Finally!!!........I walked around the new Predator soaking it in for almost 15 minutes before I even sat on it.

Initial impressions, this ain't your Daddy's Utility heavy ugly Polaris, that's for sure.........

The front end strikes you as nice and wide, but not as overly-huge as a DS650, but wider than a Raptor for sure.

The rear axle I would swear is as wide as a +2 durablue. It make the stock rear Raptor axle looks very narrow in comparison.

Predator seems to be wider, shorter, and longer. Ergos on the grips and controls is spot on.

Seat was firm, and made of thick material, The calibrated sphinctometer couldn't feel where the seat tapers in at the rear.

Suspension is great and you can sense the long travel. It feels just right, especially for a guy my size.

Sitting on it, it seems longer in the nose that a blunt drop off like a Raptor. Seems like more knee room.

You could sit back on the seat very comfy for woops, or slide forward and snuggle your "boyz" up against the tank. Felt very secure and roomy.

I didn't really notice the gap in the gas tank plastic area, nice and bigger feeling for my 6' 235#'s.....

While the seat front is narrow, its not as extreme as a Raptor, and especially NOT like the Z400 which seems to make you almost fall forward into the valley of the seat. Stock clutch lever is about 2" too long, its gotta be almost 8" long, while the front brake is only 4-5" long! Good solid feel to the controls.

I jumped up and down on the front bumper with both my feet, knees a flexin' with all weight in motion didn't bottom it out.......lots of travel.........LOTS! Did I mention that nice wide front end!!! (made me feel like I was on the Warrior with the +4" flipped front rims.) smooth shock travel too. The stock shocks seem to have a dual rate feel to them. They'd compress easily the first 1", then progressively get stiffer. No stock Yamaha or Honda has ever felt that way to me.

Weld Quality was good on the unit I looked at. The Troy Lee limited edition looks pretty sharp in the black (still only seen it in photos) but the "silver" is actually more like a gray in person.

When you look at the whole package, its got alot going for it in the performance dept........

1) braided steel brake lines.
2) Pro Steering and the front a-arms (looks very solid)
3) Wide rear stout axle
4) Maxxis Razers rear tires made the stock Raptors look weenie.
5) Awesome looking headlights should be mighty bright.
6) Front a-arms are very gusseted and well protected.
7) SOLID looking .5" thick plastic skid plate, as well as a frame/belly skid plate too.

Down falls.

1) Sales guy tried to show me the air filter........the air-box lid is held on by 8 clips, and after 1-2 minutes of us both struggling, we still couldn't get the lid off. The longgggg tube from the carb seemed very stiff, while the rubber carb boot mounting it to the head seemed very soft and pliable.
2) Choke lever is lawn mower quality as a push pull ****, but it is right up on the dashboard.
3) No Reverse, but I can let that slide...


Time to let my 20+ photos soak in, then back tomorrow to go drool on it some more........better not take my empty pick-up down there, otherwise it'd be full on the way home.

Check my photo album for some Predator / Raptor side by side pictures.


Heapster
404cc Banshee

 

wheres ur photo album at? im not seeing it here at ATVconnect......

 

Hmmm, welcome to Polaris land. I've got a "heavy ugly Polaris" that takes more Jose Cuervo to run, than race gas (defined as 50:50 O.J. and Vodka)that I can drink. We keep getting more and more transients, Polaris must've done their job on this one. Guess I should practice what I preach and let the machines do the talking.


Ken

 

Heapster:

I agree with your assessment, especially the part about the plastic being more gray and silver. That's the biggest disappointment in the looks department. A real silver would be pretty, but the gray is just blah. At least it won't show dirt and scratches anywhere near as badly as the black.

I find the seat to be comfortable... nicer than my 400EX, but not as plush as a Raptor.

For me, the handlebars could be a little higher and a little farther back. I'm a comparatively short 5'8 and I find myself frequently riding up against the tank just so I can turn the bars more easily.

You're right about the headlights... they ROCK!! Halogen is a good thing. I may not even have to put spotlights on this one like I did my other machines (KC Hilites 5" round ones).

Talk about the wide stance, you oughta see the dune tires I have for it now. The offset on the fronts is at least another 2" wider on each side, and the rears are about 1" or so wider. This thing is gonna be a blast on the dunes!!

I haven't tried to get at the air filter yet... I won't bother until my K&N arrives.

The choke lever sucks. I hate it.

Rob

 

I saw the Troy Lee in person and all I got to say is WOW! This thing is definately bad a$$. Salesman started up for me and it sounds raw. I loved it. I couldn't stop looking it over for at least 15 minutes. You guys are definately right about the skids, they are nice. I got to see the headlights at nite and they are VERY bright. The choke seemed okay, or at least I didn't see a problem with it. Some complain about the size of the levers, but I saw no problems with them. The seat has a weird, but cool shape too it that feels very comfortable to me. The foot brake actually works, unlike any other Polaris I ever rode. The stock wheels and tires are unmatched by the competition. I feel right at home on this thing, especially since it puts out around 50 H.P. stock. This machine is definately the most technological Polaris ever made. If I were in the market for a new sport quad, this would DEFINATELY be it.

 

Heapster and Offridr15,

Why dont you just give in and get one. That way we call all get a better idea and what this bike is really made of and plus you can post some killer pics for all us.....ride on [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

all that from just sitting on it..DAMMMMM!!!!!!!!

 

When they rolled mine out I thought it was a Pred 90 cuz' she is low and wide!! Wider than my ex-wife!!
This thing is soooo sweet!! When I got on it hard for the first time it lofted the front end in 1st and 2nd with me sitting in the Pred position, (the seat kinda sucks you down right behind the tank) your weight is kinda foward at this point. Yesterday while still breaking it in I went on some small jumps (10 to 15 feet long, 3 to 4 feet high) and landing was like falling into jello - smoooth. No matter how off kilter I got the bike it would land great!! As soon as my filters come in and I can do the first oil change I'm taking the tractor and building some big jumps to play on. Man, I am in so much trouble......

 

wheres the link to the pics!!!!!! =(

 

Heapsters an Aircraft Engineer with an eye for detail.............. Digi Daves snap shots are up

Raptor vs Predator pics


Kiwi Craig