I have a chance to buy a '99 Polaris Xplorer 400. Everyone tells me not to because it's chain driven. Could someone explain the drawbacks of this type of system. I will use this for gentle riding only, no speed trips or wild riding.

 

Gregg, the problem with chain drive is that they are noiser than shaft and require more maintance. Before each ride chain tension should be checked to ensure it is right, if u don't u will wear out chains and sprockets faster than normal. The main maintange with shaft drive is to periodically check condition of gear oil in the rearend to see if has gon any water in it.

 

He is right about those things. I wouldn't get a chain driven bike myself, but that shouldnt effect anyone else's choice. If you do a lot of rock climbing and rough terrain, a chain driven utility isnt the best choice, because your chain could snap. The chain requires some maintenance, but for the riding that you're talking about, it shouldn't be much of a hastle. The chain drive also puts more power to the ground than shaft. Thats why you don't see a lot of shaft drive sport bikes, really, you don't see any. (Wolverine doesn't count) For what you said you'd be using it for, it would be fine. There are a lot of happy Explorer 400 owners out there. I really liked riding this model at the dealership. Rode well and turned very tight for its size.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

I've only had to adjust mine once so far..right after break-in.

but I'm not a heavy rider either. shaft would be preferable...wish that bike was shaft. It would be perfect then!!
I love my xplorer 400 1999

 

If you have a quality chain it will only need adjustment occasionally. I've adjusted mine one time so far and it is very easy to do. The Explorer is the fastest utility quad out there, at least in a straight line. I like them because you can putt around or kick up some dirt if you like.
Scott.

 

The Explorer is a fast bike! A friend of mine has a 97 Sportsman 400L which has the same engine as the Explorer and it will flat out move for a utility 4x4. One thing that I never really understood. Why did polaris discontinue the Sportsman 400L? It was my favorite bike in their lineup. Steel racks and that freaky looking back bumper thing. With concentric drive, I think it would have been a big seller.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Andy,

They dropped it because the Xplorer was really similar to the Sportsman 400L, minus the camo, racks, and a few other things. But mainly because the Xplorer sold so much more than the Sportsman 400. Most people that bought the Sportsman 400 over the Xplorer was for the camo, but with the Sportsman 500 being camo and also a 4-stroke shaft drive, most hunters preferred it.

 

GreggWNY,

Something you may want to consider about the 99 Xplorer 400 is that it has concentric chain drive to the rear wheels and shaft drive to the front wheels. The 98 and earlier 400's had chain drive to the rear and to the front wheels.

The concentric rear drive, puts the engine output shaft sprocket and the rear drive sprocket on the same plane or center, which means less stress on the rear drive chain and makes chain adjustment easier.

I own a 98 Xplorer 400 and find that chain adjustment to the front is minimual and that rear adjustment is not that big of a problem. With concentric drive the adjustment is even easier then with my 98 Xplorer 400. Just back off two nuts, insert a small punch thru a hole in the rear sprocket and into a hole in the eccentric, and rotate the wheels to adjust the chain to the proper tension. Tighten the two nuts. Takes about three minutes.

Shaft drive machines are smoother, quiter and require a little less maintenance in that reguard, but in my opinion hold no advantage over chain driven machines in getting power to the wheels. Chain drives have been around a long time, shaft drives are Spam wordSpam word Spam wordSpam word Spam wordSpam word Spam wordSpam word Spam wordSpam word .

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Big_Al

 

I would have figured that there was a substantial price difference between the 500 and 400 Sportsmans. They really are in different leagues. I also would have assumed that the Sportsman 400 and explorer would be priced similar. I still think that they should have kept the sportsman 400l or something else with that body style because there are people who won't buy a polaris on the account of the plastic racks. Not that this is some major problem area, but there are some out there.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*