Well I traded in my 07 800 in my sig for a new 850 xp eps. I gave my quad and 4500.00 for the 850. I thought that was good for a trade in. The 850 is awesome so far. I put on about 40 miles today. It back fired twice so I guess i will have to adjust the throttle. Any way here is my question. My wife has the 550 already. the engine braking on the 850 is WAY stronger than the 550. almost like the adc is always on. I can hear it click in and out when i move the switch. 4x4 works as it should. going down a steep hill side by side in 2x4 the 550 pulls away quickly. my 850 only goes 2-3 mph while the 550 goes 6-7 mph..In adc they both do about 2 mph.. In 2x4 the 850 starts out rolling and when it hits 2 mph it sounds like adc kicks in and keeps it at 2mph. Im not sure if the clutching is just different or what? I checked the adc fluid and it is at the full mark..Thanks for the replies in advance..Hope this post is not to confusing..I also posted on high lifter.

 

dslanec, I bought a new xp850 and a xp550 for my beloved a month or so ago and have noticed the exact same thing. In fact we had swapped rides on day and the wifey thought my brakes were dragging. Just carried them in for 1st service this am and will be leaving Thursday for 10 days of riding in Colorado, hope I can wait till then. So far the machines are awsome.

 

i would attribute it to a larger bore on the 850 creating more of a engine brakeing effect. kinda like a little 4 cyl truck downshifting versus a big 18-wheeler downshifting..

 

The 850 has another cylinder, so it has twice the engine braking of the 550.

 

Just posted this on high lifter as well...

Thanks for the replies.. Talked to dealer today and he contacted polaris to see if it is normal. They told him the 850 ebs is stronger than the 550. But if i felt something was wrong polaris said to take it back to my dealer and they can check to see if adc is shutting of when switched into 2x4. I put on about 30 more miles today and it seems to be loosening up some. Down the same hill i now go 4 mph in 2x4 versus 2 mph in adc. and when i switch out of adc i feel it now. So maybe it just needs some miles. I will just drive it and see if it keeps improving. My 550's shocks were very stiff the 1st hundrend or so miles also.....By the way this 850 ROCKS!!!

 

When I first got my 850 I noticed the engine braking as well. It was almost to the point where I didn't like it - and my wife hated it when she rode on the back. It has since either loosened up or I've gotten used to it as I don't really notice it as much now. This is only after 10 total miles too, so hopefully it will get to the point where I don't notice it at all.

 

The engine braking is much greater on the 850 at all speeds. The question i had was under 15 mph down steep hills. That is when there should be a difference between 2x4 and adc. From say 50 down to 20 the 850 slows very quickly from the ebs compared to the 550.

 

I remember reading a post about something similar. It ended up being a sticky brake caliper. Get it checked out.