In boat design every component is weighed and plotted so a boat will float on its' designed water line. A weight study, comparing key components such as engines, exhausts, fender assemblies, mainframes, subframes, steering assemblies, drive assemblies, wheels and tires,
from key Quads such as, Sportsman, Scrambers,EXP, 400EX, DS-650, Kodiak, Cannondale?, Raptor and others could reveal key components on Polaris and other makes that could be made lighter. A Magazine would be a likely choice. Manufacturers have probably all done this, but they aren't telling. I don't think you could get this from parts manuals.
Silly later,,,,Fourlix

 

I have read on this board, that the reason for Polaris' being so heavy, is that they use mild steel in the frame. The other makers use chrome molly.

Dave

 

The Japanese manufacturers subscribe to an agreement, or perhaps a government regulation applies, to a 606-pound maximum dry weight limit.

Later US manufacturers, like Polaris and Arctic Cat, are not confined to that limit and have higher weight budgets (if they have a weight budget at all).

IndyDave raises a good point (mild steel vs. other alloys) While the difference in densities between types of steels is marginal; strength-to-weight ratio, as Dave says, plays a role, I doubt frame metallurgy accounts fully for significant weight differences.

Diogenes

 

Diogenes

You are most likely right. When I saw the new 650 Kawa they said it would weigh about 604-606lbs.

Snowride

 

I was not aware of the Japan weight agreement, that is interesting. i like a heavier utility machine but sport atv's I can understand wanting lighter atv's better performance.

 

You make a good point, IndyDave. I never thought about it until now. To get the same degree of rigidity in the frame, mild steel components would have to be bigger or thicker. The upside is they would be much easier to straighten out, or weld and have the repairs stay. Chromoly steel is difficult to weld without weakening something somewhere.

 

The Sprotsman with IRS weighs 50# more than the Magnum 500. What would the Ruby or others weigh with this ingenuity?

 

Bottom line is cost I believe, for to seriously reduce the overall weight of the Polaris quad, they would have to change metal compositions, go to aluminum, and completely re-engineer the whole quad. so what would be the great advantage? My Sportsman weighs near 700 pounds, big deal, I think of the quad as being pretty SOLID, not like other manufacturers quads. Hey, just look at the quality in another quad of perhaps the same size, it sure ain't built like a Polaris...

 

why cant the Japanese manufactures make a quad heavier than 606lbs ?? what would happine if honda made a 700lb quad??

later
jon

 

Jon, the Japanese "can" make a quad over 606 pounds in weight; however, they subscribe to the ANSI limit of 275 kg/606 lb. If Honda made a 700-pound quad, they would violate the agreement.

Diogenes