Well, just bought the 800 EFI Friday. I'm the only one in my area with one. I also have an 03 Sportsman 700. Well i had a chance to ride a little yesterday and today. This thing has me smiling! It rides and responds great. THe features they included are awesome. I notice everyone trying to compare top speeds and weight to determine what they want.....Come on fellas, get real. I'll race any damn quad out there right now. Let's let the bikes sit overnight and get up at 0530 when it's below freezing. RUn to the bikes and start em up and go. First one to the end of the street wins. I think the EFIs will win this one even though we are heavier. This thing is a monster. Does it scare me? no, i ride a 700. DId it scare my buddies with Rincons? Oh yeah! But you need to see the things they have done to this ATV.

Clutching - right on! I can tell because i have the 03 Carbed 700. Power delivery is nice and easy or all there if you want it.

Handling - Fine, no complaints. It's a sportsman

Bodywork - Not one review in any forum even touched on the new bodywork. The side panels were a pain to remove on the 700. The 800 side panels have one push point on them and the rest of it is kind of tongue and grooved. This is awesome. Easy to remove for cleaning or maintenance. If you have a big sportsman, then you know the frame can rub right through the coolant hoses. They added some more protection from that. THey slid a piece of plastic along the edge on one of the points.

Storage - Gobs of it. The front under the rack doesn't look like it can hold much but it will hold 12+ beers, err Diet Cokes. I know this for a fact. I liked the rear storage box on the Hondas. This one is awesome and it actually latches versus having a rubber strap to keep the door shut like the Hondas.

New Racks - Nice but.......if all your equipment is based on having holes in the racks to run straps through, well, you won't like the front rack too much but then, you have storage underneath.

Tire/RIms - Rims are sweet! Tires, well i have 27" Bi/Tri claws on the 700 so the PXTs don't look mean but work really well for all but the hardcore stuff.

Other - so much more to list. I'm impressed. They replaced the U-joints up front with ball joints for one.

I'll cut this off now since it's getting long, sorry. I'm riding at the ATV park we are re-opening in March so i'll have plenty of opportunites to see how this baby is. My 700 is still my mudpit and "ride like you stole it" bike but that's only because the "NEW" of the 800 hasn't worn off. I will be glad to give an unbiased, non-brand bashing comparison to anyone. We have Kawis, Hondas, Yamahas, no Zukis, and i'm the only Polaris guy. Most everyone is Honda loyal but i saw them drooling this weekend after riding my bike at the park. Anyway guys, stop reading and go riding!!

 

Great!!!! Im glad you like it and hope you have uddles of fun!!!

 

nice detailed write up!

enjoy that bad boy!

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Nice review ... but

"They replaced the U-joints up front with ball joints for one."

did you mean CV joints?

 

Just breezing through the manual, it said ball joints. It looks like a CV joint though because it is covered with a CV boot. I'm still looking this machine over right now.