2011 XP's have the three disc setup. I don't know if it was '10 or '11 when they switched from four. I don't think it would stop any better with four disc's, but might not wear the rear pads down as quick. I've never needed to change brake pads on an atv before so I don't have anything to compare with. As mentioned before, with EBS systems that work as well as they do, you really don't need to grab the lever a whole lot.

 

So let me get this correct..........Polaris had three disc set-up ...........went to four.................Now in 2010,or 2011 back to a three disc?

I didn't know they ever did have four disc brakes(any models).......Caper.......

 

I think those 3rd disk braking systems on the rear drive shaft use a "wet" setup-
I can tell you from experience first hand- the set up with the rear single disk on the shaft has a lot more chatter going down a hill with the brake applied then with a 4 wheel disk setup.

This is because when a 4 wheel disk is applied, the stopping occurs directly at the wheel hub, all the free play in the cv's and diff isn't felt... whereas when braking is applied to the single disk setup on the rear shaft, the braking is applied to the drive shaft, leaving the rear diff & cv's floating with the wheel- so you get a lot of chatter from the freeplay between the left & right cv's up through the rear diff and into the 3rd brake. Hope that makes sense.

 

yep- my 09 xp850 had 4 large disks.

I think they went back to 3 wheel disk in 2010

 

Originally Posted by caperinmuskoka
So let me get this correct..........Polaris had three disc set-up ...........went to four.................Now in 2010,or 2011 back to a three disc?

I didn't know they ever did have four disc brakes(any models).......Caper.......

The rear is not a wet brake setup. The brake is a regular disk brake mounted on the right side hub.
caperinmuskoka, the X2 and Touring that are equipped turf mode all have four wheel disc brakes. When turf mode is engaged the rear diff is unlocked so you have to have braking at each individual rear wheel or bad things would happen.

 

Kind of reminds you of a SRA.


The front's not quite as stiff.

 

3-wheel dic brakes, and so does the 850 Touring

 

That shot from the rear says it all. I guess you have to decide what is more important to you. Smooth ride or the ability to climb almost anything. Tough call. Not sure about the XP, but the older models used the same front spring on the X2 as they did on the regular sportsman. I couldn't find a lower spring rate replacement for the rear.

 

something else I noticed on my xp850 was how weak the bars were- I clipped a small tree- under 5mph- nothing serious- and it bent my bars pretty good. I used a 4' pipe over the grip to bend it back.

hehe- I also rolled it over (dont ask ) and it can't take a roll over very well- cracked fender, rear rack, bent the bars again even worse and cracked the head light / gage housing. All it did was roll on its side trying to climb a rock face. I feel like the bars are too tall-

 

my 500 has been on its side 3 times now and on its "top" twice (thanks to a friend both times) wheels straight up and havent had an issue with any bent bandlebars or anything cant even tell its been flipped