I removed the rad side covers, going to change the antifreeze, install an LED light bar, checked the brakes, and decided to paint the wheels/hubs. I hate the black wheels and wanted improve the looks. Not running aluminum rims because I'd scratch them up bad.

Up until some time in 2010 Polaris painted them silver, but I guess black was cheaper??

Will do the back two next weekend.

 

Looks good.. Seems like the style now even on sports cars is ugly black rims. I'm old school,gotta have some shine to em..

 

Thanks. I am the same way, I like shine. Not in to the black fad, nor the painted bumper fad.

 

It looks good with the hubs painted too.

 

Nice paint job. Looks factory new.

I went from silver to black when I had my Sportsman X2. It had a few silver plastic panels so it's not like it was blacked out.

 

For me the black paint has been more durable than the silver. I don't know if that has anything to do with Polaris painting them all black. The silver does look better though.

 

The silver does look nice, looks like it came that way. I did like the aluminum wheels yamaha put on the Grizzly though. Yes, they are easier to dent than steel or forged aluminum but for factory wheels they look pretty good and are very light. I think they only weighed like 3 lbs per wheel. I remember picking one up without a tire on it once and I probably could have thrown it like a frisbee it was so light.

 

Crazy, I hated the shiny Chrome look on my 800 so I painted them black, we should have swapped haha.
Anyway, if you have the radiator out or close to it make sure to clean it well behind the fan shroud, you would be surprised what all gets caked up in there.

 

You got that right. I removed the rad side covers and am leaving them off.

 

Well I wouldn't remove side covers honestly, they do prevent mud splash from the side. On my 550 I actually fabricated side guards from a heavy plastic I had laying around and zip ties hold it on. Cut it like a triangle and it cut down on a tremendous amount. I was constantly having to clean the radiator. I meant for you to remove the fan from the back and make sure nothing caked up in there that u cant clean no matter what you do. But if it works for you go for it. I don't get to ride my bikes but a few times a year, frustrating.