I was given a 1998 Trail Boss back in mid-1998. I was 13. The only thing I knew to do to it was lube the chain and change the transmission fluid. Here it is, 2009, and it is still with me. Many, many hours of pure WOT.

It was even stolen from me once for a couple or three years, and when I got it back, it still ran. I tell ya what, they don't make tougher engines than Polaris. Back when I first got my quad, all my friends (yes, other 13, 14, 15 year olds) were all telling me "If you hit a pile of cow ****, your belt will slip". Next thing they knew, I was going anywhere they were, and my quad NEVER broke down. NEVER. NEVER been stranded anywhere. Not to mention, I was smoking their 350's and 400's (4-strokes).

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Freaksh0w

I was given a 1998 Trail Boss back in mid-1998. I was 13. The only thing I knew to do to it was lube the chain and change the transmission fluid. Here it is, 2009, and it is still with me. Many, many hours of pure WOT.



It was even stolen from me once for a couple or three years, and when I got it back, it still ran. I tell ya what, they don't make tougher engines than Polaris. Back when I first got my quad, all my friends (yes, other 13, 14, 15 year olds) were all telling me "If you hit a pile of cow ****, your belt will slip". Next thing they knew, I was going anywhere they were, and my quad NEVER broke down. NEVER. NEVER been stranded anywhere. Not to mention, I was smoking their 350's and 400's (4-strokes).</end quote></div>

I know man,the old era 2 stroke fuji motors were dam near bullet proof.My 400 has hardly had any issues since I got it besides needing to be jetted for winter riding.

 

Think they should try to lighten up the weight of the sportsman alittle.
A better tire on the XP's And get ride of that lock on ride stuff.
I bought a after market bag for my Xp and ended up having to modify my rear rack to make it fit.
IMO MORE POWER IS always better.
I started out on a Lt 500r and have not found any thing even close to the power.
Polaris makes snowmoblies that just fly. Why can't they make a 4 wheeler that does?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JayJaysp800


HIGHOCTANE, Blows the old one out of the water, ouch!! I didn't think the " OLD " sportsman was that bad! So if no power steering what makes it so much better to turn? What Sportsman did you have before, that was so slow and harder to turn??</end quote></div>
The old Sportsman isn't that bad..quite the contrary I loved mine!
I guess that sounds a little harsh.... the guy asked how it stacked up..
My last machine was an 08 800..and you are right they are great machines...the XP is just alot better..
I never said anything about one or the other being being slow,when I said blows the old Sportsman out of the water I meant as an overall package..but yes the 850 is faster..the 800 isn't slow though..
The steering,and handling on the trail are night and day. Of course maybe that is just spoiling me..I got back on an 800 not long ago and I though something was wrong with it at first..felt like the front was locked in all the time..lol..the steering effort difference is impressive.
The steering is easier because Polaris went to double A-arms up front and improved the steering geometry vastly. Knuckle pivot point and steering arm length(the real reason for the 14" wheel requirement IMO) are totally different.

Edit- I just read rancher and BMQ's posts they summed it up for me..
BTW Rancher Polaris advertises 39mph in low range and it will do every bit of that..I checked it once for someone ..hit 41 the rev limiter kicked in and it dropped to 39.

Sorry wasn't trying to derail the thread or make this an Sportsman XP thread..just trying to answer the inital question.

 

Sorry wasn't trying to derail the thread or make this an Sportsman XP thread..just trying to answer the inital question.</end quote></div>





You aren't H.O. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

There's a new topic that just was posted about Polaris's Warning stickers that I'd thought to pass along, that could have been posted on this topic. Just another way for Polaris to cover their ***, like their basicly lame *** 6 month warranty. If the warnings in the owners manual weren't enough, duh. I buy a quad with Mose Oak pattern with dumb *** Orange Warning stickers plastered all over it. So those who didn't know how to remove them, the answers there.

 

I would like to see a quick disconnect on the rear rack just for washing purposes and i would liuke some metal areas on the top of the racks or high on the machine for clipping the winch to

 

I am a new first time owner of a sage green 850xp.
I have not been on this forum much but I have been on other
forums where the company that was the topic had
forum moderators or members in the customer service.As a matter of fact the topic company started many of the polls. I really think it would help for polaris to have such a relation with the forum members.


ie I read on this forum about ktm severing ties with polaris.
I sure would like to know for sure before I buy an outlaw
if there will be parts around.

Also couldnt you but locknride connectors from a dealer to make custom accesories. I am thinking about some type of spotting scope mount that I can use with a digital camera attached.

 

I am with Doug on this one, they don't give a grap about anyones problems, all they care about is you buying there product. Even my dealer is getting a little fed up with grap, he has tried to do what ever he can and stand behind what he sells, but Polaris doesn't give crap, so he's kinda stuck in the middle. I have heard that Polaris has lost a lot of dealers.

 

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

I am with Doug on this one, they don't give a grap about anyones problems, all they care about is you buying there product. Even my dealer is getting a little fed up with grap, he has tried to do what ever he can and stand behind what he sells, but Polaris doesn't give crap, so he's kinda stuck in the middle. I have heard that Polaris has lost a lot of dealers.</end quote></div>

It's not just POPO. It is every manufacturer, they build an ATV (all terrain vehicle) then say atay out of the water and the mud. Don't do cookies/doughnuts and a bunch of other crap so that if they don't feel like warrantying something they can just blow you off with "it's operater abuse". That said though, the warranty is only as good as the dealer. The dealer can get the company to do thing if they want to. The dealer sells many of the same model they can fudge a number if its barely out of warranty to help out a customer. They also can call POPO and tell them that they have a good customer that has had a problem and usually the company will make and adjustment like paying for the parts.

I had a Toro lawn mower that had a heavy diecast deck that I broke when I hit a rock. The machine was 3 years old, way after the 90 day commercial warranty. The engine and everything else was perfect. My Dealer made a call, Two days later a rep from Toro showed up at my doorstep with the new deck. We went to the dealer where he picked up the old deck, because this was the first they had ever heard of this happening, and he wrote my dealer a check to cover the swap. This was on a $400 new in 1981 machine, that was 28 years ago, AND 53 UNITS LATER WE ARE STILL BUYING TORO. Maybe these young, in comparison, ATV manf. can take a lesson from a lawn mower maker and stand behind their products.