<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ScramblerXLE

I have both and the KTM is the superior machine for all but desert racing or VERY rough trail riding. I raced the 525 IRS for 1.5 years in XC and MX races both and have made the switch to the KTM 525 XC and am VERY glad that I did. The KTM is not as fatiguing in a 2 hr woods race, and handles substancially better. The brakes are so good that 1 finger on the fronts can literally throw you over the bars and I don't know how but this thing's intake/exhaust flows so well it doesn't even feel like the same engine! It is much snappier and the OHLINS shocks are great. All-in-all it was better stock than my $15,000 Outlaw for racing purposes... my $0.02</end quote></div>

Nice pics but we need some of the KTM put together! LOL

Nice write up and good thing to know I don't get to ride desert much!

 

No KTM does not make IRS....

Unless you ride on the worst crappy rock strewn trails ALL THE TIME get the solid axle....... because IRS is wasted on just about everything else....... the only people that seem to like IRS are Ute guys who want a sport machine, or people with a certain riding style where a solid axle is apparently too hard on their backs.....

IRS by nature does weird things when there is a lot of power and a light front end. It is something that does not happen on a 4x4 but the weight distribution is odd - because the rear is so heavy is feels like it keeps dropping into every off camber..........It is hard to explain until you ride one but it tends to pull you in whichever direction - depending on which rear wheel is getting the most traction....you cannot keep the power on and expect the machine to pull straight like a SRA does........and the body rolling in the corners is very annoying if you are used to a solid axle....you cannot really slide in tacky soil you have to "drive" around the corners..... but those things do not bother everyone.... I personally don't like the "soft" feeling if having 4-axis to move on as opposed to 3-axis.......

I know two different people who bought IRS Outlaws and regretted it a few weeks after the coolness of being able to run over things wore off. After they went and looked for the most insane terrain they could find to test it on they quickly realized that they needed a 4x4 for that type of riding too often anyway...... they simply could not find enough terrain to take advantage of IRS without having the need for 4x4 also.......so once again it came down to two types of riding required two different types of vehicles.....

So one traded his in for a KFX700 and the other got a Raptor700..... now the dude that had the KFX700 has traded it in for an Outlaw 525s and he loves the thing....... And I must admit it is the best Polaris I've ever ridden...... it was the first time I ever got off a Polaris and thought "wow I could ride one of these" ...

But as has been said, if you ride on nasty trails where a lot of 4x4s have dug huge trenches you will probably like that IRS........... but those trails often end up in a 4x4 situation so one without the other is often a waste...... but if you have a bad back, or get beat up because of a solid axle, try the IRS for yourself...... but the IRS sport machines seem to be for a niche group of riders.... the 525s is outselling the 525i at Polaris dealers more then 2-to-1 and Honda is not moving the 700xx much at all..... so you gotta go with what moves you best..... that is why we have all these choices out there......

 

Thanks ss97! That helps alot [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Hey there Hemi,

I said I could keep up on a tight trail
and if they were my trails, peace.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: kukerdan

Hey there Hemi,



I said I could keep up on a tight trail

and if they were my trails, peace.</end quote></div>

[img]i/expressions/brokenheart.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/beer.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

You guys crack me up on this IRS isn't good unless your on a very ruff terrain. I lead my class in points and won the last 2 races on a irs going up against all SRA quads, 450rs, YFZ, Raptors, and even the LTR. 2nd, look at what Eichner did last year on the IRS and now what he has done this year on the SRA. Worse. Now look at the factory Polaris guys on the GNCC series on the results last year on the IRS and this year on the SRA. Worse. I have not seen any results where the SRA outperforms the IRS. In fact, I see it the other way around. You know why? It's fatique. My last 2 wins was due to the leader getting to tired just enough where I passed and won. Talk to factory guys to and they say the same, they more tired racing the SRA. I've been racing the IRS Outlaw for 2 years and has been very solid. Got the 09 on order as I will not go back to a SRA. But to others, the SRA is what they perfer, and that is all that counts. Get what you like.

On a side note. where the heck are you getting a KTM quad for only $4000? I would make sure that quad is running right. They only came out 10 months ago and the msrp is over $9000. I can't see it selling for $5000 less unless there is something wrong with it.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: GE4x4

You guys crack me up on this IRS isn't good unless your on a very ruff terrain. I lead my class in points and won the last 2 races on a irs going up against all SRA quads, 450rs, YFZ, Raptors, and even the LTR. 2nd, look at what Eichner did last year on the IRS and now what he has done this year on the SRA. Worse. Now look at the factory Polaris guys on the GNCC series on the results last year on the IRS and this year on the SRA. Worse. I have not seen any results where the SRA outperforms the IRS. In fact, I see it the other way around. You know why? It's fatique. My last 2 wins was due to the leader getting to tired just enough where I passed and won. Talk to factory guys to and they say the same, they more tired racing the SRA. I've been racing the IRS Outlaw for 2 years and has been very solid. Got the 09 on order as I will not go back to a SRA. But to others, the SRA is what they perfer, and that is all that counts. Get what you like.



On a side note. where the heck are you getting a KTM quad for only $4000? I would make sure that quad is running right. They only came out 10 months ago and the msrp is over $9000. I can't see it selling for $5000 less unless there is something wrong with it.</end quote></div>

I am not trying to argue the fact that you are having good luck with you IRS machine but the fact remains that if IRS were a better setup all racing series would use this setup including the biggest GNCC class of them all the 450 class.
I also think you would admit if you had to pick/own one machine and you rode all types of terrain including dessert you would have SRA machine!

Like someone said before IRS belongs on a 4x4 not a SPORT quad! JMA

 

I think you will see desert racers on a IRS. The Honda 700xx just won the baja 500. The Outlaw irs won Dakar this year. In fact, 6 of the top 11 were on Outlaws. Each year the Outlaw gets even better. I'm not in any way saying that the irs will take over on the sra. But at the same time, the irs is far from a slouch. The problem many have with a irs is they want to hop right on and ride it like a sra. When it doesn't, they bad mouth it to no end and continue to do it. You ned to get seat time to get the feel of it as it's totally different. Once you do, it handles awesome. But to some, it will not matter and will stick to sra. But that's whats nice with having a selection. I just don't like it when someone has 5 min of seat time, then goes around acting like he's a expert on them, and bad mouths them.

 

I will be the first to tell you that if Polaris would have put EFI on ther Outlaw I would probobly be riding one of those instead of the Raptor! But in now way am I upset with my purchase/decision!

 

That is on my wish list to. But it has not been bad. It fires real quick with the choke. In fact, I got the hole shot in most of my races as it fires so quick.