Hey guys... I'm new here with a few questions.

I got my wife a 03 TB. Nice bike. I liked it enought that I got my son a used 00 TB. However, his bike has noticably less power than the 03. His bike, although used, had very few hours on it. Is this normal? Is there something I should look for to ensure performance? Also, what is the least expensive performance mods I can make. He is already complaining about too little power and speed.

My wife had an unfortunate incident on her TB. She hit a big bump that knocked her left foot off the floorboard. The back tire ran over her foot and broke/dislocated her ankle. She is scared of getting back on it (after her foot heals) but I told her I would look for a bigger floorboard or nerf bars that won't allow her foot to get in the way of the back tires. Where can I find something like this? Do I have to fab. something myself?

Oh... is the preload adj on the rear shock the only suspension setting? Where should it be set at? How would I know if it needed to be changed? (I really don't know much about quads... I am a 2 wheel guy)

Any other mods tips would be appreciated. We ride mostly desert and climb hills.

Thanks,

Jim

 

Check the compression on your son's. It should be at minmum 115 psi. If compression is good, come back and let us know, we can eventually help you figure it out. There are alot of places for mods. The best places are HPD , Aaen, and RCR. RCR is the best bang for the buck. There is alot of power in those 250's, it just needs to be let out. Sorry to hear about your wife, that doesn't sound fun. HotSeat makes nerfs that are the easiest to install. Others for the raptor or banshee can be made to fit. Yes preload or re-bound is the only adjustment to the suspension, the best way to adjust it is to try different settings and try it out, everyone has different tastes and weights, so you are kind of on your own there. Check out the top 3 links for your performance needs and the last for suspension. Stay away from anyone besides the top 3 if you want to spend your money well.

 

Thanks for the tips.

Does anyone have a pic of the Raptor nerf bars adapted for the Trailblazer?? Do you remove the stock floorpan? Will they prevent your feet from getting into the rear tire??

Jim

 

If it's custom fit you want, I'd probably go with the Hot Seat nerfs. They're a little more $$$ but, they offer the greatest amount of protection. Also, on the 00 TB, did you check things like the air filter, fuel filter, oil injection filter. If you have a couple of them, spending just a few bucks on one service manual that covers both will save you lot's of money, and headache. Also, an inexpensive wt savings mod, is to take a magnet to the front bumper, and floorboards of your son's 00. I think they were steel then. You can order, and they're not very expensive, the front bumper and floorboards from a newer 4x4 Scrambler, they're aluminum. Those companies that NC suggested are great Polaris specialty shops, with good people running them. My site has pics of the Banshee nerfs on a Sport/TB/Scrambler frame. I think the Raptor units are flatter, but the Hot Seat units are still gonn protect better.

 

Ken,

Nice looking quad. Did it have floorboards before you installed the nerf bars? I saw some raptor nerfs for about $150. The HOT SEAT bars are $100 more. Are they really worth the extra money? The only way I am gonna get my wife back on her quad is to convince her that even if her foot goes over the nerf bar and hits the ground, it will still be out of the way of the back tire. If anyone has pics of a Trailblazer with the Hot Seat nerf bars, I'd really like to see them.

As for the RCR stage one kit, does the silencer have a spark arrestor, or should I use the stock silencer? Which kit should I consider, the low end.... mid range... or top end?

Finally... where can I get a good repair manual??

Jim

 

If you have the 250 TB then you cant use the silencer because it is all one piece. I dont think that the RCR kit has a spark arrestor but you can get an rcr silencer with one on it but it might cost a little more$$$. I dont understand how her foot came off the floor board and went under the tire. It is almost impossable to do that with the stock floorboards. As for the kit I would go with the low end kit because you can always make up the top end somewhere else. It is hard to have alot of top end and try to make up the low end. Or you can go in between and get the mid pipe. But you wont get the low end kick with the mid pipe. The low end pipe will still give you some more top end. I use the hPD trail pipe and it has tons of low end and it still gave me some more decent top end.

 

2Many, I have seen people that were inexperienced or who have rode motorcycles all their life and they get on the Polaris and get in a bad situation and try to stick there leg out to keep from going over or whatever. They are use to this with motorcycles or not used to the Polaris's. You have to admit they feel a little top heavy and If you are not used to that, you will try to throw your leg over the floorboard to reach the ground and before you know it, you can run over your own foot. I don't know the circumstances with his wife, but I have seen it happen as I mentioned. You really just have to learn that the best place to keep your foot is on the floorboard. The only thing I have against nerf bars Is that you must remove the mud flaps (black pieces) and where I ride in mud, that could be messy. But I guess for sand duning there wouldn't be a problem with that.

 

There is PLENTY of room to get your foot caught in the back tire with the stock floorboard. Whatever nerf bar application I use will have to extend well past the stock floorboard.

Here is another question.... I just rode my son's TB today and I discovered a dangerous problem. When you hit the brakes hard, the left front applies a lot harder than the right front. The result is that the quad wants to spin to the left. What can I do about that??

I know I sound like a bonehead.... but I am really new to quads...

Jim

 

The Hotseat bars are just a squared off nerf bar on each side. They dont look or function near as good as other brands, and dont have any rear protection at all. I wouldnt buy any personally. I have a buddy that has put them on his and I was really disappointed in them. Good luck on finding something, but I think you'll have to make something for the rear.Bubba

 

I agree with Bubba on the nerf bars. It sounds like the brake problem could be either a bad disc or pad or something of that nature, but the brakes probably just need to be bled. I would try that first. It could also be a warped disc or wheel. The bearings may also be bad. If bleeding the brakes does not help, you will probably just have to tear into everything and see what you can find.