need advice
Feb 19, 2004 | 03:34 AM
#21
Pro Rider
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 746
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need advice
There is no denying that the Polaris Sportsmans have a comfortable ride, but I too have experienced the Polaris AWD system disadvantage of going down a steep partially snow covered hill. This particular hill requires you to make a 90 degree turn at the bottom (to keep from dropping off a rock / tree covered ledge) so one wants to go fairly slow down the hill (especially when it is slippery). Since I wasn’t accelerating the back wheels weren’t slipping so the front wheels were not engaged, so the resulting engine braking effect was applied to the rear wheels only causing it to slide over the snow. What I wanted to do in this situation is compensate by applying some front braking to help slow it down but the quad (a new 500 Sportsman) only had a brake lever on the left handlebar which applies both front and rear brakes at the same time. The only problem is the slightest application of rear brake at this point just completely locked up the back end. I ended up sliding it sideways at the bottom of the hill, coming to a stop just before reaching the ledge. I had come down this same hill earlier with my Grizzly in 4x4 mode (with a finger on the front brake lever too) and it was much more manageable.
The slip-sensing AWD system of the Polaris is nice in every situation except if you have to navigate a steep downhill, plus they don’t have independent front and rear brake control so you can’t even compensate by applying a little front brake pressure. To me this downhill anomaly would be acceptable with independent front / rear brake control, but not without it…
The slip-sensing AWD system of the Polaris is nice in every situation except if you have to navigate a steep downhill, plus they don’t have independent front and rear brake control so you can’t even compensate by applying a little front brake pressure. To me this downhill anomaly would be acceptable with independent front / rear brake control, but not without it…
Feb 19, 2004 | 11:51 AM
#22
Range Rover
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
need advice
Thank God finally some honest opinions. Like I said I really liked everthing about the Polaris 500HO EXCEPT the EBS. The power is great, the ride is great, but the EBS is flat out dangerous.
Good luck in your decision making.
REV
Good luck in your decision making.
REV
Feb 19, 2004 | 11:58 AM
#23
Pro Rider
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
need advice
Goins, buy the one you like and can afford. You can always upgrade later. TreeDoc is right about learning to ride the bike, after you purchase it you will notice quirks and once you know of them you can learn to compensate.
I do not like single lever brake systems, I like to be able to lock up the front brake only if I fail to make it to the top of a mountain. This way I can feather it while backing down and drag the front wheels. Dual system can be hazadorous if you start to back down a steep hill and you have not enough weight on the front rack as you can lock the brakes up and if the front wheels come up and the rear are locked you will have a good chance of flipping over. I have seen this done on a Quadrunner that had no front brakes and he had a caribou on the back and only his pack and frame on the front rack, it was along ways to the bottom and even longer back up out of the ravine after being shaken like that.
Alot of our trails up here are quite steep and long and when you throw in small pebbles on hard pack clay can be a real pucker factor as you are trying to make it to the top, even more so after it rains and you need to make it back up the mountain to make it back to your truck.
When do you hear if you were accepted to UAA? I was under it the assumption that is was a just a register college not a acceptance one, maybe because you are a nonresident?
I see you want to hunt and fish while up here. If you don't know already, the hunting liscense for a non resident is 85 dollars and then you have to buy the tags seperatley, moose runs 400 and brown bear goes for 500 and caribou is 375 each. After you have been here a year the liscense runs 25 dollars and the tags are free, of course if you want to hunt brown bear in certain units the price is 20 or 25 dollars, I have not bought a grizzly tag in awhile. I hunt unit 13 and you can get a grizzly every rear. Have fun picking and don't get buffaloed over what you want, everybody thinks their quad is the best. AlaskaBoy.
I do not like single lever brake systems, I like to be able to lock up the front brake only if I fail to make it to the top of a mountain. This way I can feather it while backing down and drag the front wheels. Dual system can be hazadorous if you start to back down a steep hill and you have not enough weight on the front rack as you can lock the brakes up and if the front wheels come up and the rear are locked you will have a good chance of flipping over. I have seen this done on a Quadrunner that had no front brakes and he had a caribou on the back and only his pack and frame on the front rack, it was along ways to the bottom and even longer back up out of the ravine after being shaken like that.
Alot of our trails up here are quite steep and long and when you throw in small pebbles on hard pack clay can be a real pucker factor as you are trying to make it to the top, even more so after it rains and you need to make it back up the mountain to make it back to your truck.
When do you hear if you were accepted to UAA? I was under it the assumption that is was a just a register college not a acceptance one, maybe because you are a nonresident?
I see you want to hunt and fish while up here. If you don't know already, the hunting liscense for a non resident is 85 dollars and then you have to buy the tags seperatley, moose runs 400 and brown bear goes for 500 and caribou is 375 each. After you have been here a year the liscense runs 25 dollars and the tags are free, of course if you want to hunt brown bear in certain units the price is 20 or 25 dollars, I have not bought a grizzly tag in awhile. I hunt unit 13 and you can get a grizzly every rear. Have fun picking and don't get buffaloed over what you want, everybody thinks their quad is the best. AlaskaBoy.
Feb 19, 2004 | 12:40 PM
#24
Pro Rider
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
need advice
Yo RevHigh,
Who died and made you King around here? Now because someone agrees with your point about EBS, the other opinions levied here have no validity and weren't "honest" as you say? I think your original observation and mention about the idiosycrasies of EBS are valid but you carry it a little too far I'm afraid. I fly a lot of different aircraft and every single one has its differences and nuances and if you let the machine get ahead of you it will get you DEAD in a big hurry in certain situations. That's why we learn the systems and train BEFORE we fly off into the wild blue yonder. It's the nature of the machinery that we choose to strap on. Perhaps you should practice that before you strap on a quad next time.
If you go back and really "read" the posts I made about the Polaris, you'll see they were made solely on the purpose of clarifying Goins' comment about not liking the way the Polaris AWD system works and I think I did just that. I think he received an education and clarification because his perception was partially incorrect about the way it works. You didn't see me saying "Buy Polaris, Buy Polaris!" just because I own one. It makes no difference to me if he does or not. My intent was to understand why he didn't include a good machine in the class of bike he was considering....that's it.
I have come to quickly learn in my short time on this forum that sometimes it's not even worth answering a question or participating in many of these threads because of the sophmorish attitudes that quickly infiltrate what could otherwise be a productive and educational thread.
With the warmest regards,
~TD
Who died and made you King around here? Now because someone agrees with your point about EBS, the other opinions levied here have no validity and weren't "honest" as you say? I think your original observation and mention about the idiosycrasies of EBS are valid but you carry it a little too far I'm afraid. I fly a lot of different aircraft and every single one has its differences and nuances and if you let the machine get ahead of you it will get you DEAD in a big hurry in certain situations. That's why we learn the systems and train BEFORE we fly off into the wild blue yonder. It's the nature of the machinery that we choose to strap on. Perhaps you should practice that before you strap on a quad next time.
If you go back and really "read" the posts I made about the Polaris, you'll see they were made solely on the purpose of clarifying Goins' comment about not liking the way the Polaris AWD system works and I think I did just that. I think he received an education and clarification because his perception was partially incorrect about the way it works. You didn't see me saying "Buy Polaris, Buy Polaris!" just because I own one. It makes no difference to me if he does or not. My intent was to understand why he didn't include a good machine in the class of bike he was considering....that's it.
I have come to quickly learn in my short time on this forum that sometimes it's not even worth answering a question or participating in many of these threads because of the sophmorish attitudes that quickly infiltrate what could otherwise be a productive and educational thread.
With the warmest regards,
~TD
Feb 19, 2004 | 01:27 PM
#25
Range Rover
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
need advice
TD
Sorry if I offended you, but here are your comments verbatim:
OK, I'm NOT a Polaris salesman....I don't even play one on TV! You have just REALLY peaked my interest now.....what is it that you don't like about Polaris' AWD system?
Answer: Crappy EBS.
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.
Answer: Not true. Look at the Prairie, and the AC 650, Suzuki, and others ... Polaris is more like AWD than 4WD. Not necessarily better.
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.
Answer: True 4WD??? Not necessarily true ... when the rears slip, the fronts kick in, when the rears regain traction, the fronts disengage. Is this really 'true 4WD'???
All the other manufacturers are only limited slip front ends
Answer: Absolutely false! I'd like to hear what Kawasaki, AC, and Suzuki have to say about this statement.
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!
Answer: You've neglected to mention the whole bunch of machines that have lockers.
I jam my Polaris all over the Pismo Dunes and I don't even have it in AWD.
Answer: So??? I ride my machine in the back yard in snow without it being in 4WD. This statement means zilch.
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!
Answer: I thought you didn't even have it in AWD ?????
Again, what's NOT to like about the AWD system?
Answer: Again, crappy EBS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!
Answer: Who do I write the check to ... it's a good thing you're not promoting Polaris .... and discounting their weakness. I said I liked their machines except for their EBS, you don't have to convince me...
Also, your comments regarding when 'one' who owns a Polaris, 'one' learns how to ride it effectively, sounds like you think you're the only one who can learn to ride a machine with hidden quirks. In effect it means that when you own a Polaris (as you evidently do, albeit one WITHOUT the famed EBS we've been talking about), 'one' must learn how to ride so that they overcome the innate deficiencies of 'said' machine. Have you even experienced what we've been talking about?? Because if you had you wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it by saying stay in the throttle on a steep crosshill situation.
One final note ... airplanes aren't ATV's, and the fact that you fly one or more is irrelevant, AND if ATV's were regulated by the FAA, you can bet that the system we're talking about would be changed pronto.
Also with said warmest regards,
REV
Sorry if I offended you, but here are your comments verbatim:
OK, I'm NOT a Polaris salesman....I don't even play one on TV! You have just REALLY peaked my interest now.....what is it that you don't like about Polaris' AWD system?
Answer: Crappy EBS.
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.
Answer: Not true. Look at the Prairie, and the AC 650, Suzuki, and others ... Polaris is more like AWD than 4WD. Not necessarily better.
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.
Answer: True 4WD??? Not necessarily true ... when the rears slip, the fronts kick in, when the rears regain traction, the fronts disengage. Is this really 'true 4WD'???
All the other manufacturers are only limited slip front ends
Answer: Absolutely false! I'd like to hear what Kawasaki, AC, and Suzuki have to say about this statement.
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!
Answer: You've neglected to mention the whole bunch of machines that have lockers.
I jam my Polaris all over the Pismo Dunes and I don't even have it in AWD.
Answer: So??? I ride my machine in the back yard in snow without it being in 4WD. This statement means zilch.
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!
Answer: I thought you didn't even have it in AWD ?????
Again, what's NOT to like about the AWD system?
Answer: Again, crappy EBS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!
Answer: Who do I write the check to ... it's a good thing you're not promoting Polaris .... and discounting their weakness. I said I liked their machines except for their EBS, you don't have to convince me...
Also, your comments regarding when 'one' who owns a Polaris, 'one' learns how to ride it effectively, sounds like you think you're the only one who can learn to ride a machine with hidden quirks. In effect it means that when you own a Polaris (as you evidently do, albeit one WITHOUT the famed EBS we've been talking about), 'one' must learn how to ride so that they overcome the innate deficiencies of 'said' machine. Have you even experienced what we've been talking about?? Because if you had you wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it by saying stay in the throttle on a steep crosshill situation.
One final note ... airplanes aren't ATV's, and the fact that you fly one or more is irrelevant, AND if ATV's were regulated by the FAA, you can bet that the system we're talking about would be changed pronto.
Also with said warmest regards,
REV
Feb 19, 2004 | 05:08 PM
#27
Pro Rider
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
need advice
Originally posted by: REVHIGH
TD,
One more thing you PITB (kidding), all 'discussions' aside, that's one fine looking machine you have with all those mods. Great looking wheels !!! Do you wash it every 10 minutes??
REV
TD,
One more thing you PITB (kidding), all 'discussions' aside, that's one fine looking machine you have with all those mods. Great looking wheels !!! Do you wash it every 10 minutes??
REV
But seriously....thanks for the compliment! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
Feb 19, 2004 | 05:20 PM
#28
Range Rover
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
need advice
Yeah, my AC isn't IRS, so since it only has an ACT suspension, I pretty much let it sit too. It really saves on repairs and gas that way. It's more fun buying the stuff than using it anyway. How much did those wheels cost, and are they the stock tires??
REV
REV
Feb 19, 2004 | 05:50 PM
#29
Pro Rider
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
need advice
I have the same wheels and looked all over the net for a deal and found that lester atv.com has a deal on them for $280 with lugnuts and center caps and shipping is free! The wheels are c-series. I agree, treedoc you do have a very good looking machine! I am in hope to have some pics of mine up in the near future!
Feb 19, 2004 | 07:42 PM
#30
Pro Rider
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
need advice
Yeah....jeeeez, I wouldn't want to ride that either! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] Maybe we could put my IRS on your AC and we could takes turns riding it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
As for da wheels.....they are the ITP C3's and I bought them off a dealer on ebay. I watched the auctions and saw a set go for $216. I emailed these guys and asked if they would sell me a set for the same price and they said "heck yes!" The lug nuts were an extra $24 and shipping was $24 so If I use my toes to count..... that comes out to $264 delivered to my doorstep. lafngas' deal is the second best that I have seen. If you want the dealers name let me know and I'll PM it to you, they have these things by the pallet load.
Oh sorry....almost forgot! The tires are stock...just the Carlisle AT489's. 25x8x12 front, 25x11x12 rear.
As for da wheels.....they are the ITP C3's and I bought them off a dealer on ebay. I watched the auctions and saw a set go for $216. I emailed these guys and asked if they would sell me a set for the same price and they said "heck yes!" The lug nuts were an extra $24 and shipping was $24 so If I use my toes to count..... that comes out to $264 delivered to my doorstep. lafngas' deal is the second best that I have seen. If you want the dealers name let me know and I'll PM it to you, they have these things by the pallet load.
Oh sorry....almost forgot! The tires are stock...just the Carlisle AT489's. 25x8x12 front, 25x11x12 rear.