i picked up my 2012 Polaris Sportsman 500H.O. yesterday, and the plastic throttle lever is not a problem at all! only got to ride about 30 min...but needless to say, it was an amaing 30 min!

 

I never had an issue with it but I know Polaris likes plastic.

 

I guess it isn't a big deal a lot of the time but I really dislike plastic racks and bumpers on an ATV. I'll take steel tubing racks and bumpers any day over the plastic. I guess the plastic saves some weight and is fairly robust, but it's just something I don't care for.

 

It had been about 6 years since I had metal racks. I previously had a Sportsman X2 which were mostly plastic with metal bars that had tie down points built into them. With the metal racks on the Outlander I have to say I'd rather have plastic. I already have rub spots that are beginning to rust!!! I'll try coating them with Herculiner next.

 

My racks on my big bear had a lot of surface rust from the previous owners abuse and leaving it outside. I cleaned and painted them and they look decent now. My dads Honda foreman 400 which is 12 years old with over 8000 miles still has no rust at all on the racks. It wasn't abused but it hardly lives a life of leisure either. I don't know that there is anything wrong with plastic racks, I just don't like them. Lol

 

well it does seem like a plastic bumper would not be as protective as a metal bumper?

 

Polaris plastic racks are difficult to tie anything to that doesn't come out of their catalog, a huge negative in my opinion. Try securing a Flat Pack gas can to one.


There is also no metal behind the cheap front plastic - I guess you would call it a grill. You can always buy one of their $150 bumpers so you don't smash the grill in. I smashed the grill in climbing over a tree. Very cheap.

 

i bought a rear rack extender and put it on the other day. my friend also has rear racks but on his 2001 Sportsman 500 ho. im not sure if its just that fact that his racks are older and more warn out or if they have sprayed something on mine? it almost feels like Line-x?
oh and ps-they say it should take about 10-15 minutes to install the racks, and that is most certainly not true! haha it took alot more work than i was expecting.

 

I was just thinking, we've really managed to hijack Specta's thread. We're very good at this.

 

And more than welcome to any time