OK, I'm NOT a Polaris salesman....I don't even play one on TV! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] You have just REALLY peaked my interest now.....what is it that you don't like about Polaris' AWD system? It's one of the only true 4WD ATV's out there aside from the Kodiak 450 or 660 Griz where you have to push a button to get diff lock. With a Polaris, you flip a switch to "AWD ON" at ANY speed (as long as you aren't spinning your wheels) and when a rear wheel slips you immediately have true 4WD with a locked front/rear differrential. All the other manufacturers are only limited slip front ends, again, aside from the 2 Yamahas which require you to be at a full stop before you can engage/disengage Diff Lock. Don't get me wrong, I think the Yami's are great machines...really pretty much all the manufacturers build quality units but the Yamaha 450 Kodiak was where I was headed but truly wanted the Grizz because of IRS until I saw the Polaris......it has it all!

I jam my Polaris all over the Pismo Dunes and I don't even have it in AWD. Power slides and such are no problem....in fact, you can swap ends on this thing pretty easily if that's what your in to! With this Heel Clicker clutch, it's fun to start at the bottom of a tall dune from a dead stop, click on AWD, and crawl all the way to the top!

Again, what's NOT to like about the AWD system? Some of us spend thousands of dollars to trick out our 4WD trucks with limited slip axles, air lockers, e-lockers, detroit lockers, in front and rear diffs and here is a quad that has it built in for no extra dollars!



~TD

 

i think i was given the wrong impression on the awd system on the polaris, my impression is it is like auto 4x4 on a truck, and if it is when i get in the thick stuff in a truck i don;t use the auto 4x4 i use the regular 4x4. that is what i thought the polaris had, we used to have a 2000 polaris 500 ho. and did it have the awd system u are talkin about. cause if it is the same then i would have no complaints about it. but i don;t like how long the belt takes to ingage compared to a yamaha.

 

The system on your 2000 500HO works just as I described it above. With the AWD switch set to "off" you only have both the rear wheels powering you. They, like most others, are locked together so you have two driving wheels. The fronts do nothing at that point until you switch AWD "on". Then, as soon as the rears slip or lose traction a little, BOTH the fronts immediately engage and lock so you have 4 wheels pulling and pushing not just the two rears and one of the fronts. It's like having a Detroit Locker in the front and back of a truck only the locker in front is not engaged unless it absolutely has to be...when the rears are spinning. You can drive around all day long with AWD "on" and it won't do anything until you need it when a rear tire slips...then it's immediately there for you.

I'm not sure I understand the analogy you used about "auto 4x4" and "regular 4x4" as it pertains to your truck though.

As for the clutch engagement? That is really something that can be tailored to your liking. For example, I just installed a Heel Clicker clutch in my 400 Sportsman. By taking 15 minutes, I can adjust exactly how I want my engagement simply by changing a spring in the primary clutch.....15 minutes! In that time I can make it so the belt engages at say 1600 rpm's so when I'm jamming around on the dunes I am in the power band that I need for that type of riding or if I'm going to be doing a bunch of gnarly rock and hill hopping, I can set it up so I have engagement and torque right off of idle, as soon as I give it a little throttle. It's really easy and this is not necessarily something that you couldn't do to any of the ATV's out there. You just happen to like the specific engagement on that one bike. You can make a Polaris or any other bike feel the same.

I hope I shed a little light on the ability of a Polaris. Best of luck in your choice!

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

thanks for the info. the auto 4x4 is that of a chevy silverado of what u explained on the polaris , thanks for the info as i am glad this didn;t trun inot a mine is better then that yoru sucks kinda forum. still havn;t decided but polaris has come a long way with the reliability factor. adn yamaha i hear does not have a good waranty sytstem. but i will ahve to ride them both to se ehwo i like them still.

 

alot of times you don't need both front wheels grabbing together because my buddies polaris is very hard to turn when the 4wd kicks in . On the Kodiak I can lock it in 4wd and steer the machine like I wasen't even in 4wd because most of the time one tire is grabbing and when it starts to spin it does kick power to the other tire and if the going really gets rough you can lock the diff. lock and then you have true 4wd like the polaris. One of the reasons I bought my kodiak 450 was because of that diff lock. I know in snow my machine goes better with out the front diff. locked in because it doesen't want to plow the front end . with all 4 tires pushing together all mine wants to do is go forward and thats it! Please don't think i am crapping on the polaris because I am not, I am just pointing out some of the things that I have come across and like more than others!

 

The only well documented fact about the Polaris drivetrain that I know of is it's absolutely terrible engine braking system. It only actuates the REAR wheels, which can result in a skid on a downhill traverse. It actually makes the bike skid as if the rear brakes were locked up. I have experienced it firsthand, and seen it documented on TV on the ATV magazine show when they tested it, and believe me it is not fun, and is a definite reason NOT to buy the Polaris. It's a shame too, because I really liked the 500HO. Look for Polaris to change this for the next model year. If the rear wheels lock up going downhill due to engine braking on a side sloping hill, the bike will skid sideways and possibly roll.

PS I am NOT against Polaris, as a matter of fact I really liked the 500HO, but that EBS is scary.

REV

 

If one owned a Polaris, one would figure out how to drive it with EBS not being an adverse issue, you drive the bike and don't let it get ahead of you by staying on the throttle. If you are considering a 400 class bike, then it's a non issue because EBS is an accessory not standard like the 500. I installed the Heel Clicker clutch and made an adjustment to the secondary clutch that gives it a braking effect rather than a freewheeling effect.

 

You shouldn't have to use the throttle to overcome a badly designed system. If the hill is steep, the last thing most people want to do when descending is stay in the throttle to keep the back wheels from locking up. Admit it, the EBS on Polaris is by far it's worst and most dangerous feature. Again, it is well documented and not something I made up. No need to defend Polaris here, they know it's bad and that's why it will be replaced by a NEW, enhanced EBS next year, 4WD EBS like all the other 4WD quads out there.

REV

 

I have a Grizzly and a Raptor but I would suggest looking into the Praries also. You said something about going to Alaska. The Vtwin has no problems with the cold like the grizzly has. I know that for a fact. The 700 starts much easier in the cold. Also I believe they have the independant suspension this year so thats a plus too. The downside is the size but the weight will pull the snot out of that boat[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]. I use my grizzly to move a 16ft enclosed trailer(empty) around and it has no problems countering the weight.

 

i do have to agree on the ebs on the polaris, yes i am an experienced rider and that is y i did not crash due to the system. but i went toPA with one of my buddies, and there are trees on the hill and you can;t go fast cause it was pretty close to straight up, and i found out a couple months ago that it only has rear wheel ebs. and it does exactly what the other guy siad it slides down the hill. and u do loos control. it can be a scary ride down. i will have to say i do like the awd system the guys explained to me a lot more now. not that the 5oo ho failed me at any time. but i had my doubts.the 700 is alot of money too it is around 800 more dollars then a grizzly or 200 more than a kodiak. i am 20 and money is a factor.