Got a new hunting atv on the way. Your thoughts

Irish80prf

New member
I ordered a 2011 Polaris Sportsman 400 H.O. and I was wondering what some of you Polaris owners thought of your machines. Did you ever have many major problems other then normal wear and tear items? I was torn between the King quad and the sportsman and I went with the sportsman just because I know an awful lot of farmers around here that run them. Also what gun racks/mounts have worked well for you?
 
I've never hunted with mine but I bought brand new back in 01 a Polaris Xplorer 400 4x4 which is basicly the same as your new Sportsman. Love the size of the 400 as it is big enough to do work around the farm/ranch with plus small enough to handle better than the big ones. Mine was the last of the two strokes, very quick, but the down side is it liked to be run very hard.

We check water tanks on about 20K acres of pasture and the bike covers 30 miles at a time to do it. We do this about three times a week, and it sure has saved wear and tear on the pickups. We had to replace the engine once under warranty as the bottom of the piston shattered the first year I owned it. Plus we have had to replace the rings as they have worn out once, as well as a clutch, drive belt a couple of times, brake pads, and a few wheel bearings.

The bike has been great and it is about to be retired as we picked up a used 08 Sportsman 500 off of craigslist with just over 1K miles and 190 hours for $3500. The old odometer on the 400 Xplorer has rolled over 75,000 miles since I bought it new. I'd say I got my moneys worth out of it in 10 years. Most people don't use theirs as much as we have.
 
Some of the older Polaris' were of questionable reliability but they make a good machine now. I think you will enjoy it.
 
75,000 miles is just crazy even with repairs. I'll think I got my money out of it if I get 1/10 that many miles. Thanks for the info guys I really appreciate it.
 
My '91 Polaris 250 4x4 has only two small age related annoying problems. It does what I want when I want. It will out climb other makes without breathing hard. The new Sporstman will be my next, probably a 500 but 400 is very good also.
My gun case is a Kolpin.
 
I'm almost as into ATV's as I am guns... 1st & formost... buy from a good dealer... if you are comfortable with who you bought it from, the brand is almost unimportant... ( they all make good machines, but all are so complex, that they all will need some dealer service ) that said... your Polaris should serve you well ( though I've never owned one... yet... I'd love to have a Razr... especially now that my state has clasified the Razr's as type 1 ATV's legal to ride on all the state trails )...
 
I'd love to have a Razr... especially now that my state has clasified the Razr's as type 1 ATV's legal to ride on all the state trails

In Oregon, I believe the Razr is the ONLY side x side that IS legal on state ATV trails listed for class 1. Unfortunately, it is not enforced. We are running into more and more side by sides on class 1 trails. I can't wait for them to start falling through the wood bridges that were never designed for that much weight...
 
The Sportsmans are decent ATVs, but you may find fuel consumption to be far above average. Take plenty of extra fuel, until you find out what your riding style does for consumption.

The worst I have ever seen was a Sportsman 500 (when they first came out in '98? '99?) with the first automatic transmission. We would burn more than 25 gallons of fuel in 5-6 hours of ride time. Newer ones are better, but still drink gas like it's going out of style.
 
Frankenmauser, boy I hope they are better then that now or I'll be going broke in a hurry if I were getting 3 or 4 miles to the gallon. Everything I can find from people say they are getting in the 20 mpg range with regular trail riding. I found a couple places that the owners claimed 24 mpg, that seems awful good for an atv but it was a 400 they were talking about. Thanks guys
 
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altitude & riding style can greatly effect you fuel consumption, as well as how hard you are working your engine...

my 1st ATV was a Kawi 300 Prairie... & it was fun, but being an adult who pushed it to it's limits, I wasn't overly impressed with its fuel economy... when Kawi came out with the 650 V twin back in '02, I had to have one... the 1st thing I customized, was a custom rear rack, that held 2 gas cans... ( I was sure that since I had the same size fuel tank, & twice the motor, that I'd be fueling all the time ) turned out, I got almost the same "mileage" probably because with the 300, my throttle was fully burried all the time, but with the power of the 650, I rarely had the throttle mashed...

... so as long as you aren't climbing hills all the time, or extreme altitudes, riding at normal hunting speeds, likely you won't be doing too bad in the fuel department...
 
I just bought this 500 HO about 3 weeks ago,I really like the fact that it had no EFI...the more they add to them - the more problems you have with them.I liked the independent suspension - I dont know about other people but I get 70-75 Miles per tank.Mine is only three weeks old and on its third tank , I am sure as time goes by the MPG will get better.I have rode just about every brand of atv -but this is my first Polaris,I would have to say I should have made the switch a long long time ago.

No Pull start either...loved that too.Less worry of where mud and water is going to get into.
 

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getting like 3 or 4 miles to the gallon.

I'd take it back to the dealer and tell them to look at it. You should be getting better than that even if you ride it hard. I can't imagine it running well if you are pushing that much fuel through the cylinder. If you think about it your cylinder is smaller than a .5 Liter Coke Bottle. I'd think there is a lot of fuel not being burnt in the chamber if you are using that much.
 
FM the fuel consumption you stated seems outrageous. No doubting you but the figures are hard to swallow. I'll check with my local dealer, a very honest guy.
FWIW, my '91 Polaris 4x4 250 will go all day (50 miles +) on about half of it's 5 gal. tank.
It does what I want, just old. Maybe I'll give up considering buying a new one. I was going to go for the 500 Sportsman.
 
taylorce1 I don't have the atv yet I was just saying that's what I would be getting with the numbers Frankenmauser gave from his experience. He said 25 gallons in 5 or 6 hours so I figured with an average riding speed of 20 mph that would be 120 miles. 120 miles divided by 25 gallons=4.8 mpg. I'm guessing I'll get better then that no matter how hard I push it.
 
Remember, my example was also using the first year of the 500, in the first year the "new" automatic was available. We were also riding A) at high altitude (8,500-9,700 feet asl). B) Either very fast (max speed), or very slow (2-4 mph). C) Double (driver and passenger). D) With the optional factory racks that weighed 90+ lbs each, and 100 lbs of extra gear and fuel.

Also remember - that transmission was completely redesigned a year, or two later. Too many people complained about the fuel mileage, sluggishness, and the feeling that it never locked up (always sucking extra engine rpm). And... the ATV model I'm using as an example here went on a weight loss program a few years later, as well. Again, too many people complained about the weight and center of gravity. It often required half a dozen people, or a truck to get one back on its wheels, once it was flipped (the one I road weighed in at almost 900 lbs {I had a Toyota Starlet that weighed only 130 lbs more than that ATV}).

The major issue with fuel economy on the early 500s was the lost revs. The engine would be screaming, and the bike would barely be moving (even when empty - not 10 lbs from max GVW like we were riding it).

So... My choice of using it as an example here was probably a poor choice. But, it was used, none-the-less.

Would it help, if I told you my brother's '86 Ford F250HD, Extended Cab, Long Bed, with a 460 ci V8 gets the same fuel mileage as my '04 Ranger? ;)
 
I think there has been some confusion here. I don't have my new atv yet, it will be here Monday. I completely understand what you are saying Frankenmauser and I don't doubt it got that bad of mpg, I never did. There is no question the new ones will get much better fuel mileage then that. I was only joking around when I said I would go broke if it only got 3-4 mpg I don't actually think it will get that. So the example you used may have been from an older atv but that is fine, I just asked for opinions and that is what I got. No problem there. I just looked and the polaris 800 get about 15 mpg so the 400 and 500 should get better yet.
 
I have been told that the gun "boots" hold water (how it would get in there, I am not clear - condensation?).

I use a double gun grip on the front rack - works for either my bow or my rifle. Since I am switching to a recurve, not sure how I will carry it.....I'll figure it out then, I guess
 
That's what I was thinking about getting was the handle bar gun racks. during normal riding they don't ever fall out or bounce around do they?
 
I have never had a problem with bouncing around. Mine came with some rubber "snuggers" that you could put over them in the rack if you wanted. If we are going "hard core" on the bikes, I will throw a bungee around it, especially with my bow.

I have had the same set on there for 6-7 years. Mine are starting to get stretched out because my bow is a lot wider than my rifles. At some vague point in the future I will replace them, but they do the job as is.
 
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