I would just like say that the front wheels DO stay engaged until the rear wheels make a few (2 or 3) feet of forward nonslipping movement. The system engages quickly, but the weights take a few feet of non slipping rear wheels for the weights to fall in an disengaged state. I personally never found this to be a problem when rock riding, but we all learn how to ride each machines strengths and weakness to the best results.

 

Quotes originally posted by: RhinoOffRoad

I read the link, and I already know how the system works. Thank you. (No mention of 20%, but we'll get to that later)


Oh you SO need to read a Polaris manual. I said it spins 20% FASTER. That is not 20% MORE. There is a difference. Do you really think that the rear tires make a 1/5 of a rotation before the fronts even engage? Maybe you didn't pay attention in reading comprehension class. Elementary? Exactly, some of this IS elemantary. 20% faster IS NOT 20% more.


Please take a reading comprehension course. I'm not making this up, but you really do need to watch one in action. Maybe you'll understand the concept then.


You're just digging yourself in a hole. You should find someone with a Sportsman and have them demonstrate on snow or ice the way it works. Some people just don't get it until they see it in action. My buddy with the Grizzly thought the same way until last winter. Now he understands. And his comment was, "you can't even tell, it's instantaneous." And I told him, "Exactly Doug, that's what I've been trying to tell you." Seeing really is believing.


Are you just upset because my buddy has a Grizzly, and I said my Sportsman can go more places than his? My comment was in no way meant as a put down to Grizzlies. I was just recalling some trips we went on where he would get stuck and I wouldn't, in the same spots. That's all. Whether it was machine or rider (he has been riding much longer than me BTW), a fact is a fact.

 

The guy that made this post was looking for some useful info about the Sportsman to see if it fits his needs. As usual an argument has occurred. Rather than confuse this gentlemen any further about how the AWD system works would you guys please just agree to disagree ?? I have ridden both the Sportsman and the Grizzly and there are good things and bad things about both. I own a Grizzly, But I wouldn't hesitate to own a Sportsman. I have no clue how Polaris's AWD works, But I gotta believe it works pretty well since if I am not mistaken Polaris s the number one selling utility ATV. I also would think that someone who owns one would be able to determine how well it works regardless of what the manual says. The owners manual is more of a guideline of how it is supposed to work ans as with anything else in the real world it may not perform exactly how the manual says. This 20% and 1/5 rotation stuff is all guidlines and I will bet that it will vary slightly everytime it is engauged. My Grizzlies locking diff is great, But perfect it is not. It is not an instantanious engaugement and unless you are in a straight line it is harder than hell to turn at all with it locked. I haven't climbed any rocks so I don't know how it handles with it locked then. I also know that I wasn't all that impressed with my Grizz in the mud, But I think that is because the stock tires are next to worthless. It seems like every post on here where someone is just trying to get info about different ATV's turns into a my brand is better than yours and I know more than you arguement. Every machine is going to perform differently and will vary from rider to rider so the only way to determine which one really is the best for you and what you do is to have a chance to try them all in the conditions you ride, Unfortunately for most of us that is not possible. These forums are for helping people and making friends not bickering and arguing over who is right and wo is wrong. Just my two cents, But I just think it is stupid to argue over something so stupid.

 

I agree, arguing over the internet is like running the special Olympics, even if you win your still retarded.

 

I was the first to respond to KEGRACING with a positive comment on how I thought it works. It's other people that DON'T know that respond with negative comments. I just want KEGRACING to get CORRECT information. Not someones theory on why it wouldn't work when they don't even have a clue.

KEGRACING,

The Sportsman will do everything you need to do: Go on hardpack, mud, rocks, logs, snow, whatever. Take the info from people who actually have them. They truly are a great machine.

 

I think that statement is "Racing a Honda is like running the special Olympics, even if you win your still retarded"
Honda cars for drag racing, that is.

But you're right. Arguing is stupid, but I just wanted KEGRACING to get correct info.

I'm done.

 

Just my 2 cents worth.

I ride with a lot of Polaris's, and have ridden a few too. I think their 4-wd is hard to beat. I have never been able to feel when it engages, and when it does you have 4-wd. The newer ones stear very nicely. I think Polaris has made some very big leaps forward in their dependability and in the lowering of their maint. (do the new sp500 have gas gauges yet?)

With all the Polaris's I ride with, the two things I have noticed that I don't care for is; I have seen way too many times when the 4-wd will not engage due to one problem or another. I have seen this with brand new ones, 8 miles on the odometer, and it is worse the older they get. The second thing I have have noticed is how bad they slide down steep hill with the back tires locked up. I don't care for that at all.

Back to the original question, from what I have seen they are great for climbing over fallen trees and climbing huge boulders. The Sportsmans are very agressive ATV's, whether you like them or not.

 

You guys can can argue all you want but I no exactly when my four wheel drive is on or off and when my front diff is locked or unlocked. And on my last ride out in Savoy state forest down the Florida trail I made it through every mud hole on the trail and my two buddies Polaris EFIs did nothing but give my winch a workout.


Rich.

 

No one here is probably talented enough to tell the difference from one machine to the next. Some people like different things.


I preferr my Blaster for rock crawling, go figure /shrug The Grizz is just too damm top heavy and same with my Dad's Polaris. I for one don't like flopping over on a big quad

 

NO, the tires do not make a 1/5th rotation before the fronts lock in. Some people on here just don't know how to comprehend reading. sp600towtruck is RIGHT roadrhino is WRONG! Think about it... a 25 inch tire is over 75 inches around, 1/5 th rotation would be more than 13 inches of slippage to engage the front tires. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. Rhino quit talking your uneducated on this topic. The rear wheels on a sportsman move about 1/2 " before you are in TRUE 4WD. To the person that started this post go to a polaris dealer and see for yourself that the polaris works great. As far as brand loyalty, I'm a diehard yamaha fan (except the warrior, big yamaha embarassment, or the utilities, the grizz).