of them are "shipped" from Japan anymore. They are build right here in the USA and before you start throwing that Japan stuff out, take a look at you Fugi motors??????? And they are rated for more pulling because of the calculations that is used for pulling uses the weight in the equation.....thus the heavier the machine = more towing based on the equation only. That doesn't mean the other quads can't pull as much! The other quads follow the ATV safety recomendations with the weight issue where as polaris and artic cat don't. Now as far as ground clearance........artic cat's have the highest ground clearance and the longest travel on the suspension. I happen to agree that polaris does make pretty good machines, but don't go throwing false information.

 

Japan doesn't mandate the weight issue.....it is the USA ATV safety councle! And as far as tie rod ends....I have seen many many many polaris's break theirs. I have a BF 750 with about 100 miles on it now and have been to 3 different ATV parks along with going to my deer lease and I have been into some harry situations with deep mud......and not once have I had a tie rod end problem. And how do you say that polaris is bullet proof when they have the highest repair records???? I dare you to check it out. It is people like you who give polaris a bad name. All of the quads are very good now days.....some better at something than another, but there is no one atv that is the best!!!