I was riding a Sportsman yesterday and put it in low range and was suprised to realize it will comfortably run 25 mph in low. I am used to low range being a high torque, low speed gear. Anyway, one of the things i remember hearing is people have trouble with belts b/c they are in high instead of low gear. If you are doing a lot of stop and go with speeds never to exceed 20-25 mph, should you stay in low to minimize wear to the belt?

 

any time that use my 400 xplorer where i am off and on the throttle a lot i use low range. this is mostly in woods riding or pulling stuff. my xplorer is also equipted with EBS which works better in low range.

 

The manual says to use low below 10 mph.

 

Weedy
I talked to the polaris tech people in june(my belt kept blowing up) and he said the manual is wrong.25mph and below for low

 

I don't own one and have never read the manual, but understand the belt is a trouble spot. It just seems logical to use the low range if running at less than 25, maybe 20. I am on a hunting lease now and generally go 15-20 mph with lots of stop and go and it seems like the right scenario for low range (whenever i get my sportsman).

 

I can't believe 25 mph cos at 25 my HO is screaming! When I had a 98 SP my rule was 10 mph or less. As for belts I never blew up a belt, after 2000 miles I replace it cos it was getting close to min width. My HO is lower geared so I will stay with my 10-mph guideline. Works for me.