Just wondering if anyone bought one yet? like to know what people think of it.

 

I had the opportunity two days ago to test ride one and yesterday my Magnumm 500 went up for sale! I really liked the way it holds back with the 4 wheel EBS, also the easier steering. It has a MUCH larger rear brake rotor and is protected better than the previous Magnums by being deeper in the wheel. It really feels super stable on water barred roads too. Also the low range is way lower than previous models, very nice. The park-lock will come in real handy too when out in the hills or towing on the trailer.

A couple of trade offs:

1. not quite as tight a turning radius as previous but not that much different.
2. not as comfy or sporty a ride because of stiffer srings and being full time 4wd, however that is why I bought I bought the Scrambler 500 2wd but thats another story! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]


Hope mine sells fast, keeping my fingers crossed have someone coming by Sat. to check it out!

 

did you say full time four wheele drive??!!!

 

It's full-time 4wd and uses a Visco-Lok front differential, like the Bombardier Traxter uses. It's really nice and steers easy, but of course it's not as sporty.

The RMK is a killer machine. The stiff springs make it ride nice and will work well with loads. The high and low range both are geared lower than normal. The brakes work really well, especially with the new rear rotor and caliper. Polaris went to a 12" wheel to fit the large disc.

BTW, the 4wd Rangers are real nice too. They don't use Visco-Lok but still use the same Demand system as they used to. However, the locking mechanism is in the front differential housing instead of at each wheel. This means less parts, no more one-wheel engageing, and it's a lot less likely that you tear up wires running down the strut like on the old style. I hope the use this system on their ATV's too, for whichever ones they don't go to Visco-Lok on.

 

why would polaris downgrade to fulltime four wheel drive? it makes no sence to me

 

To some (such as myself) it may not be a downgrade. I as well as quite a few others in here have for a long time wished Polaris would have four wheel engine compression braking when decending very steep hills. And I think Polaris has just answered that request with the RMK. Yes you are going to give up a little in sportiness, but this machine I would not classify as a sport-utility machine anyway, it is a REAL utility machine. For a full time AWD system though it is truely amazing how easy it steers.

Yes i'm partial to Polaris, however I think it just goes to show that this company doesn't sit back with their fingers in their ears. In fact their hearing is quite good!!!

 

I don't think it's a downgrade at all. It's heavier duty, less parts to break, less likely something will go wrong. And you get 4 wheel engine braking, and still true 4wd. If they went to a limited slip differential, that would be different. I just hope they don't go to full-time 4x4 on the Scrambler.

BTW, Polaris has been testing and marketing the Visco-Lok in their ATV's for years in other countries. They didn't just throw it in here to see how it works. They probaly only offer it on one machine right now though on purpose, to see if the consumers like it better. I like it better for utility use, but I think they should leave the Scramblers alone.