i have a 97 explorer 400 that's been to hell and back many times and i've never had to replace a boot, but my 04 sportsman 600 has had to have 2 replaced just putting around the house and some very tame trail riding, more like dirt roads. the stock boot guards on the 97 are a joke compared to the protection the sportsman has. i don't get it? are they made cheaper? i hear people say they've had there's two, three years and never replaced one. sounds like the maker had a ocassional bad run of boots eh?

 

i dont get it myself, on my 500 we just had to relpace the first boot ever on it, and it has well over 3500 miles on it. my 800 just hit 420 miles and it still has stock boots. i mean, i throw my 800 through some tough stuff, and those 3 trees i had a friendly wrestleing with would agree also, lol

 

I've owned a 2004 sportsman 600 and it blew out 9 rear axels boots which contanimated the axel. Talked to the polaris rep and he said that the dealer could "upgrade" to a 2004.5 700efi brand new for 500 cash. So it worked ou nicely. Oh the 600 had 1397 miles, but most of them very easy fireroad miles.

 

I had 3 rear boots rip on my 04 400, so I sold it...I was always afraid to ride in trails because I didn't want to have to pay $100 for the repair cost at my dealer, whats the since of having a quad if I can't go in trails without a cheap rubber boot ripping?? When I went shopping for a new big bore quad 2 months ago I didn't even consider another Polaris because they all have the same set-up with the cheap boots, now with my Suzuki I can happily say after 500miles I've had no boots rip.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Everyone always asks about this... Polaris has boot guards that you can buy at any local dealer usually, or heck you can even make them. I dont know why htye dont come on stock because they should.. but i had the problem way back and every since ive put the guards on ive had no problem

 

I agree, You shouldn't have to worry about buying extra guards to prevent the problem from occuring over and over, Polaris needs to put it on themselves and make it part of the standard features, it would save them alot of customer service calls.

 

2 on same rear side w/500 miles on my800. Pol. would'nt cover it. 1 on my 00 Explorer400at 1200 miles but I think it was due to Ice. Remember my Explorer only has 2 boots. Sportsman has 8.

 

I had a brand brand new SP700. First weekend out, 13 hours on it and one of the front boots tore, no problem under warrenty, WRONG. I told the dealer to shove the ATV up their A#$ and they can tell Polaris that as well. The dealer called me back a hour later and said that the dealer would fix it for free, dam good dealership. Anyhow I bought a set of Stick Stopper A-Arm guards for the front and rear delivered to my door for a $100. I now have around 800 miles and over 50 hours on it and no more torn boots.

 

my 05 700 had 7 torn boots in 300 miles. traded for a vinson and knock on wood i have 125 trouble free miles. gota luv it.

 

I think the big problem with the Polaris Sportsman boots is they're to big, it's a bigger target for a stick to get up in there and rip it, the boots on my KQ, as well as most other IRS quads are twice as small as the Polaris'.