[Burnsome]

Love my 2001 Polaris Sportsman 400. Use it around the farm and take it hunting with me. It gets me here and there and is a lot of fun.

anybody else like Polaris........???????

Just thought I'd kick off a new subject on the forum here to see what developes...

 

[Old Syko]

Well Burnsome, surely someone else out there likes Polaris as I see a bunch of um. I ride with a bunch of young pups (under 40) and a couple or three of um ride Polaris. The 400s and the 500s seem to do well but the 700s seem to spend a little too much shop time.

I've been a Kawasaki fan for years so I ride a Prairie 650. Once you've used that V-twin power nothing else seems right. I use mine to stretch fence and just in general haul junk around home a lot but am still known as that crazy old fat guy that out runs the kids on the trails just for fun.

 

[bad shooter]

I also have a couple Polarises mine is a 500 scrambler we also have a 400 explorer (2 stroke utility). Both are great trail machines with big 4x4 POWER!

 

[markc]

Good to hear it.

Guys it is good to read something positive about Polaris from folks who ride them. Seems that I usually read only negative things. For me it is no longer a regular ATV but a Kawasaki Mule. If the day comes when I can afford another 4X4 ATV to go along with the Mule, it will likely be an Artic Cat. markc

 

[turfman]

Have any of you checked out the new rangers.

I'm kinda lucky; I work on a golf course so I get to buy/try some pretty good iron. Used 3whlrs,4whlrs, gators, mules, cushmans, workmans, pugh's, etc..

This past october I bought a new Ranger. There ain't nothing that can compare.
Well at least in my opinion.

Turfman.

 

[markc]

Yes I have..

When I first saw the Ranger, I had not bought my Mule yet. I instantly loved them until I checked into the price and a few other features. Now I like the new one that is a 4X4, but not enough to switch from the Kawasaki Mule. THere is a great article comparing the Ranger, Mule and a UV made by Toro on www.atving.com
Which Ranger did you buy?
markc

 

[Butler]

I bought a new 400 explorer last year..Awesome machine , good power, light weight and gets around like no others in northern alberta..On the flip side I also have a 335 sportsman and it is the worst piece of crap quad i have ever owned.No power lots of breakdowns ie:starting ,suspension breaking,clutch and belt.But out of all the polarises I have had one bad one will not sour me on them..I just love pushing the hondas out of the swamp holes..

 

[markc]

I wonder

if there is a web site or a consumer report kind of place to check on owner satisfaction, or real reliability of all the major brands of 4 wheelers. I guess Consumer Reports may actually have written up a few articles or evaluations on ATV's over the years. I don't know since I don't subscribe to it.
markc

 

[volshooter]

Polaris

We just bought (2) 2003 Polaris 400 Sportsman's today. These are our first ATVs. They will deliver them Wed. Dad and I figured we need them now since we now have almost 1000 acres of lease land in west TN. Will post after we give them a try. We bought Polaris because of rep.
Rick

 

[I am CAL.........]

Atv

Volshooter,I know you and your dad will enjoy your new ATVs.It really don't matter what kind it is as long as it is new.All new brooms sweep clean.It is when they get to be 10 yrs. old when you find how well they were made.Round here in my part of the jungle it has to be a Honda.They seem to have the best reputation for quality.Seems to me the length of the troublefree run is directly related to the care it receives.My 300 Honda is 10 yrs. young and has never had a wrench on it.Me personally,I keep it out of water and mud and I don't have any trouble.Not written in stone,just my way of doing things.Good luck and safe riding to you and your dad,I am CAL......

 

[markc]

Cal???

Now how do you manage to keep your 10 year old Honda out of mud and water? & Why? Thats the fun part, and what makes them so valuable, they have a go anywhere attitude and ability.

Now if you baby em' they will all last a lifetime. My poor Mule is worked pretty hard, mud, water deeper than recommended, rocks, overloaded weight in the bed etc.. Not intentional abuse, but if I felt I had to go easy on it, I wouldn't have spent the 5 grand for one. markc

 

[I am CAL.........]

10yr.old honda

How do I keep my 10yr.old Honda out of the mud? I just don't put it in any mud that is really bad and no water over 3 to 4 inches deep.I asure you it is not babied.I'm out riding mine while these mud and water boys round here are working on theirs.I didn't buy mine to abuse it,I bought it to use.My mule gets the same treatment and I didn't pay 7 grand to abuse it either. My ideas of care and abuse are not for everyone,just me! A lifetime of rowcrop farming taught me the life of a machine is directly related to the service and care given it.Good riding to you,I am CAL.......

 

[I am CAL.........]

Polaris

Hello Burnsome, I am sure you and your Dad will enjoy your purchase.I am famalier with your problem as I was forced to retire at 49 from a heart attack.That was 10yrs.ago,I had openheart surgery 2years ago. Like you I am having to go slow and thats against my nature too.If you take care of yourself you can live a long time even with your problem.I have so much damage till I can't do any thing requiring manual labor.But you take care of yourself and I hope you enjoy your new purchase and they serve you and your farther well.I am CAL.....

 

[markc]

I got ya Cal,

Your first post said you keep it out of water and mud, and the next one said no really bad mud or water over 3 to 4 inches deep. i figured it had to get in some mud and water. nearly impossible to ride one outdoors and not encounter any mud or water. I keep mine serviced according to the OM and give it a good bath after it gets filthy. I see some ATV's that appear to ahve never seena water hose and soap. They are treated so porrly that about 2 to 3 years and they are ruined. My first ATV lasted from 1986 to 2000 when I traded it away for a new rifle. The new ones are much better made and sealed against water and dirt getting in where it can do harm. They can handle alot and keep on going. Have fun. Did you egt a Mule cab yet? I had GB post a few picks of my cab on my Mule 550 and the rear seats for the kids.
markc

 

[I am CAL.........]

ATV

Hey Mark,Ya right about the new ATVs.They are really nice and have a lots of improvements too.I really like the new ones with the walk thru platform(I guess that is what ya call it). Nope,I haven't gotten a cab as yet.They really make about everything a person would want for the mule.They are real proud of everything too.I saw ya pictures and enjoyed them also.I have got to do something about no cab as it is cold down here.I also need those seats for tha grandbabies too!Good riding to ya and take care of yourself,I am CAL....

 

[volshooter]

New Polaris ATV's delivered this morning. They are cold natured for sure(right out of the crate)...but...dang...wow, why did I wait all these years??? Put mine through the worst mud bog/hill I could find, the 400 auto trans and on demand 4WD went where I could not walk. (we just got our 4WD Ford Ranger pulled out by tractor last week, it's a bad area of wash in topsoil at a pond head....call it swamp) I have all ready put mine through worse than any hunting conditions I will ever encounter on our hunting lease. Unless I kill a deer that excedes the 1225 lbs pulling weight that this Sportsman's rated at...not likley. It may not be an Artic Cat but, they guys think they are Caddy- laks compaired to theirs. Apparenty around here, Polaris is considered a permium name brand. (around here Stroh's and Blatz beer are the cheapest while I've been in Ohio where Blatz was their premium, I think it's a regional thing) East TN is sure not Alaska...but it was 54 degrees here today.

 

[markc]

Sounds great!

Sounds like you will have a great time with your news 400's. It is amazing what a 4X4 atv can do, and where they can go. Just keep up with the scheduled maintanence and you should do fine with em. Post some pic's some time if you can.
markc

 

[INresponse]

I have a 2001 Polaris 325 Magnum. It is awesome. It climbs rocks and hills better then anything I've tried before, goes through water and mud without a problem, and has a very stable and comfortable ride. Down falls? It is a little slower then comparable manual shift models at top end, and uses a bit more fuel then the others. But, the way I see it, taking your time on the trail back in to conserve fuel beats the heck out of being stuck on a steep slope or in the mud. Besides, if I wanted to race, I would have bought a race machine, not an all purpose ride.

Support America, buy American!

 

[markc]

Hello

Welcome to the boards, especially to a fellow LEO. I agree with the last part of your post about purchasing an all purpose ride rather than a race machine. I think sometimes folks buy a quad and expect to do things it wasn't designed for. Anytime you drastically increase speed or acceleration, you are gonna be sacrificing something else in order to get that speed. For me, utility abilities far outweigh the need for a speedy quad. Happy riding to ya.
markc

 

[volshooter]

I thought I was just getting old cause I've had my 2003, 400 Sportsman up to 19 mph and it was fast enough! I bought it to transport me and my stuff up long winding logging roads and through fairly heavy woods. I cannot imagine needing to go any faster for my needs. As long as it will tote me, my TREE LOUNGE, my weapon , gear, and the extras I like to have close (like rain gear, extra clothes, you know I have to take enough for 2 cause I was a boy scout back in 72) then we will be fine.
Rick