Polaris and Artic Cat ATV's?

[TowPro]

How do you guys feel about Polaris ATV's?



I am going to check them out, but from what I read its a love/hate relationship with them, riders either love them (those that own them) or hate them (those that never rode them?)



I am going to check out one they call the APV I think its called. Its an ATV but it has a dump bed instead of a rear rack.



I hear complaints about what I think I understand is one brake lever that works both front and rear brakes? And something about engine braking or something?



I really like the new Honda Rancher 4x4 ES, water cooled with fuel injection, around 420cc. , but I owe it to myself to stop by this local dealer and see his polaris and Artic Cat ATV's. I only use them for towing firewood, yard work and snow plowing around 2000' of stone driveways. Since I sold my dirt bike, I can bet I will take it into the State Forrest a couple times, but that is not my main purpose of buying it. I am looking for 400-500cc (my current one is 230cc ) This dealer has some that are brand new from 2005, 2006 and 2007, should be some good deals (I think he said he has 1200 in stock?)



My Neighbor has an Artic cat 500 with Independent rear suspension, but again, like me he uses it as a tractor. he had an electrical problem but it might have been caused by his kid crashing it

 

[DWeiler]

2 Arctic Cats 500's(03)here,one for me and the Mrs. Mine has a jet kit installed + KN filter,i like this year because its the last year with manual shift high/low range as well as manual shift 2/4WD(not a big fan of electronic stuff here---thats just me). Down side---no front locker but i"v learned to live without and over compensated with ITP MUDLIGHT tires. Runs great and gets me pretty well everywhere i need to go out riding/hunting. My 2 centsDW

 

[BigPapa]

I think you're referring to the Polaris ATP. It was offered in a 330 and a 500. They didn't sell very well and aren't currently offered. 2005 was the last year for them. The best feature they had was for yard work, they had a "turf" mode which unlocked the rear differential so the rear wheels didn't tear up the grass.



As far as Polaris goes, as you said, it's either love or hate. Polaris got a bad rep from their 2-strokes that were chain drive (3 chains and 6 sprockets on some models!). They required a lot of maintenance that they hardly ever got.



The new four strokes are a good unit for what they are and if they are maintained properly will give you years of good service. A lot of people who bad mouth them have never PROPERLY maintained them and when something fails, of course it's not their fault, but the piece of junk Polaris.



Scott

 

[TSpecht]

I have a 2003 Polaris Sportsman 700 (~683cc actual displacement) with a carbuerator. I haven't had to do much to it in terms of maintenance or repairs. One repair I did have was replace the O-ring on the water pump cover. This took all of about 15 minutes, with a $15 part. I don't have all that many miles on it as yet, but now that I've got some property that's all changin'... Been using it for plowing snow in the driveway/side yard this winter, I'd get a plow wider than 48" for that purpose, unless you're dealing with a couple feet of frozen icy hard as a rock type snow.

Remember if you want to tow anything with a belt drive machine, make sure to use low range on the transmission to help save the belt/clutch assembly. High is designed for fast operating without too much extra load on it. I have used this atv to shuttle my 20' 1979 vintage boat (probably about 4000lbs including trailer) around the yard, and it's done alright if you go slow, and keep weight shifted forward (the front end tries to rise a lot). This is not safe, and I know it, but there is an area or two where the CTD is too big to effectively fit, somewhat near where the boat needs to go, and the quad is the only option I've got...

 

[Froadin]

We have the 6x6 Ranger on the ranch. Can't ask for a better ranch setup!
It has the bench seat, not the normal ATV seat though.
Engine braking in 2wd low range will cause the rear tires to hop, skip, slide around if your not careful! But this really isn't that big of a deal. Just be aware it can happen.

Polaris makes HEAVY ATVs! And I think a lot of people do not like this part of them. But for working them, this is nothing but good for you. They tow great, plow great, and haul well.

The Ranger we have is the older 500 carb'd one, which does well, but if it was done over, would be the newer 800 EFI version.
Don't get me wrong, it has done everything we have asked of it, but it just feels like it needs a little more oompfh.

Stock tires are not really that good. Get some with REAL traction from the start and you will be impressed. All the ones rated to haul weight come with the Carlisle ones that don't have that much tread/traction, and require you to let the air out of the tires for decent traction.

I hope to be getting a Sportsman 500 with EFI sometime this year. Use it for working, hauling, and some off road playing as well.

 

[mgoncalves]

I have an 04 sportsman 400. It's a good machine, but I think I will try a different brand on the next one. No problems with this machine, just doesn't feel right.

 

[TowPro]

I told the guy I will be back to buy it next week. Its a brand new (left over) 2005 ATP 500cc HO. That is the one with the small dump bed in place of the rear rack. Great price, the fact its a left over gets me into a much better ATV then I could afford in the current model year. I also like the idea it has a rear def that can be unlocked, Terf mode they call it. It will help stop the damage to the lawn I currently cause with the locked rear def.

 

[BigPapa]

The Ranger we have is the older 500 carb'd one, which does well, but if it was done over, would be the newer 800 EFI version.

Froadin,



I would suggest that you try to find a dealer that will give you a good demo ride or find someone who has the XP. (It is 700cc by the way. ) The XP has too much power to work well. The throttle is too touchy for real work. Kind of like trying to pull a travel trailer with a hot rod pulling truck, it will work but not very well. Try to ride one before you buy. The 500 is hard to beat.



Scott

 

[Skydiver]

Polaris??
The time I was helping out at a marine/atv/waterbike shop the atv's sold there were Polaris. They road really comfortable and took corners better than others. The polaris require more maintenance than Hondas or Yamahas.
That dealer no longer sells Polaris. I do remember the shop had to stay busy to keep up.
At our ATV club we have around 20 members and NO Polaris'.
I have an 05 Honda Rincon that has a very smooth ride.

When you get close to 50 y/o the word comfortable has greater meaning.

I would like to know about a Kubota or Kawasaki Diesel utility vehicle.

 

[HOBrian]

I have an 01 Polaris Sportsman 500 HO and love it, I have never had a problem with it!!!

 

[TowPro]

I can't find anything about how long the warrantee is on a Polaris ATV.

 

[BigPapa]

6 months standard, just like all the rest.



Scott

 

[DWeiler]

My Artic Cat was 3 year unlimited mileage

 

[Froadin]

BigPapa, good info. I hadn't taken the bigger one for a drive, but then again, we got the Ranger well before the EFI came out. I guess on that note the 500 EFI would be plenty enough then. I wish we at least had the EFI on this one, but oh well, it will last a long time to come.

Only problem we had was some issue with the fuel pump. This was brand new. Covered of course under warrantee. After that, just normal maintenance and it works/runs well. And it gets used EVERY DAY.

One thing about the original post, he mentioned plowing, towing, WORKING IT. I think this is the one place that a Polaris Sportsman truly shines over the others.
The Japanese bikes have always been lighter, which usually means easier to ride with less strain. But the weight of the polaris only helps for working it.

 

[TowPro]

One thing about the original post, he mentioned plowing, towing, WORKING IT. I think this is the one place that a Polaris Sportsman truly shines over the others.

The Japanese bikes have always been lighter, which usually means easier to ride with less strain. But the weight of the polaris only helps for working it.

I have worked the numbers every way I can think of. I will have my current rig down his shop tuesday to make the deal. I really want to go with a new Glacier plow and a Warn 2500 winch to raise it . I been snow plowing with a manual lift Cycle contry plow. I could move it to the Polaris but it's only 48". When It's angled the Polaris will be 3/4" wider on each side then the plow, I think he told me to put a 60" on the polaris.



my current ATV has a reverse lever down on top of the engine, then the manual lift plow, and I have a couple cracked LS ribs right now, and it seems to snow every 4 or 5 days! Man these ribs ain't never going to heal! that electric lift would be nice. I have heard that some times using a winch for a snowplow lift will drain the battery faster then the Quad can charge it. I could always put a battery tender on the quad when not in use, that would help some.



I can't let the current rig go until the end of March unless the new one comes ready to snow plow. We are leaving March 31 for Disney world with the 5er, I hope I don't need the snow plow to get out, but as soon as I trade in the snow plow and don't have a replacement its like inviting a snow storm

 

[TowPro]

We have the 6x6 Ranger on the ranch. Can't ask for a better ranch setup!

It has the bench seat, not the normal ATV seat though.

Engine braking in 2wd low range will cause the rear tires to hop, skip, slide around if your not careful! But this really isn't that big of a deal. Just be aware it can happen.

I guess this could be cured by giving the engine some gas, kind of like driving a CTD with an exhaust brake



My buddy has an old 6x6 polaris 2 stroke, Its old as the hills and has very little work done on it, bald tires, etc. and just keeps on ticking (well sort of like a cylinder knock instead of a tick). If that's what the bad polaris is like I think I will be happy with this new one :-laf

 

[Froadin]

The engine braking doesn't negatively affect the ranger with 6 wheels, even in 4x6 mode and low range.

The issue with engine braking is on the normal 4 wheel atvs.

And it just takes a little getting used to. After that, no big deal. First time can raise your eyebrows fast though,



I don't know about the 2005 model year, but I know the newer models have a real easy setup for winch control on the handle bars. SUPER EASY!

That and the newer stuff for Polaris is all EASY on and off. It's so modular now that almost everything optional can go on/off in a mater of seconds/minutes.



As for charging the battery, I haven't used the winch on ours enough to know the difference. Always worked great without issues. But never used it as much as a plow would.

A GOOD battery tender would be the best solution no matter what. Just good insurance either way really.

 

[SMorneau]

I have two Polaris 400 two strokes 4x4s and they are so much more fun to ride than any of the new machines I have ridden. You can spin them on a dime and they don't weigh so much I can't move them around. The chains are fine if you don't spend all day wallowing in the mud. They are also a lot easier and cheaper to replace than some of the components on the newer models. My neighbor has two just like mine and when his riding buddies break down he loans them one. They are usaully amazed at how snappy and fun to ride those old POS Polaris machines are.



The newer bigger machines are probably a better choice if you are going to use it to pull trailers and do yard work; I have a truck an lawn tractors for that crap. But for flat out fun you can't beat a two those old two strokes.