Polaris Quads

[Wickedfinger]

.. well since I'm just plain worn out from trying to defend Polaris to the "everybodys an expert" masses who jump on the bashing bandwagon over the past 9 years - I've decided to give up, sell my Scrambler and become a monk. I'm also retiring from defending DG performance as well. I have never, ever heard exactly why Polaris's are junk from anybody - they just keep saying they are, for whatever reason so I guess I just have to believe them - like a sheep. Let me just say this though - I've owned over 20 ATV's in my lifetime - I've had the very best that was out there at the time - from Banshees to 250R's to LT250R's to Tri-Z's. I've owned some of the most suposedly "reliable" ATV's of all time including a Warrior, a 200S, 185S, ATC125M, ATC90, Several ATC200X's, YTM225DX, ATC70's, ATC350X - the list can go on - I can honestly say without a doubt that I have had a problem with ALL of them from one time or another. If Polaris's were such junk - why would I own one?.

[REDMAN225]

i'm with you wicked. until someone manufactures a sportier 4x4, i'll stick with my scrambler. i love this machine and i've ridden just about all the new quads out there. and at least polaris updates their quads consistantly almost every year.

[jeswinehart]

well i gotta trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro too about polaris quads. that 1999 explorer the wife rides ,,, the one she bought new ,,, i had to put a new plug in it last weekend !
imagine that ,,, she has swampped it, stuck it to the hilt in snow drifts and various other abuses only a women left alone with it could do to a machine and the original plug only lasted 5 plus years ! terrible ,,, just terrible.
i hate working on quads.

john

[MTS]

haha that pic is great john, but in all siriousness im sure the scrammy is a stand up quad and all, im just saying i havent had many good experiances with the sportsman500H.O.....i dunno i think im cursed LOL

[wheelie king]

Gosh there, Wikedfinger.
Guess some of the posts struck a nerve with you. Why are you guys so defensive? If you love yours that much, ignore others' OPINIONS and ignore the naysayers. Remember that opinons are like ***holes- everyone has them, and most of them stink.
All I did was share my experience with polaris, which as indicated, has been extremely negative. Maybe I have had bad luck. Never claimed to be an "expert" So touchy.
I really enjoy this ride on the "bandwagon" ---(WTF??? ) For a second there I thought this board was about sharing opinions and experiences. Too bad that it may hurt some feelings in the process. Grow some (thicker) skin, it can get cold out there in that big world.

[Wickedfinger]

Bravo, bravo - you really took me to school and told me ... no my friend ... If you had spent as many years as I have on this board and others listening too everybodys .... (how did you so exquisitely use that so slappingly hilarius, heavily overused saying that you can find on every shop wall in the 50 states) ..... uninformed opinion about Polaris, you would get tired of hearing it too. Again, for the second time - define "Sucks?". Tell me something specific thats underengineered on them or defective about them that can be held over the ENTIRE Polaris line other than broad-based statements like:

well.........it is a crappy bike. There is just no other way to say it.

and

It is quick, but sometimes unreliable

and

I perhaps should have said that they were poorly engineered

and

i towed him home twice because of some phantom electrical problem that the dealer supposedly "fixed" times now.

At least you made an attempt at zeroing in on something vaguely specific with this one:

Every last one of them is hard to start, and kinda cheap feeling

and I'd have to counter that with "ever owned a ATC200X?". I have no problem with people giving their opinion on something they actually know about or can at the very least give some sort of usable information other than "they suck". Broad statements like that need some backing up. Hell, I like them and I can list more specific "issues" than have yet in one line - tierod ends wear out prematurely, weak starters and bendix's (BTW they are made in Japan by Denso, who also provides all the other manufacturers with their starters), can throw a chain on a hard landing. Allow me to give you a little "opinion" of my own - I'd worry about actually getting some useful post time in (as well as some seat time and actual "wrenching time" ) and develop some sort of reputation around here before you try and give an opinion or go toe to toe with one of the big dogs my friend. Oh and Remember, I never mentioned you specifically in any post - you made it personal.

[wheelie king]

I was simply addressing you because of your obvious resentment of people disliking polaris- for whatever reason they choose. Wasn't trying to get too "personal"
For example: I work for a government agency. This government agency has 11 polaris quads, purchased on a grant that are meticulously maintained due to the demand put on them. They are "crappy" (maybe a poor choice of words) in my opinion for simple reasons like;
plastic brake handles that have cracked
rear brake pads that must be made of cardboard for how long they lasted
hard, very cold natured starting. Sits more than 2 hrs, and they dont wanna crank. Yes, all 11 of them.
Poor headlight mounting that shows heavy vibration and produces a strobe effect on what you are trying to view.
Very rigid and low radius steering.
Also please note that I am just on old school guy that belives that steel is better than plastic in osme places.

Ok. those are some of my observations which assisted in formulating my OPINION of Polaris. The sportman 500 belongoing to my friend/neighbor/riding buddy is his second, and he swears his LAST. I did not know how to describe it but yes, a phantom electrical problem meaning that it just would not start, not turn over or anything sometimes, and even just die while running-for no apparent reason. Almost like someone hit the kill switch. Been to the dealer 3 plus time and they cannot duplicate the problem and have not given him a straight answer of even what it could be.

All of that combined with the fact that I was one of the unfortunate ones who had one of those "early 90s bikes", Those are the reasons why I do not like polaris, and sure, without going on a rant like that above, I will just sum it up and say that I think it "sucks" Ok? Is it based on scientific direct comparisons and testing of Polaris against other brands? No. Basically, just a bad taste in my mouth about polaris in general. True I only have experience with 3 models, and although you may think it unfair, it is that on which I formulate my opinion. I, little old me, just happens not to like Polaris.

I was only questioning your attitude because people posted their opinions, however lacking in explanation that they are, and it was obvious that you did not like it. You just seem so angry and spiteful. Life is too short to worry about crap like that, man. My point is simply that if someone posted how they thought that Honda or Yamaha bikes all "suck" or whatever, I would ignore it. Why? because to me, they do not suck. And that is all that is important.

[Wickedfinger]

I work for a government agency.

Never mind, I should have known better .........
You sure were able to list problems after I called you on it. If you had listed them like that from your first post, ATC777 might have had something to actually "chew" on other than "crappy" and "suck". Whatever the case - I have explained myself and my "attitude" in this post and made it quite clear as to why I have it - let me sum it up since you "work for the government" and I don't want you wasting anymore of my taxes on reading this - people love to make broad statements on here without any backing, or experience with what they are talking about. Unfortunately its a fact that I can't really control without an "educated" response.

My point is simply that if someone posted how they thought that Honda or Yamaha bikes all "suck" or whatever, I would ignore it. Why? because to me, they do not suck. And that is all that is important

. I could see that point if the post was by me, extolling on Polaris's virtues and putting them up on a shelf above all others - the problem is, it wasn't. The guy was looking for some "helpful" opinions in this post - the first 2 responses I made were "helpful". The third response was "informative". In between that .... as expected ..... the Polaris "sucks" responses started rolling in .... and I bit my tongue. Responses like that are tantamount to saying "just don't buy them because I don't like them and I said so". I only asked "why?". Finally, I made a "universal" response in their (Polaris's) defence, and then you took it and made it personal. I can count on one hand over the past 4 or so years on here that I actually made a a truely "negative" comment covering a complete ATV. Even then, I was specific as to why (FYI - one was about Suzuki's old early '80's LT250 ridgid framed utility quad and it concerned the fact that from experience, they were so ill handling that they were actually dangerous to ride - then listed why they were ill handling) - I could never place that upon an entire company's product line. The example I always give when defending Polaris is the one of the ATC200S I owned for almost 10 years, considered by many to be one of the most "bullet proof" atv's of all time. During that 10 years of ownership I had to replace the fork assemblies twice, rebuild the engine because of a thrown timing chain, replace the rear bearings twice, replace the head stay bearings, replace everything that was serviceable in the carb - then replace the entire carb, I had to replace the hubs because of failing bolts, replaced the CDI once and the stator twice, the frame started to crack behind the tank mount, replaced the plastics and the seat, all of the cables - and - the coup de gras of all things - I had to rebuild or re-string the pull starter 14 billion times. After all of that said, I could have easily said "Honda sucks" but - I would recommend one to anybody and it probably was my favorite ATV ever.

[wheelie king]

OK - I am really saddened that this whole exchange even happened. I do admittedly tend to harshly "sum up my feelings" with the words "crappy" or "sucks" if I do not like something. I have my reasons, and I am just not a long winded kinda guy. I get annoyed with always having to explain myself.

Also, as far as my employment, no taxpayers dollars have ever been "wasted" in my attention to this board. I have been off for the past 4 days (and at home), and I would not view this board at work. Everything I do on the internet at work is monitored, because it is a Law Enforcement Bureau.

May your polaris bring you many more years of great riding. Peace.

[Wickedfinger]

What do you do exactly for our government?. ....... (please say border patrol and I'll take back everything!) If you are an officer of the law, you have my respect and I take back the government comment - That was directed tword the "pencil sharpeners".

[ATC777]

Thanks for all the help and opinions, gang. You guys are awesome. Bad news. I called the guy I was going to buy that 350 from and he sold it right out from under me. Oh well, guess some things aren't meant to be.

Just thought I would let everyone know