As an owner of a 99 Explorer 400 4x4, I can't say enough about the performance of the bike. The problems are found with quality. My bike has 1350 kms, I have replaced: brake pads (600km) tie rod ends(1000 km) broke a chain @ 1100km, drive shaft yoke & u-joint on the front diff, and I am currently replacing the U-joints on the front cv shafts. In short this thing is junk!!! I ride with a 99 450s Honda-4400km no problems period. The Honda rides like a lumber wagon, no top end and poor mud performance, but it lasts and lasts. Why can't Polaris engineer with some quality and durability? The quads perform far above the rest, but they do not stay together.

 

I feel for ya, but just wanted you to know that I have 2 Polaris' and neither of them have had any problems that I didn't cause. The '97 Explorer is still on the original belt (I think it has about 1500 miles on it, can't remember, I'd have to check the odo.) even after being used every day. We use it to feed the cows and horses, pulling hay wagons (empty and loaded), slinging tress when we cut wood, and many other things. The '98 Scrambler 500 HO has had the belt replaced once (I smoked it during a tug 'o war with the Explorer 500 LOL) and had to get the a-arm welded after I hit a tree stump while trail riding at high speed. Other than that no problems with either of them. The Explorer is now needing its first set of brakes, but I don't think that the originals had a short life. Hopefully your warrenty will cover your repairs. It kinda sucks when your first post is about a bunch of probs. Hopefully you will get it straightened out and be here to talk about some rides you went on and had a blast!
Later,

 

Polaris Quality.Your not even supposed to use these two words in a sentence. It's good to see someone else, who is honest about their polaris experience.

 

I just looked in this thread to see what was in here, you know, because the topic is an oxymoron...

BTW- Sledder... do you go to Montana State University???

 

I would say someone on a Polaris punked little Johnny, probably hit him with the atv cause he sure doesn't own one.

 

replaced: brake pads (600km)
this is a problem did you go with the ebc pads this time

tie rod ends(1000 km)
They have new ones out for the 2000 model bikes that I haven't heard of the first pair being replaced

broke a chain @ 1100km,

Maybe somebody else can help on this one...

drive shaft yoke & u-joint on the front diff, and I am currently replacing the U-joints on the front cv shafts.

Did you grease the zerks and use the right kind of grease and how often did you grease it???

In short this thing is junk!!! I ride with a 99 450s Honda-4400km

Really hate to hear you had those troubles I am going on 500 miles with nothing yet even showing a sign of going wrong...

 

Just wait, you will in good time.

This guys experience looks a lot like my sp500's history, one break down after another. Thanks for the quality Polaris!

 

Sledder, if you dislike Polaris so much, why are you always here? You must have a secret desire to own one. Read my post. 2 Polaris' and neither have had ANY problems that I didn't cause. I looked through the Honda forum one night and started counting posts with "problems", it turns out that the number of "problem" Honda posts were about the same as the number of "problem" Polaris posts. And as for "Polaris" and "Quality" not being used in the same sentence, I guess the same could be said for "Sledder" and "Intelligence"...
Later,

 

Just curious...

First of all I'm a very satisfied Polaris owner. I'm just curious as to why so many people that own other quad brands go out of their way to come to this site to read about/bash polaris? What's funny is when you go to "their" sites, there are no polaris owners bashing their brands! I don't know, you tell me...Jealousy perhaps.

 

4 very satisfied Sportsman riders here. 1 '97, 2, 98's and 1 '99. Some brake pads replaced on the 97 ands '98s but no other problems.
Problem wise they are no better or worse than my Honda Four Trax that arrived from the factory (and the dealer) with no gearlube in the rear end (that was an expensive disaster).

Features, power, and creature comfort wise, these Sportsmen can't be beat! Love 'um.

I agree the other brand areas are full of problem reports, including Honda. One problem report after another. Why does Polaris get beat up so hard? Some need to criticise the top dog? Maybe. All brands have their unique problems.

If you don't like Polaris (to the bashers), don't buy 'em, don't ride 'em, and stop slamming them. Have some respect for the 99% of Polaris riders who love their machines. Jump back on your machines with the "lumderwagon ride" and ride off (quietly).

Around here we ride Polaris, Honda, and Yamaha. We switch back and forth and have fun. We don't whine and complain and bash each others choice of ride.

DJ