What gear range does everybody tend to drive in most of the time. In the owner`s manual it states for speeds above 7MPH use High, but in rough conditions (swamps, mountains, mud etc.) to use Low range. It also mentions numerous times how Low reduces PVT system temperatures and extends belt life. I am at a loss, as most if all of my driving is rough conditions and I keep it in low as a result. I hate the high RPM`s all the time though. Is it safe to drive in High. I don`t want to due any damage.

 

I drive in low if I am going to go under 20 or it's really muddy, steep, etc.

 

fyi, I know my sig isn't up, but I have an 09 xp 550 and 2010 xp850 eps. Driven them both the same. I have 1000 miles on the 550 belt with no slippage.

 

i drive in high unless im going very slow, deep muddy conditions, or really rocky technical terrain that requires slow driving. other than that, high all the way

 

Just use common sense if you are in a low speed high torque situation (rock crawling) use low range. If you are just flying down a logging road with a few hills use High Range. On Polaris's the more you use low rage in slow situations the longer the belt will last!

 

The XP's have a better low range than older Polaris CVT's, with a much broader range of speeds. I'm in low for more than half the riding I do, just leaving it in low, where as with the 500HO I was switching in and out of low all the time.

 

Unless I need to get somewhere in a hurry I use low range. Usually cruise around at 15mph or so when not in the muck. Some folks like flying down the trails but I prefer taking in the scenery. Makes the ride more enjoyable and safer.

 

Polaris sales lit says low is ok to 39 mph. Not what the manual says though.

 

I have this problem as well. I have a 500 HO and I ride a variety of terrain, so I feel like I always have to stop and change from lo to high or vice versa. I am thinking that I am switching to lo in a lot of situations where I really don't need to.

 

There is a difference, as stated above, between the XPs and the older Sportsmans. The old ones should be kept in low for the reasons stated above. I wouldn't put it in high unless you are going to be consistently above 10-15 mph. I have over 1500 miles on my belt and a lot of our trails are very technical.