I had a moment this weekend that shoulda been a commercial for Polaris.

A friend (interested in buying his first quad) was visiting. We were runing the trails on my 2 500 Scramblers. At some point we stopped, and I sat there in the Pocono Mountain woods and told him how great these machines are compared to whatever else is out there. (true 4x4, snowmobile clutch, tall suspension, etc)

15 minutes later, we are out on another trail and run into 2 Yammerhas. (400big bear and a Kodiak)

At the end of the trail these guys were riding on is a VERY steep hillclimb. Once you go down the decline, there is NO WAY OUT but to turn around and make the hillclimb.

I was going there to show my friend how amazing these Scramblers climb. The yamerha owners were just out for a ride, I don't think they knew the hill was at the end of this path.

Okay, so this time we all get there, get off the quads look down the hill, it's covered with 5 inches of snow.

I proclaim, I'm going!! I go down the hill, and make it back up by the skin of my teeth, as they said.

The Big Bear owner took a little prodding, but heck, there were 4 men here, we could pull it out if he didn't make it!

SO he goes down, makes it about halfway up and, with the rough terrain, his right front wheel was up in the air spinning, the left front was sitting on the ground NOT spinning. I had to run back to the cabin for rope and then drag him up the hill.

Once we got him up the hill, I took the OTHER Scrambler down the hill and showed them why 4 wd, real 4wd, is king.

So, the Yamerhammers left, tail tucked. My friend and I sat there laughing. He said: You suckered that guy into trying it, didn't you.

I laughed even harder. Yep. Been going to that hill for 30 years. It separates the real from the imagined.

He said, "I'm buying a Scrambler. This should have been a commercial!"

Anyone else gotta similar story?

Moral of my story? Buy a Scrambler or stay home!

 

That almost brings a tear to my eye.

Laat year i was riding at an abandon ski resort in NY state with my two buddies when we came to the bottom of a 300 foot high tripple black diamond hill that was overgrown, rutty and full of rocks. My buddy with the 300 said " I heard there were good trails past the top. Do you think that stove can make it ? " I didn't even reply as i started the bike i gear and nailed the gas. It was a rough and squirly ride that felt like riding a bull but i made it over the top. I turned around and looked down at the two Honda 300ex's that looked like 2 tic-tacs and yelled " Do you want me to come back down and pull you guys up ! "

Chris Picciotto
99 Scrambler 500

 

Ok, Here's another one for y'all.

I ride with a friend from down the street. He has a 00 Scrambler 500, really likes it. Has a Trail Boss for his daughter. Has owned and sold in the past 6 months,
- a tricked out banshee with a very narrow powerband - too much quad for anyone but a seriously experienced racer
- a brand new mojave with pipe - too slow
- a sport 400 - wanted 4x4.

He now has a used banshee that had a top end makeover. He has put the Toomey T5 pipes on, re-jetted the carbs, skid plates, K&N, etc. - much wider powerband than his first banshee, this guy *really* likes going fast, and running down anything else out there.

This weekend, we are in the woods with a 00 400ex, they (foolishly) let me lead. Neither can keep up over the trails. We get out on the sand and the banshee is ripping it up when he stops and watches my 400 Screambler 4x4 with a K&N whip on by. He says, has that gotten faster?
Yes, it has. I bought this thing in the dead of winter and today it's 65 degrees, it is obvious that this is jetted for warmer weather. He rides it a little and is impressed. Now he remembers why he liked the Polaris so much, comfort, speed, 4x4, reverse. He says, "Now I know why you were so far ahead in the woods." Later on the track, he rides it again, just to be sure.

As we are headed home in the truck, he is on the cell phone to the dealer, and finds that the dealer has 2 99 400 scrambler "leftovers" just in... bottom line is that he is selling the Scrambler 500, and buying the 400, as they are easier and cheaper to mod, and just as fast.

He will keep the heavily modified banshee for flat out speed, racing the 250Rs, etc. but the 400 will suffice for just about everything else, except plowing the north 40. ;-)