Off Roading Some Fun on My Polaris ATV

[EricBu12]

Here are some pics of me on my polaris at Moab and at a local Rec area getting some air on 1 wheel.



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6848&width=2/src img>



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6849&width=2/src img>



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6850&width=2/src img>



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7595&width=2/src img>



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7596&width=2/src img>



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7597&width=2/src img>

 

[Wheezy]

Same Bike

I can't make out the CC's, but if it's a 700, thats what I have got also. Mine is a 2003, and mostly stock. Been looking for a winch, but have not found what I am looking for yet. Good looking bike!



John

 

[Diesel Freak]

Dude, you really need some mud!

 

[EricBu12]

It's the Ho 500 2003 model



<img src=https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6109&width=1/src img>

 

[Diesel Freak]

Dude, it's waaaaay too clean... go find some mud!

 

[EricBu12]

No mud in the high desert, it is either hot and dry or frozen in winter. It does rain but it dries fast... .

 

[Wheezy]

Here is a picture of my 03' 700-

 

[Diesel Freak]

Originally posted by EricBu12

No mud in the high desert, it is either hot and dry or frozen in winter. It does rain but it dries fast... .

that's no fun!

 

[Boomer II]

My nephew has loaned me his 500 HO for a while, and I really like it. How do you guys like your machines? I'm gonna be in the market before too long and I've got a friend that's pushing the 660 Grizzly. All the boards I check out aren't much help, I get Polaris always break down, blah blah blah. The Grizzly vapor locks, blah blah blah. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Wheezy]

Very Happy With Polaris

I am very happy with my Polaris. I bought it July 4th weekend, and I have had ZERO problems with it. I haven't found many bikes that will hang with it on the Trail, and very few Utility quads that will outrun it. My buddies and I usually go riding every weekend, and I have nothing but smiles. I talked my younger brother into a 400 Sportsman (Like it took a whole lot of convincing) and the 2nd time out on the trail, he rolled it. It turned over about 6 times down a pretty steep grade, and then landed on its wheels. We winched it out of the creek, and I got on and it started right up and we drove it out. The handlebars were bent slightly, but other than that, no damage. When I get home tonight, I will upload some pics of both the bikes. Sorry for the long post, but there is a lot of good things to say for the Polaris, especially the Sportsman models.



John

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by Boomer II

My nephew has loaned me his 500 HO for a while, and I really like it. How do you guys like your machines? I'm gonna be in the market before too long and I've got a friend that's pushing the 660 Grizzly. All the boards I check out aren't much help, I get Polaris always break down, blah blah blah. The Grizzly vapor locks, blah blah blah. Any info would be appreciated.

I'm pretty impressed with the Polaris. I've had two in the last two years. Wrecked one and immediately bought a 2002 Sportsman 500 HO. I worked for a friend who has a weed and pest business. Everyone in the business has Polaris's. There are 6. I put on 2500 miles per year spraying noxious weeds on rangeland in Wyoming and killing "range rats". These ATV's get more wear on them in one year than most ranchers or recreational riders would put on a machine in a lifetime.



For spraying, we mount 24 gallons sprayers on the back. These machines get rolled, beat up on rocks and sagebrush and are never serviced during the "season". There's no time as we worked 7 days a week. For the abuse they take, I think they stand up very well. The business owner started out with an extra Honda 400. No one would ride it. He traded for a Rubicon. Same thing. They are so rough riding that no one could put up with them for 10-12 hours per day.



Back on my ranch in Nebraska, I used a Yamaha, Honda (owned for a short period of time) and a 4x4 Yamaha. I never had any mechanical problems with any of them but they were treated much better than this Wyoming deal. No rocks, sage or very rugged terrain.



I've got a friend who just purchased 2 Rincons. They do ride very smoothly, maybe even better than the Polaris. But, IMO, they are suitable for "easy riding" only, not utility work. They have no low range and have a 3 speed automatic (I think). And, they still have drum brakes. I much prefer the disc brakes on the Polaris.



Bob

 

[Boomer II]

Thanks for the info, looks like I might end up buying my nephew's.

 

[Briman]

The sportsman 600 & 700 both weigh about 150lbs more than the Rincon. They are built like a brick S**t house. Very Sturdy looking rigs. That being said I bought the Rincon, lighter and easier to handle. If I were working the rig on a ranch or had hired help on them the Polaris would more than likely stand up to it better than the Rincon. I like the Rincon Trans and Honda engineering though... .....

 

[TImler]

I'm working two deals right now. One on a Honda Rincon, the other a Polaris 600 twin. Both are 2004's. I've read what you guys said and I'm undecided which way to go. I've heard Polaris require more maintenance than Honda, and people have had problems with the belt-drive of the Polaris. Others say that Polaris has come around in the last couple years and the machines are much better. Any input would be great. I think I've decided on the Honda Rancher a/t for my wife cuz it's a smaller machine and she's only 5'1" and 100 pounds. The smaller machine with the lighter weight I figured would be better for her.

Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

[LightmanE300]

The Kawasaki Prairie 650 dominates all polaris sportsmans, including the sportsman 700. They weren't named ATV of the year two years in a row for nothing. They are much more sporty, have way more torque and acceleration and are far more reliable. The new prairie 700, now that thing is just a screamer. IRS is great for old folks who like a cushy ride, but what you gain in softer ride, you lose in stability on off camber trails, and lose the sportyness of a solid rear axle on high speed trail riding. The sportsmans are good for PURE utility, but if you want to have fun with it and work with it, p650 or p700 all the way. I've ridden all of them - sportsman, grizzly, rincon, etc... not even close.



By the way, those ARE some sweet pics!! I agree though, WAY too clean!! =]

 

[Boomer II]

Well, being an old folk I kinda like the IRS.

 

[LightmanE300]

They ARE comfy, I wont take that away from them

 

[EricBu12]

Comfy is right. I am not as young as I think I am and I am getting to the point where I make noises when I get up from a chair LOL



In the pictures I show, I do the type of Off-roading Like the rock crawlers and easy trail riding. I wanted good articulation mostly, I like the on demand 4WD switch and the ability to start the ATV in gear. I don't do the "Blaster" riding like those on the dunes getting air and stuff and others on trails think they have to go 50 MPH over every road.

I have crawled up steep hills and ridden some rough rock strewn trails and so far this ATV is a easy rider and very stable and if you can hold on, it can go. .



the already installed winch and the upgraded tires and rims for no more extra was a big selling point to me because it is valued at over $1600 total installed.



This thing is able to rev up to 50 MPH in high and that is fast enough for me. I plan on next year to go on an excursion with tent, food, etc on the Piute trail in Utah. 2 or 3 days... . away from everyone... . sounds like fun.....

 

[plongson]

I have a 2003 Rincon and made a HUGE transition. I have been riding dirt bikes all my life (I'm almost 50) and rode CR500's since 1985. I got to the point I wanted a change. I wanted to go farther, 100 mile loops are the norm here in Nevada and the two stroke 500's are fuel hungry. I wanted to take my dog (Jack, a Jack Russell terrier that LOVES to ride) and I wanted to take groceries etc. for those long rides. I have several friends that ride Rincons, Polaris, etc. and I went with the Rincon, and have been VERY happy. I had the same issues that some of you have in my decision making... . Disk vs. drum... I really prefer disk but they work very well, after all, my '99 CTD still has drums . The size and weight... It is big and heavy, but it is fast and handles just fine. No low range... This is the biggest issue and the most unusual... It is a known fact that torque converters multiply engine torque. Rock crawlers and anything that goes real slow have TC's, plus they are real easy to control. The true torque converter transmission in the Rincon really kicks a**. I highly recommend it! The ride and comfort are superb. I also installed a Ramsey 2500 wireless winch that is awesome. Don't let Warn advertising steer you away. The wireless feature is flawless.



Paul...

 

[emarsh]

Just bought the new yamaha rhino 660 2 seat side x side atv, i am amazed at what it can do and where it can go with comfort for 2, or 3, including the dog! I got serial # 198, they have only been out about three weeks. They are so new no body knows about them yet! go to yamaha's web site for more info, and click on industry news for 2 tests, the populr mechanics review was the most complete. Just may put my 77 bronco up for sale now!