My buddy is thinking of buying a quad and some salesman talked him into a polaris. I never heard of them are they any good?

Charlo

Depends, seems they are more of a utility quad company. If that's what your buddy wants, and wants an inexpensive quad, go with Polaris. Polaris also has that new Predator, thing looks shweet, not sure how it'd hold up against the new Suzuki 400. Polaris is generally a beginners quad, like the Trail Master (Think that's the name :confused: ) It's a 250 automatic, my sister wanted it.. They're good bikes, some people will bash them, I'm sure, every brand has been bashed before, it can't be avoided.

have fun with it.

i never rode one, but the folks i talk to that have them are hapy with them. the hot rod ones(don't know the model) are comparable with raptors.

most the guys i see riding them have smiles on their faces but then again, i had a smile on my face while riding an xr75 with a bald tire in the sand.

The trail blazer 250 is a good quad it tops out about 50mph

pretty powerful for a 250


but what are you using it for

i ride a modified 1997 polaris scrambler 2 stroke 400 4x4 and it is a fast and fum bike and definitly not a begeners bike

i have also ridden a 1996 polaris sportsman 4 stroke 425 4x4 and it did very good in the mouaintains but was a bit heavy in the sand

my friends wife rides a 1999 polaris scrambler 4 stroke 500 4x4 and it is a bit slower and is a good quad

also the new polaris preditor screams

I tried talking him into a big displacement quad but he wasnt going for it. I got to ride a raptor free for 2 hours and it was real quick but friend wont spend that much. This will be jis first ATV and it will see mostly sand and mild rocky trails. Hes looking at the trail boss330 4stroke.

Charlo

the 330 4 stroke is going to be under powered in the sand

Polaris rule :D

The predators are pretty quick for the sand. But do they have reverse? Theres nothing like having to get off your bike to pull the ass end around. Also I believe that 500 is a brand new motor for this year. That also means there might be bugs on it that havent been worked out yet.

Of course, I'm sure most people out there are so good they don't need reverse, but face it, he will use it if he has it.

The Z-400 handles awesome and has good acceleration, cant keep up with a raptor, but put a yoshimura pipe on er and it hauls. They are fun stock also.

The honda 400ex is an all around piece of crap. No reverse, no power. Honda makes excellent motors but this is a flop. Expect to spend some money to make this rip.

The raptor. The name explains it all. It hauls ass stock. Put a yoshimura pipe on it and hold on. Doesnt handle as good as a z-400 but it does haul ass.

The banshee. The one I rode had a stator plate and pipes on it. I wasnt real impressed but it moved along. best part is you can hop it up for cheap the worst part, no reverse and that whole mixing gas thing.

I'm sure others have different views then I do, but this is just the views I have for the bikes I have ridden. Hope it helps any.

Ed

Originally posted by Spider
The predators are pretty quick for the sand. But do they have reverse? Theres nothing like having to get off your bike to pull the ass end around. Also I believe that 500 is a brand new motor for this year. That also means there might be bugs on it that havent been worked out yet.Ed

It is heavy, I didn't like to looks of the chassis, but the power will make up for that. It comes with good shocks, tires, and axle.


Of course, I'm sure most people out there are so good they don't need reverse, but face it, he will use it if he has it.Ed

The Z-400 handles awesome and has good acceleration, cant keep up with a raptor, but put a yoshimura pipe on er and it hauls. They are fun stock also.Ed


The Z has a weak frame! The motor was a let down. The chasis likes a lot of body english to make it handle good.


The honda 400ex is an all around piece of crap. No reverse, no power. Honda makes excellent motors but this is a flop. Expect to spend some money to make this rip.Ed

A total flop? How many people race the Honda's? Who's chasis gets used as the standard for handling? If you know anything, you buy a cheap used Honda 400, and put aftermarket shocks on it, and do a little motor work, and you have all the quad you will ever need in every condition except for the desert and sand. I have a wopping $150 into my motor, and I will keep up with any quad out on the trail. The reverse is nice, but nine time out of ten, the reverse is useless, and you still have to get off, and use labor.


The raptor. The name explains it all. It hauls ass stock. Put a yoshimura pipe on it and hold on. Doesnt handle as good as a z-400 but it does haul ass.Ed

The Raptor does have a good motor, it just need the intake and exaust opened up to wake up. As far as the handling, the rear axle is way to narrow, and the hight is way too high.


The banshee. The one I rode had a stator plate and pipes on it. I wasnt real impressed but it moved along. best part is you can hop it up for cheap the worst part, no reverse and that whole mixing gas thing.

I'm sure others have different views then I do, but this is just the views I have for the bikes I have ridden. Hope it helps any.

Ed

The Z has a weak frame! The motor was a let down. The chasis likes a lot of body english to make it handle good.



Hmm, I don't know about the frame or not. I dont think I had to give it anymore english then I normally do to get it to handle good. I also thought the power was more then adequate to haul my 245 pound butt around. of course I'm in oregon so we don't have the mile high dunes either.



A total flop? How many people race the Honda's? Who's chasis gets used as the standard for handling? If you know anything, you buy a cheap used Honda 400, and put aftermarket shocks on it, and do a little motor work, and you have all the quad you will ever need in every condition except for the desert and sand. I have a wopping $150 into my motor, and I will keep up with any quad out on the trail. The reverse is nice, but nine time out of ten, the reverse is useless, and you still have to get off, and use labor.



I presonally don't know anyone who races hondas. I don't know anyone that would buy one either, a 400ex anyways. I would own one of them old 250r's. What I said above came out wrong. I only think the 400ex is a pile of crap power wise, but definently does handle great.

I guess the main difference is you ride the trails with yours and we (my friends and I) ride the sand with our quads. I personally ride my YZ400F in the dirt/sand and have no problems with power, the handling is a little to be desired for! :)

I havent ever ridin' a polaris but like I said the only problem I would have is with the brand new motor. Not everything is perfect the first time out.

your question was what people thought about the polaris.
to answer your question. you said he would ride in the sand
but doesnt have much money to spend then he probably
shouldnt be at a dealership. I have owned almost everything
on the market and everyone makes something good. I still
have a fourtrax 250r that i love and just bought the new
polaris sportsman 700 twin 4x4 its huge and heavy but has
tons of power we went to coos bay sand dunes last weekend
and took the tank it has very impressive suspension but still
needs more power for the bigger hills.

I have a bone stock 99 polaris trail blazer and I am more than happy with it. in a drag race with all my friends they all smoke me....well except the honda 200 4 stroke with the auto clutch. but on the trails they can't lose me. I was with a polaris 500 4x4, 2 warriors(one slightly built) 2 400EX a 300EX and 2 blasters....and on the trails ridding as hard and fast as we could they were unable to shake me off their tails. the built warrior turned around and noticed i was 15 feet from him and he was riding hard so he tried as hard as he could and didn't shake me. I think it is because mine is heavy and longer and i'm on thr ground putting the power down more instead of bouncing. we even went through some deep water and I was the only 2wd to make it though in both places without help. we rode a creek and I pulled up next to a 400EX and helped him get unstuck then hopped back on mine and passed him.

so what i'm waying is i'm very happy with my little 250 trailblazer....and my kids love me giving them rides around the neighborhood also. also my friends with polarises are very hapy with them also.

If this is his first bike the 330 Trail Boss will be a good bike for him for about the first 6 months. I own one of the 325's (its a 2002 model) and it is a great all around bike. The Predator is all of 16 Lbs heavier than the Raptor. I have had my Predator 2 months and love it. If I line up with stock Raptors I either beat them or am neck and neck. I will eat 400 EX's all day long. I have a buddy that has a 400 EX with a Curtis Sparks motor and beat him more than he has beat me. This bike handles awsome, jumps good and is pretty damn quick for a stock bike. My wife rides a stock 500 Scrambler and that is also a very fun bike. In my opinion Polaris is a great bike and it keeps Americans working (it is an American bike if you didnt know, made in Mn.).

I love my predator and wouldn't want a raptor, ex400 or kfx400 in exchange. This thing puts a smile on my face everytime I ride it.

Wes

so how does that big bike feel is it enough power for the weight and have you rode it in the sand yet. I am curious because I would like another big 4 stroke.

My Uncle has a pair of Sportman 500's that I have spent a few dozen hours on (200 miles in 2 days in one outing). They are pretty nice. They are comfortable to ride but they do feel heavy. Compared to my brothers Prarie 650's the Polaris feels like a dinosaur. The one thing that really bothered me about his particular Polaris's is the fact that the front hubs/spindles stick out farther than the lip of the wheel. As a result when we are crawling on rocky trails with them you smack the hubs a lot. We have had to replace the little hub covers on two ocassions.

They have been reliable and with the IFS/IRS the ride is really nice as is the ground clearance (a bit more of each than the Prarie). They are too underpowered to really jump them nicely.


Hope this helps.

The sand is where my Predator really shines. I havent been able to get out on a dirt track yet, just messing around out in the country but I bet it is just at home on the track. I love the thing definately a good choice for the dunes.

At least you don't need to spend hundreds of $$ for a locker on a polaris. IMHO buy a 500 HO:D

The Prairie 650 is the finest 4X4 ATV out there. It is the only V twin powered ATV on the market. It will do well over 60MPH in the sand and crawl over anything in its way. I know alot of ranchers with Polaris ATV's and they spend most of the time in the shop. If your friend wants a smaller bike, have him check out the Prairie 360. All the same features as the 650, but a smaller air cooled engine.

Originally posted by lowrider
The Prairie 650 is the finest 4X4 ATV out there. It is the only V twin powered ATV on the market.


And what would you call a Polaris 600 or 700??? They are both twin cyls.:rolleyes:

I will field any questions about the predator, just ask...

But here is my opinion..

it rocks... I have had 2 banshee's, warrior, 230 q-sport and have riden alot of machines...

my op is the predator is why i am selling my taco rock truck.

I liked the 400z, it rode nice, good power, but it has factory feeling suspenetion, too narrow, and well its twin the kawasaki has the better color. also the swing arm is at a bad angle, zuki always has a problem with that, the rear will lock downward if ridden hard.

400ex is still a great quad, but it lacks HP unless you toss money at it. sus is similar to z quads

raptor, feels like a motor cycle on 4 wheels, the seat has minimal padding, and well the motor is the best thing about it. other then the body styling which also rocks. also needs to be wider.

Predator:
-1/2 thick super plastic swing arm guard. it holds up better then my dg alum cover, seams to slide over stuff better too.
-more hp then the raptor,
-higher top speed then raptor
-suspension feelins like a 250R with works shocks. luved it.
-i do like the plastic-it has a alien looking gas tank, it stands out...
-190 ultra rims, maxis razors and well an all around ready to race feel.

-i don't like the fact it is polaris's first race quad, but they have been excelent in the work horse field.
-price is fair, i would have added alot of the stuff it comes with from factory so it saves money and spare crap laying around.
-American made

-frankly it impressed me.

to back my statements up, read a dirt wheels or 3/4 action. they have raced the predator against everything out there. i don't have any knowledge of the DS650 so i will leave it out of this comparison.

Hey, if you think that the Preditor is cool stock, check out the exaust that you can put on it!

http://www.lteracing.com/allmodelspics/polaris/polaris.shtml

The looks are bad ass!

I have polaris snowmobiles and they kick ass,,Still pisses my buddy off as i pull away from his artic cat..The predator quad is a kick ass machine over any other of the 4stroke quads on the market.Reverse:confused: who the fawk needs reverse on a sport quad..If you learn how to ride you will never need it and fawk,,don't be lazy..I'm not saying the other 4stroke quads are no good..The 400ex has baeen a very good mix ride for sand and trail..the z400 is also awesome..I just don't like anything about the raptor..from looks to the way it rides..If your buddy rides mostly sand all I have to say it 2stroke.2stroke,2stroke..There is no faster way around the sand then 2stroke..This is where they SHINE:cool: ..there all fun,,but 4strokers in the sand are left at the bottom of the monster hole shots..He should save his money on a new one and buy a used one..They drop in value so fast off the show room floor its sick.:eek: If he goes used he could find one thats been hardly used,comes with a pipe and sand and dirt tires for the same money if not less...If your on sand and want to go fast,,,banshee,,or 250R...

I have had a 94 Sportsman 400 2 stroke since around 96...

LOVE IT!


Some problems, but overall LOVE IT.


TRUE 4wd is awesome in the mud
swing arm rear and ncie 2 stroke makes for decent speed/sport play for a relatively heavy utility quad.

i have a buddy that has a pred500 and loves it.
i have a Z and love that, and my wife loves her 300ex. see where i'm going with this?

do a little research before you buy, and you'll probably love whatever you end up with.

and for that Americian made thing, honda's are being made in georgia(sp?). you can see the plant from I-95

Polaris make a real nice atv it's the only one I buy form a racing atv to a sportsman 700 for all sorts of fun stuff. Also the auto is the only way to go

polaris os very good. the utility quads i.e. 500 and 700 and VERY fast for a utility quad. frends cousin jumped a polaris 500 12ft in ther air an held up perfectly
back ground on polaris: jet skis very reliable
snomobiles top of the line

Originally posted by gunfighter6
i have a buddy that has a pred500 and loves it.
i have a Z and love that, and my wife loves her 300ex. see where i'm going with this?

do a little research before you buy, and you'll probably love whatever you end up with.

and for that Americian made thing, honda's are being made in georgia(sp?). you can see the plant from I-95

Yea we know and the motor is made in Japan too but it is an American company ;) .