it doesn't matter. Polaris are junk and made cheaply the axles always break. Let's just say you don't drive it and it's low mileage. My Honda is 15 years old and never snapped an axle or broke and i abuse it. Cousin has a POOlaris and it breaks all the time, electrical issues, CVT tranny issues, engine issues name it it's broken about 50 times since 2015 and all extremely costly repairs. Pieces of crap!
@@fufnerkeywheel1329 I have polaris ranger 1000 and sportsman 570 and both hadn't any issues except an axle broke one time because it had tracks and I drove the hell out of it and one time it got stuck when I stopped at a hill and when I try to reverse the weight of the machine snapped the axle. Bought sn aftermarket on ebay and fixed it. Costed less than 100.00 to repair.
I have a 2015 570 and treat it like crap, dont clean it, sunk it so deep it wouldn't crank for 5 min (i do not have a snorkel), mud in every part of it, flipped it. Still works to this day and have never broken anything major other than the latches for the front container. I would say it's a good four wheeler.
Got two 2014 570 touring machines. Just changed all the fluids yesterday. First time in 4 years other than oil once a year. Flipped them. No major repairs yet.
My friend had one that, before he got it, was accidentally jumped off a 200 foot bank at about 45mph and rolled end over end at least 15 times (just judging by the marks all the way down the hill). It fired up and went into gear as soon as it was back upright, and all it needed after that was a rear A arm and wheel. After some janky custom fab work to rebuild the rear renders, he had it out on the trail and after 4 years it still runs great, just leaks from a crack in the transmission case.
Polaris is very tempting, lots of nice features and ride very nice. But I’m old and have grown to hate working on my toys so I bought a 2021 Grizzly 700 se. drive, wash and repeat
I thought the same thing and got a Kodiak 700EPS but after I went riding with a guy that had a Sportsman 850 sp I had to have one .But I ended up getting a Sportsman XP 1000 and so glad I did.
Owned them my whole life. Mine have been super capable and very reliable and im in tough mountainous terrain in western canada. Zero complaints with Polaris they've never let me down.
My pops and his best friend had the exact same two 2017 Sportsman 1,000xp Limited Editions. They had nothing but problems. Bearings, bushings, power steering play, sway bar rubbing on the springs, and many more. Finally at 5k miles his buddies started having engine problems (drinking oil). My dads then blew up at 5k miles on the dot. Polaris is refusing to cover my dads blown up engine at all and polaris has picked a fight everytime they go in the shop. I have had 2 can ams with very little issues at all. I just got a 650xt 2021 and im waiting to try it. Plus Can-am has covered everything ive had my bikes in for with no questions at all.
I've never meant anyone with a Can-am whose machine wasn't completely riddled with problems. When we do group rides, the Can-am's are always the ones breaking something. I'll stick my Honda's.
I have the 2018. Error codes and limp modes began at about 18 months in. Spent over $2800 at 3 different dealerships and another $1000 on parts trying to fix it myself. Worst machine I have ever owned.
As the old saying goes, results may vary. I’ve owned 2 Polaris Sportmans and 3 Rangers. Great machines for me. Now have a ‘21 Ranger XP 1000 Premium Edition and just ordered a ‘22 850 Sportsman Ultimate Trail Edition. No regrets thus far.
@canadian I've heard that about the new 1000xp. Most people say they are buying the Can am if they can find one. I had an 07 sportsman 700 and the 4x4 plastic actuator gear for the front engagement broke under warranty. I ended up having to pay for the part but the shop didn't charge labor. They didn't think it was right that Polaris wouldn't cover the whole job. I'm back in the market and just not sure which way to go yet.
I bought the Sportsman 1000XP after having a 570 for 4 years. The 570 is awesome. The 1000XP is the worst machine I have ever owned. It has thrown a code that no one can diagnose and will only operate in limp mode 90% of the time. I have changed everything the code even throws DOUBT upon and nothing works. 3 dealerships and $2800 later ( on a 16 month old $16,000 machine ) and nothing has changed. So good for you buddy. I'm never buying another Polaris again. And for anyone else reading this guy's comment : Do a internet search on a 520194 error code on Sportsmans. You'll get a more informed viewpoint than you got here.
Hey Barrister, I've bought a 22 850 ultimate as well. Stuff breaking all the time, amazing machine when it works but it seems like 25% of the time it's in the shop making use of the warranty. How has your luck been?
I've owned a few Polaris ATV's and have a lot of reasons to love em and a few here and there to agree they have some issues. Overall might be one of the most fun quads to ride but does require some potential extra repairs now and then. We ride in large groups with a lot of Polaris quads and overall everyone who owns them are pretty happy, just a repair now and then but are getting great longevity and overall ride quality. We shall see now that we own a different brand so we can directly compare em.
Great information just makes ya aware of our engineering in the US against out overseas competition I’ve owned one the 570 and when it’s running great machine but fifty percent of its life it was broken thanks
They all break and they're all plagued with their own set of problems. I've had two Honda's that were both the biggest pieces of s*** I ever owned, and they're supposed to be the most reliable... Nope! Dead last in my experience.
We have two 1999 Sportsman 335's that have been abused for 23 years now. They've rolled down railroad embankments, been buried in ponds, pulled hay wagons, plowed snow every year, carried 3 adults at a time when we have had people over and for at least the last ten years not been maintained all that well because I keep hoping they will die so my wife won't complain about buying a new one. But they just keep going. Replaced the belt on one, other is still original. Only other thing replaced has been tires. They are amazingly durable.
My 2019 sportsman 850 has 6000 miles on it, has the original belt on it, never changed the dif fluids and transmission fluid, never greased a thing on it, original wheel bearings ( still tight like new ). It's lifted 2 inches on 30 inch motohavocs and tracks for the winter been over the rack in mud nearly every winter. Everything is bone stock other than the lift, wheels and tires and tracks. I've never had any of these problems. Hell never had a single problem with anything on the bike.
2013 King quad 500 eps. I bought new .. I have 4500 miles on it and 530hrs. Just changed battery and tires. That's it.. still running stock belt.. great quad
Man my 2019 850 SP IS FREAKING AWESOME, however I just trail ride it and occasionally hit the water holes but I love it. My 2019 450 is a solid machine. My 2021 570 I feel they cheaper out on a lot of things.
How are you sir ? I have a 2001 Polaris sportsman 500 ho . I’m interested in the greasing tool for the wheel bearings . How do I determine what size I need. Thanks for your help and the excellent videos. Tom
In 2013 I bought my wife a 450 and myself a 500 Sportsman. So far, we have changed the batteries twice. Regular maintenance does wonders. If you beat the living shit out of them, expect repairs. We are seeing an excessive amount of used Can am for sale, very few polaris.
Owned a ‘17 Scrambler for a few months. Nothing but good things to say about it. Pretty much all of Cecco’s frame braces I installed, solid machine. I don’t recommend the power steering models for those who want to go fast on theirs. Upper a-arm through bolts for the frame braces is horrible polaris design, they hit the radiator if you try and remove them without pulling the radiator upwards. Plastics were chinsy feeling, that’s always how polaris has been. Was a solid machine though, zero issues other than me wearing out a lower ball joint on the front right side from hitting the same damn rock like 6 times making this one turn. Live and learn. And run at least 93 in these machines, they deserve it and prevent hiccups. Of course they can take 89, 87, etc.
The only bad thing about these machines is literally the front differential plate. I have a 2010 850 with 0 power steering and 28 inch mega mayhems so I run a heavy tire AND Im on stock axles. I hit mud and haven’t had to deal with much of any overheating! I run a big gun and k&n filter with no tuner.
All you have to do is flip over your winch cover screen and it will show you where to cut it out for the witch so you still have your guard. I have a 2019 Polaris sportsman that is snorkeled radiator kit relocated, has 4" lift on it with 29 and a half inch tires, 1 in wheel spacers, epi mud clutch kit and it works great. If you want to take that thing through the mud relocate your radiator to the top of the storage box. If you want your winch covered cut out the lines on the factory grill guard
You are bang on about the wheel bearings, I changed them so often I was able to swap one out in 35 minutes. I bought the bearing tool and a press I was doing so many.. I was not aware of the bearing greaser tool until last fall when I bought one. The prop shaft and rear drive shafts u-joints are junk as well and the rear diff seals on both quads gave me grief as the diff kept filling with water. Other than that the quad is great.
Just came across this video. I agree with some of what you mention. But I am running an older 2017 570 Sportsman. I never wash it, but I do rinse it off. Looks like crap, but that's just a visual thing. Hahaha, I had to change my battery to something else and move it to the rear. We are on my wifes family acreage here in Maine. Mud. Lots and lots of mud. I snapped a front axle on a rock/stump I could not see. Iwas shocked at how easy it broke. EastLakes now up front. Bit I must admit, it keeps on chugging and as long as I hose that mud off and out of it, it just keeps going....I hope that you find a happy medium at some point. Appreciate the video man. Ride on.
I'm on my 5th 850 SP now and have had 6k plus miles on them before trading up. Oil in the air box on the 11 and new starters in every one. No belt, bushings, plugged radiator, or bearing ever replace. I do 70% of my riding in fall and winter. All trails with very little mud. So that likely has something to do with very little issues. I must admit that I do trade up every 2-3 years cuz I know this Polaris will soon be falling apart and I don't want to deal with it. If Yamaha or Honda ever makes a bike that rides and performs like the Polaris I will jumping ship.
I had a 2012 Sportsman 850 brand new. The throttle position sensor went bad on the thumb lever. I barely drove it...like 200 miles tops through ideal conditions. I traded it off. I'm going to get a Grizzly next.
My sportsman has been crawling in idle. Do you know why this could be? I replaced the one way bearing in the clutch. It was blown up. Helped the problem but didn’t fix it.
Have an '03 Sportsman 600 Twin and by far the best bike I've ever owned. It seems Polaris has gone down hill as far as dependability these days. Trust the oldies, they last. Not to mention, my carbureted 600 is able to smoke my buddies '18 850 EFI in a launch due to his governor within the EFI system. He installed a stage two clutch, still gets smoked lol.
I have the MY17 850 base. 1100km it in about 65 hours. Short of the rad issue, my machine is flawless. I get chirped all the time from the Yamaha and CanAm riders, but the 850 is solid and reliable and will smoke any Grizzly and falls just short of the 1000R outlander. I'm more than happy with it. Interesting notes to watch for though.
My 2008 450 Sportsman has never given me one issue and I like the storage on it way better than the new set up where you have to buy a bunch of add ons.
Your points about the 570 are valid ( I have a 2021), but easily remedied for the most part, I put an after market radiator shroud on, makes all the difference ,I’m not a big mudder, don’t really enjoy it, I have 1250 miles on , no issues at all , also use it to plow, it’s a beast
I've had three of them from a 2006 to a 2020.... NO issues at all. Just some basic maintenance and grease. I ride them pretty hard in tough conditions/terrain and barely even bother to wash it. I just pull in to the pressure wash station on the way home to knock the mud off. It's super RAD and performs great.. Totally stock
Ireally don't think polaris will ever come close to japanese engineering fit and finish and attention to detail,if they have'nt got it now,they never will.But,how you treat and maintain equipment also is a big factor.
I realize this is a different machine from the big boys but , I have a story to share . I bought a 2021 450 ho . I do not sport ride and do light work around my property . Six months later the engine had a top end knock , pretty bad . It had less than 140 hours on the quad . Got it back a month later got it back . No problems ever since .
I like the older Sportsman 500 ho when they used the Fuji / Subaru Robin Japanese Engines. I have a 2013 500 HO with 1900 miles and like 270 hours. The older engines were rock solid after the first couple 2-3 years they started putting them in the 500's. With that said, Several cv axles have been replaced on mine over the years and I don't Sink it or anything. I still have the stock size tires too.. Also, the wheel bearings do seem to wear out pretty quick, and the suspension has always been noisy and bushings wear out pretty quick. I don't think I would buy a new Polaris, just IMO. I would go for a Suzuki King Quad 750, Kawasaki Brute Force 750 or maybe a Yamaha if I bought New today.
Have a 1996 sportsman 400 got it pretty much brand new, stock tires with nipples on them. First the Carb, then the 4wd wiring, handlebar bushing, wheel bearings, brakes, chain adjustment, lost of complete power, starter solenoid bad, and a few other things. Like this guy, love it when it runs couldn't be happier, but every time something breaks and I don't even know it until I go to ride the next time and it wont start or etc. And I haven't even rode it much at all, less than 10 hours I've put on it
All my other toys are yamaha and have never had a problem with any of them and I beat the hell out of them, only thing was a carb jet clean. Yamaha all the way
I have owned many atvs. 2 yrs ago I purchased my dream atv, a 2017 Can Am Renegade xxc. I was also fortunate enough to buy a 2019 KQ that same year. The KQ was strictly for work only cleaning trails, moving downed trees etc. After spring cleanup was over I decided to put the KQ away and got out the Renegade. Well turns out that I didn't like the Renegade and just wanted to get back on my KQ. So I sold the CanAm and never looked back. I upgraded the shocks, rims and tires, and put some graphics on the KQ. It is the best atv that I have ever owned hands down. I have also owned a Polaris Scrambler years ago and it broke everytime I rode. I have owned a Yamaha wolverine atv since 2008 and I have never had to fix it one time. I change the oil and clean the air filter. Bottom line is I will never own a CanAm or Polaris ever again.
I've owned Sportsman from 04 through a 2020, some with power steering, some without.... I had a voltage regulator go bad on the 04, and I did wheel bearings on an 18 which had almost 3,000 miles on it.... Also had to replace a motor mount on a 19... Other than those things, I've never had any issues at all.... I'm currently on a 19 with power steering, and it still has the original battery.... Based on your comment about how much water came out of the bearings when you greased them, it sounds like you're one of those guys that thinks it's a boat..... I do water crossings here and there, big puddles, etc, but I don't just submerge it in mud and water.... Maybe you should get an Argo Amphibious vehicle that's designed for all of that water, rather than a quad and complain about it..... I could buy a Honda Ridgeline, then complain when it fails, doing what my crew cab 2500 Silverado does with ease, but it'd be pointless.... Y'all that beat the shit out of your machines, then cry constantly, obviously have more money than brains.... Also, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki all have issues with things when used as a boat/submarine.....Just my 2 cents
Im pretty happy with my 2019 Sportsman 570 which is my 2nd 570, other than battery placement. I have 100 head of cattle so often times im riding through knee deep manure in the spring. In the winter I run tracks on it which if you know anything about atvs tracks are extremely hard on machines. I live where its -20 right now just an FYI. Ive put 3200 miles on it in two years and only problem I've had to replace battery. i will say with my first 570 i started having more issues when i got to 6000 miles. but i also bought that machine used and it had some issues from the idiot who owned it first. (must've rolled it)
My 2013 has been nothing but great. Never had an issue. Runs just as good as any other ATV. I use it for hunting (very rough terrain) and plowing my driveway. Very satisfied.
I absolutely loved my 2001 sportsman 500 HO thing was a BEAST at the time . Now I have upgraded but I never had any issues with it and we beat it as much as one could . Only ever got stuck like twice but If you saw what we did anyone would be impressed. I have yet to try can am and I’m curious but as of now I ride a grizzly 700 .. will upgrade from that eventually as well ! But absolutely love it to death ! Yamahas are no joke
yep, I had a Grizzly 700 and beat it to death. Now I'm back in the market, and trying to see which brand to go with. I read these comments and it seems like these fancy models have issues I never had with the Grizz. Might have to go back to Yamaha
@@MrTomtusti i did and already had to replace chain sprockets and secondary clutch along with the belt. I think I’m going to sell it. I wish your comment would’ve came through before I bought it
@@marte1a256 yep, 2008 500 ho efi here, maintenance is key, had from new and I follow the maintenance by the book, sound like you bought one driven hard and put away wet unfortunately
I have a Polaris 2014 550 it was awesome same problem bearings otherwise good just bought a 850 dealership said bearings have changed don't believe them want to get the Greaser what size was the Greaser you used 44 mil
I’ve got a 2018 with around 2500 miles on it. The ONLY issues I’ve ever had with them, is the stator went bad a couple months ago (thankfully was JUST before the warranty period ended, so the fix was free), and just yesterday I shredded my drive belt. Keep in mind, I drive the thing like I Fuckin stole it. Constant drifting corners, jumps, mud holes, etc. Maintenance is key my man. It’s not hard to grease the fittings every other ride, and spray out the radiator before/after every ride. Takes all of 5 minutes. Your radiator is fucked tho, I have the same year and I don’t know why yours is angled upwards. Mine is angled downwards.
I would say you can see from all of my videos the level of maintenance that I do. I would also say that most people don't notice these issues because they don't do maintenance and don't care.
I have a 2020 570 sportsman that a customer just came in last week with a cracked oil pan caused from the front motor mount bolts shearing off probably due to negligence or abuse of the quad bike only has 80 hours on and needs both motor mounts motor mount bolts oil pan and gasket replaced and I have done multiple radiator relocation kits due to the crappy position and size of the radiator on these quads I normally recommend a high performance electric fan set with the radiator relocation kit install and also a snorkel installed alongside said items and occasionally have ran into ground and positive battery wire loose connections because the factory crimp does not hold very well especially with regular use ( weekend warrior) trail riding but with all that said I used to hate Polaris ATVs and since working on them I've grown fond of them and their minimal maintenance costs/repairs. Honda is still King though
I have a 110 sportsman 2016 I’ve muddled it hit jumps drifted it rolled it and the only thing I have issues with is the tires loose air slowly. And the only thing I’ve broke is a tire I just got a nail in the tire
Not gonna lie, and maybe I’ve been lucky, but I haven’t had any issues with my 19 sportsman 570 SP & I have 100 hours on it and 800 miles. Other then it squeaking pretty good when I hit the breaks and the pads are 100% fine. & the shifter is made out of plastic junk that pops out. I have changed the belt once and haven’t had any issues with the battery. I’m a bigger guy and I beat the absolute piss out of it and it’s held up so far. I’m sure just from the way I ride I’ll need something soon lol
@@DuttyBoukmansToe how old are you? Do you know anything about the powersports market ??? Do you know how hard it is to find ANYTHING right now lol. Let alone a NEW name brand quad. I drove 3 hours to a dealership to get the 850 and it was the ONLY one around bigger than a 600 lol .. what do you ride im assuming nothing for asking stupid questions like that.
If you beat your machine no matter what you have it will break. I don’t understand how most of you guys don’t realize that. Take care of your machine, and it will last longer
I have a 2002 Sportsman 500 with EPI clutch kits and I haven’t had and still don’t have any problems with it… I also have a Can Am 1000 Renegade with no problems
I've got three Sportsmans. Two 570's and a 1k. I've had and 850 as well. I ride the hell out of them and I've never had an overheat. Also never lost a wheel bearing or had an issue with power steering. The battery does definitely suck.
Just bought my first quad a 2023 polaris sportsman 850 ultimate trail and no regrets dont plan on beating it and ill just take care of her and clean/service her
My dad had a 2014 Polaris sportsman 550 hunting edition and babied it, prevent maintenance and all since he’s a mechanic and every ride he took it on an axle or something would break and it got to the point where he had it up on the jack it took him a year to put it back together then he sold it. I know it’s and older model so it may have been just that but Polaris lost my dads time and money with that machine. And compared to his 2000 Polaris sportsman 500 he rode the shit out of it beating and took it for a ride every week and it was a tank didn’t have any issues till the end when my dad was already thinking of getting a newer one
I own 2 sportsmans that I bought new from dealer. 2010 400cc carb and 2017 450ho. I grease the sus points and maintain the batteries during winter… nothing more. I do treat them with respect but they aren’t babies. I plow my yard with the 400. Havnt had these issues. They both run great. My 450 has fouled 2 plugs so far tho, plus I swapped the plug wire as well. I carry an extra plug in my tool kit just in case this ever happens again. I believe it was bad gas tho
My Polaris sportsman 450 2020 I’ve had for 4 years never ever had any problems with it ever except basic stuff like tire, wear and getting a little bit slower because it is heavily used every single day and still rides fine to this day
Sorry bro but I ride mine 7+ miles a day just to get home. These things are bomb proof. Take care of yours and it won’t break down. Not sure where you got the ideas about the battery either. I had mine buried in 4 feet of snow from October-March and it turns right on every time.
I have a 2014 Polaris 850 touring With 2500 km on it was outside all Winter with a covered on it buried in snow (-25) - 30. I thought the battery would be dead but it started Right up When it came Spring I was shocked I thought I was going to have to get a new battery for it.
Love my 2 Sportsmans! I've gotten excellent service out of both of them. So much so that I would have a hard time buying anything else at this point. Maybe it's the operator and not the bike?
It sucks spending so much money on an atv and having so many problems. I have a buddy with a Polaris Rzr and he had so many issues. But great video thanks for the info.
I own a 2004.5 sportsman 700 efi and drive it every weekend been flipped crashed few times but all ive ever needed was regular maintenance every once in a while. No major issues i love it and ive owned every brand of atv at one point or another. However my winch doesnt work i guess thats one negative lol
I own a 2019 sportsman xp 1000 premium and love it. Most comfortable ATV I’ve had , and the power is insane. Ive had Hondas in the past and they were great, but after making the switch I’ll never go back
I got a 2010 sportsman and we have no problems with it it is the best machine I have ever had. You say their junco because you ride mud all the time just mud and I recommend mud light 2s 26” best tire in my opinion for a 500👍😀
2010 sportsman 400 h.o. Owner chiming in, not once have I had any issues as stated in this video, wheel bearings fine, front diff fine, bushings? Never greased them and still fine. My radiator is even more exposed then this model yet never ran into any issues there either. All depends how you treat your items in my opinion
At least that guy he’s honest about the atv he bought!!!!Polaris should listen carefully about polaris owner!Especially when you paid 10,15,20 thousand dollards for a polaris atv!!!!
I owned Polaris 570 for about 4 years. Never had any of those issues. Maybe it depends how you treat your machines.
Exactly ^^^
Same I have a 2013 500 and it is better than my friends Honda
it doesn't matter. Polaris are junk and made cheaply the axles always break. Let's just say you don't drive it and it's low mileage. My Honda is 15 years old and never snapped an axle or broke and i abuse it. Cousin has a POOlaris and it breaks all the time, electrical issues, CVT tranny issues, engine issues name it it's broken about 50 times since 2015 and all extremely costly repairs. Pieces of crap!
@@fufnerkeywheel1329 I have polaris ranger 1000 and sportsman 570 and both hadn't any issues except an axle broke one time because it had tracks and I drove the hell out of it and one time it got stuck when I stopped at a hill and when I try to reverse the weight of the machine snapped the axle. Bought sn aftermarket on ebay and fixed it. Costed less than 100.00 to repair.
Lots of people have issues with these. Unless you’re super careful I suppose. Most people don’t ride conservatively and I don’t blame them
I have a 2015 570 and treat it like crap, dont clean it, sunk it so deep it wouldn't crank for 5 min (i do not have a snorkel), mud in every part of it, flipped it. Still works to this day and have never broken anything major other than the latches for the front container. I would say it's a good four wheeler.
Ive done all the same with my 2017 1000xp. Except I have not broken the latches or anything else yet.
Got two 2014 570 touring machines. Just changed all the fluids yesterday. First time in 4 years other than oil once a year. Flipped them. No major repairs yet.
My friend had one that, before he got it, was accidentally jumped off a 200 foot bank at about 45mph and rolled end over end at least 15 times (just judging by the marks all the way down the hill). It fired up and went into gear as soon as it was back upright, and all it needed after that was a rear A arm and wheel. After some janky custom fab work to rebuild the rear renders, he had it out on the trail and after 4 years it still runs great, just leaks from a crack in the transmission case.
2015 570 mine been pretty good from new, on 3rd fuel pump but i got the good one with lifetime warranty so I dont have too much money in it.
I have a 12 sportman with 2700km it broke and spent more time at the dealer than I rode it and I don’t even ride that hard
Polaris is very tempting, lots of nice features and ride very nice. But I’m old and have grown to hate working on my toys so I bought a 2021 Grizzly 700 se. drive, wash and repeat
I got a 2021 grizzly too it’s great!!
@Will Smith SMH & RE!!
I thought the same thing and got a Kodiak 700EPS but after I went riding with a guy that had a Sportsman 850 sp I had to have one .But I ended up getting a Sportsman XP 1000 and so glad I did.
Have a 19 Grizzly 700 in Back Country Blue...
Yessir, I have a 2021 Kodiak 700. Beat the brakes off it and it just keeps running.
"It's junk...but you should buy one"- The American motto.
You drinking to much coffee, to much salt for dinner. You going to have heart attack. Solution, Maybe try different brand.
Can-am
@@robbierice5613 hell naw. Try a honda maybe
@@hunterjacobs2178 he would find something to complain about on a Honda lol
Owned them my whole life. Mine have been super capable and very reliable and im in tough mountainous terrain in western canada. Zero complaints with Polaris they've never let me down.
Thanks. I never go mudding. So I'm not worried
My pops and his best friend had the exact same two 2017 Sportsman 1,000xp Limited Editions. They had nothing but problems. Bearings, bushings, power steering play, sway bar rubbing on the springs, and many more. Finally at 5k miles his buddies started having engine problems (drinking oil). My dads then blew up at 5k miles on the dot. Polaris is refusing to cover my dads blown up engine at all and polaris has picked a fight everytime they go in the shop. I have had 2 can ams with very little issues at all. I just got a 650xt 2021 and im waiting to try it. Plus Can-am has covered everything ive had my bikes in for with no questions at all.
I've never meant anyone with a Can-am whose machine wasn't completely riddled with problems. When we do group rides, the Can-am's are always the ones breaking something. I'll stick my Honda's.
@@Pendragon501 I've had a renegade for 4+ years never needed one part
I have the 2018. Error codes and limp modes began at about 18 months in. Spent over $2800 at 3 different dealerships and another $1000 on parts trying to fix it myself. Worst machine I have ever owned.
As the old saying goes, results may vary. I’ve owned 2 Polaris Sportmans and 3 Rangers. Great machines for me. Now have a ‘21 Ranger XP 1000 Premium Edition and just ordered a ‘22 850 Sportsman Ultimate Trail Edition. No regrets thus far.
@canadian I've heard that about the new 1000xp. Most people say they are buying the Can am if they can find one. I had an 07 sportsman 700 and the 4x4 plastic actuator gear for the front engagement broke under warranty. I ended up having to pay for the part but the shop didn't charge labor. They didn't think it was right that Polaris wouldn't cover the whole job. I'm back in the market and just not sure which way to go yet.
I bought the Sportsman 1000XP after having a 570 for 4 years. The 570 is awesome. The 1000XP is the worst machine I have ever owned. It has thrown a code that no one can diagnose and will only operate in limp mode 90% of the time. I have changed everything the code even throws DOUBT upon and nothing works. 3 dealerships and $2800 later ( on a 16 month old $16,000 machine ) and nothing has changed.
So good for you buddy. I'm never buying another Polaris again. And for anyone else reading this guy's comment : Do a internet search on a 520194 error code on Sportsmans. You'll get a more informed viewpoint than you got here.
@@alittlebitofeverything5090Honda!!!!
Hey Barrister, I've bought a 22 850 ultimate as well. Stuff breaking all the time, amazing machine when it works but it seems like 25% of the time it's in the shop making use of the warranty. How has your luck been?
I've owned a few Polaris ATV's and have a lot of reasons to love em and a few here and there to agree they have some issues. Overall might be one of the most fun quads to ride but does require some potential extra repairs now and then. We ride in large groups with a lot of Polaris quads and overall everyone who owns them are pretty happy, just a repair now and then but are getting great longevity and overall ride quality. We shall see now that we own a different brand so we can directly compare em.
I have 2001 Sportsman 400. No problems with mine except just now had to replace all my bushings and brakes. Love my machine.
I appreciate your honesty! I think lots of repeat customers are fed up.
Great information just makes ya aware of our engineering in the US against out overseas competition I’ve owned one the 570 and when it’s running great machine but fifty percent of its life it was broken thanks
They all break and they're all plagued with their own set of problems. I've had two Honda's that were both the biggest pieces of s*** I ever owned, and they're supposed to be the most reliable... Nope! Dead last in my experience.
We have two 1999 Sportsman 335's that have been abused for 23 years now. They've rolled down railroad embankments, been buried in ponds, pulled hay wagons, plowed snow every year, carried 3 adults at a time when we have had people over and for at least the last ten years not been maintained all that well because I keep hoping they will die so my wife won't complain about buying a new one. But they just keep going.
Replaced the belt on one, other is still original. Only other thing replaced has been tires. They are amazingly durable.
My 2019 sportsman 850 has 6000 miles on it, has the original belt on it, never changed the dif fluids and transmission fluid, never greased a thing on it, original wheel bearings ( still tight like new ). It's lifted 2 inches on 30 inch motohavocs and tracks for the winter been over the rack in mud nearly every winter. Everything is bone stock other than the lift, wheels and tires and tracks. I've never had any of these problems. Hell never had a single problem with anything on the bike.
I smoked the belt on my Polaris in the first 5 minutes of driving it
2013 King quad 500 eps. I bought new .. I have 4500 miles on it and 530hrs. Just changed battery and tires. That's it.. still running stock belt.. great quad
Man my 2019 850 SP IS FREAKING AWESOME, however I just trail ride it and occasionally hit the water holes but I love it. My 2019 450 is a solid machine. My 2021 570 I feel they cheaper out on a lot of things.
Send it
The 850 and 1000 look better too
How are you sir ? I have a 2001 Polaris sportsman 500 ho . I’m interested in the greasing tool for the wheel bearings . How do I determine what size I need. Thanks for your help and the excellent videos. Tom
In 2013 I bought my wife a 450 and myself a 500 Sportsman. So far, we have changed the batteries twice. Regular maintenance does wonders. If you beat the living shit out of them, expect repairs. We are seeing an excessive amount of used Can am for sale, very few polaris.
My 2003 400 still works greats only ever replaced 2 belts and bearing
Owned a ‘17 Scrambler for a few months. Nothing but good things to say about it. Pretty much all of Cecco’s frame braces I installed, solid machine. I don’t recommend the power steering models for those who want to go fast on theirs. Upper a-arm through bolts for the frame braces is horrible polaris design, they hit the radiator if you try and remove them without pulling the radiator upwards. Plastics were chinsy feeling, that’s always how polaris has been. Was a solid machine though, zero issues other than me wearing out a lower ball joint on the front right side from hitting the same damn rock like 6 times making this one turn. Live and learn. And run at least 93 in these machines, they deserve it and prevent hiccups. Of course they can take 89, 87, etc.
Depends on how you take care of it, I had my 2018 highlifter since I was 16 and still have it 4 years later doesn’t smoke or sputter
The only bad thing about these machines is literally the front differential plate. I have a 2010 850 with 0 power steering and 28 inch mega mayhems so I run a heavy tire AND Im on stock axles. I hit mud and haven’t had to deal with much of any overheating! I run a big gun and k&n filter with no tuner.
I had a 2007 Polaris sportsman 400 I had my belt go out one time replaced it with a Kevlar belt zero problems after that
I,m a atv mechanic and I LOVE Polaris,! I stay busy with ALL models.
All you have to do is flip over your winch cover screen and it will show you where to cut it out for the witch so you still have your guard. I have a 2019 Polaris sportsman that is snorkeled radiator kit relocated, has 4" lift on it with 29 and a half inch tires, 1 in wheel spacers, epi mud clutch kit and it works great. If you want to take that thing through the mud relocate your radiator to the top of the storage box. If you want your winch covered cut out the lines on the factory grill guard
I have a 2022 850 what size is the Greaser for this year
You are bang on about the wheel bearings, I changed them so often I was able to swap one out in 35 minutes. I bought the bearing tool and a press I was doing so many.. I was not aware of the bearing greaser tool until last fall when I bought one. The prop shaft and rear drive shafts u-joints are junk as well and the rear diff seals on both quads gave me grief as the diff kept filling with water. Other than that the quad is great.
Just came across this video. I agree with some of what you mention. But I am running an older 2017 570 Sportsman. I never wash it, but I do rinse it off. Looks like crap, but that's just a visual thing. Hahaha, I had to change my battery to something else and move it to the rear. We are on my wifes family acreage here in Maine. Mud. Lots and lots of mud. I snapped a front axle on a rock/stump I could not see. Iwas shocked at how easy it broke. EastLakes now up front. Bit I must admit, it keeps on chugging and as long as I hose that mud off and out of it, it just keeps going....I hope that you find a happy medium at some point. Appreciate the video man. Ride on.
I'm on my 5th 850 SP now and have had 6k plus miles on them before trading up. Oil in the air box on the 11 and new starters in every one. No belt, bushings, plugged radiator, or bearing ever replace. I do 70% of my riding in fall and winter. All trails with very little mud. So that likely has something to do with very little issues. I must admit that I do trade up every 2-3 years cuz I know this Polaris will soon be falling apart and I don't want to deal with it. If Yamaha or Honda ever makes a bike that rides and performs like the Polaris I will jumping ship.
I had a 2012 Sportsman 850 brand new. The throttle position sensor went bad on the thumb lever. I barely drove it...like 200 miles tops through ideal conditions. I traded it off. I'm going to get a Grizzly next.
So true about the front diff! Had same issue with scrambler 850
My sportsman has been crawling in idle. Do you know why this could be? I replaced the one way bearing in the clutch. It was blown up. Helped the problem but didn’t fix it.
Have an '03 Sportsman 600 Twin and by far the best bike I've ever owned. It seems Polaris has gone down hill as far as dependability these days. Trust the oldies, they last. Not to mention, my carbureted 600 is able to smoke my buddies '18 850 EFI in a launch due to his governor within the EFI system. He installed a stage two clutch, still gets smoked lol.
I have the MY17 850 base. 1100km it in about 65 hours. Short of the rad issue, my machine is flawless. I get chirped all the time from the Yamaha and CanAm riders, but the 850 is solid and reliable and will smoke any Grizzly and falls just short of the 1000R outlander. I'm more than happy with it. Interesting notes to watch for though.
My 2008 450 Sportsman has never given me one issue and I like the storage on it way better than the new set up where you have to buy a bunch of add ons.
Your points about the 570 are valid ( I have a 2021), but easily remedied for the most part, I put an after market radiator shroud on, makes all the difference ,I’m not a big mudder, don’t really enjoy it, I have 1250 miles on , no issues at all , also use it to plow, it’s a beast
If it's that bad then sell it. Problem solved. I'll buy it right now💯
I've had three of them from a 2006 to a 2020.... NO issues at all. Just some basic maintenance and grease. I ride them pretty hard in tough conditions/terrain and barely even bother to wash it. I just pull in to the pressure wash station on the way home to knock the mud off. It's super RAD and performs great.. Totally stock
Ireally don't think polaris will ever come close to japanese engineering fit and finish and attention to detail,if they have'nt got it now,they never will.But,how you treat and maintain equipment also is a big factor.
I realize this is a different machine from the big boys but , I have a story to share . I bought a 2021 450 ho . I do not sport ride and do light work around my property . Six months later the engine had a top end knock , pretty bad . It had less than 140 hours on the quad . Got it back a month later got it back . No problems ever since .
so what do you recommend that is similar?
The reason I bought a grizzly. I bought one to ride not work on. Great video.
I like the older Sportsman 500 ho when they used the Fuji / Subaru Robin Japanese Engines. I have a 2013 500 HO with 1900 miles and like 270 hours. The older engines were rock solid after the first couple 2-3 years they started putting them in the 500's. With that said, Several cv axles have been replaced on mine over the years and I don't Sink it or anything. I still have the stock size tires too.. Also, the wheel bearings do seem to wear out pretty quick, and the suspension has always been noisy and bushings wear out pretty quick. I don't think I would buy a new Polaris, just IMO. I would go for a Suzuki King Quad 750, Kawasaki Brute Force 750 or maybe a Yamaha if I bought New today.
I had a Polaris once, once was enough. Never again! Love my Grizzly!
Have a 1996 sportsman 400 got it pretty much brand new, stock tires with nipples on them. First the Carb, then the 4wd wiring, handlebar bushing, wheel bearings, brakes, chain adjustment, lost of complete power, starter solenoid bad, and a few other things. Like this guy, love it when it runs couldn't be happier, but every time something breaks and I don't even know it until I go to ride the next time and it wont start or etc. And I haven't even rode it much at all, less than 10 hours I've put on it
All my other toys are yamaha and have never had a problem with any of them and I beat the hell out of them, only thing was a carb jet clean. Yamaha all the way
You've got a 30 year old machine with 10 hours on it, and you wonder why it has problems...
I have owned many atvs. 2 yrs ago I purchased my dream atv, a 2017 Can Am Renegade xxc. I was also fortunate enough to buy a 2019 KQ that same year. The KQ was strictly for work only cleaning trails, moving downed trees etc. After spring cleanup was over I decided to put the KQ away and got out the Renegade. Well turns out that I didn't like the Renegade and just wanted to get back on my KQ. So I sold the CanAm and never looked back. I upgraded the shocks, rims and tires, and put some graphics on the KQ. It is the best atv that I have ever owned hands down. I have also owned a Polaris Scrambler years ago and it broke everytime I rode. I have owned a Yamaha wolverine atv since 2008 and I have never had to fix it one time. I change the oil and clean the air filter. Bottom line is I will never own a CanAm or Polaris ever again.
I've owned Sportsman from 04 through a 2020, some with power steering, some without.... I had a voltage regulator go bad on the 04, and I did wheel bearings on an 18 which had almost 3,000 miles on it.... Also had to replace a motor mount on a 19... Other than those things, I've never had any issues at all.... I'm currently on a 19 with power steering, and it still has the original battery.... Based on your comment about how much water came out of the bearings when you greased them, it sounds like you're one of those guys that thinks it's a boat..... I do water crossings here and there, big puddles, etc, but I don't just submerge it in mud and water.... Maybe you should get an Argo Amphibious vehicle that's designed for all of that water, rather than a quad and complain about it..... I could buy a Honda Ridgeline, then complain when it fails, doing what my crew cab 2500 Silverado does with ease, but it'd be pointless.... Y'all that beat the shit out of your machines, then cry constantly, obviously have more money than brains.... Also, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki all have issues with things when used as a boat/submarine.....Just my 2 cents
Never had those problems yet had it for a year put bigger tires on it still runs fine
Install aftermarket fender wells fixes the problem with the mud.
Im pretty happy with my 2019 Sportsman 570 which is my 2nd 570, other than battery placement. I have 100 head of cattle so often times im riding through knee deep manure in the spring. In the winter I run tracks on it which if you know anything about atvs tracks are extremely hard on machines. I live where its -20 right now just an FYI. Ive put 3200 miles on it in two years and only problem I've had to replace battery. i will say with my first 570 i started having more issues when i got to 6000 miles. but i also bought that machine used and it had some issues from the idiot who owned it first. (must've rolled it)
LOL
My pop has had his since 2006 and it has had zero problems
My 2013 has been nothing but great. Never had an issue. Runs just as good as any other ATV. I use it for hunting (very rough terrain) and plowing my driveway. Very satisfied.
They are fine for stuff like that, if you mid with them they will get wrecked quick
Ha ha ha I like this guy. I've had a bunch of problems with my 2018 Artic cat Alterra 700.
Polaris and artic cat are Garbage
I absolutely loved my 2001 sportsman 500 HO thing was a BEAST at the time . Now I have upgraded but I never had any issues with it and we beat it as much as one could . Only ever got stuck like twice but If you saw what we did anyone would be impressed. I have yet to try can am and I’m curious but as of now I ride a grizzly 700 .. will upgrade from that eventually as well ! But absolutely love it to death ! Yamahas are no joke
yep, I had a Grizzly 700 and beat it to death. Now I'm back in the market, and trying to see which brand to go with. I read these comments and it seems like these fancy models have issues I never had with the Grizz. Might have to go back to Yamaha
Im about to buy a 2000 sportman 500 for 1000 should i?
@@marte1a256 no
@@MrTomtusti i did and already had to replace chain sprockets and secondary clutch along with the belt. I think I’m going to sell it. I wish your comment would’ve came through before I bought it
@@marte1a256 yep, 2008 500 ho efi here, maintenance is key, had from new and I follow the maintenance by the book, sound like you bought one driven hard and put away wet unfortunately
I have a Polaris 2014 550 it was awesome same problem bearings otherwise good just bought a 850 dealership said bearings have changed don't believe them want to get the Greaser what size was the Greaser you used 44 mil
Put 300 hours on my 450 in less than a year. So far havent had sny problems at all.
I’ve got 600 hours and 7500KM and hasn’t had a single issue. Replaced the bearings last year and what not. Just bought a 2021 570 should be hear soon
@@chrishansen8026 update: at around 350 she quit Just found out the crankshaft needs to be replaced
I recently purchased a 2005 Sportsman 500 H.O. is that a good engine? Never owned a Polaris before.
Yes great engine pretty bulletproof.
I’ve got a 2018 with around 2500 miles on it. The ONLY issues I’ve ever had with them, is the stator went bad a couple months ago (thankfully was JUST before the warranty period ended, so the fix was free), and just yesterday I shredded my drive belt. Keep in mind, I drive the thing like I Fuckin stole it. Constant drifting corners, jumps, mud holes, etc.
Maintenance is key my man. It’s not hard to grease the fittings every other ride, and spray out the radiator before/after every ride. Takes all of 5 minutes. Your radiator is fucked tho, I have the same year and I don’t know why yours is angled upwards. Mine is angled downwards.
I would say you can see from all of my videos the level of maintenance that I do. I would also say that most people don't notice these issues because they don't do maintenance and don't care.
This guys is awesome .. thanks for a great video, did you drink a couple monster energy drinks before filming haha.
I DID!!! LOL
I have a 2020 570 Sportsman premium with 280 hours on it, so far I've not experienced any of the issues you've spoken of.
I have a 2020 570 sportsman that a customer just came in last week with a cracked oil pan caused from the front motor mount bolts shearing off probably due to negligence or abuse of the quad bike only has 80 hours on and needs both motor mounts motor mount bolts oil pan and gasket replaced and I have done multiple radiator relocation kits due to the crappy position and size of the radiator on these quads I normally recommend a high performance electric fan set with the radiator relocation kit install and also a snorkel installed alongside said items and occasionally have ran into ground and positive battery wire loose connections because the factory crimp does not hold very well especially with regular use ( weekend warrior) trail riding but with all that said I used to hate Polaris ATVs and since working on them I've grown fond of them and their minimal maintenance costs/repairs. Honda is still King though
I have a 110 sportsman 2016 I’ve muddled it hit jumps drifted it rolled it and the only thing I have issues with is the tires loose air slowly. And the only thing I’ve broke is a tire I just got a nail in the tire
I have a 99 335 and it runs good the only bad thing about them is the batt and it depends how you run the four wheelers too
Does Polaris not have radiator on top options?
Not gonna lie, and maybe I’ve been lucky, but I haven’t had any issues with my 19 sportsman 570 SP & I have 100 hours on it and 800 miles. Other then it squeaking pretty good when I hit the breaks and the pads are 100% fine. & the shifter is made out of plastic junk that pops out. I have changed the belt once and haven’t had any issues with the battery. I’m a bigger guy and I beat the absolute piss out of it and it’s held up so far. I’m sure just from the way I ride I’ll need something soon lol
Use a hone to deglaze your rotors and the squeak will go away … you can get flat hones ( NAPA AUTO ) that go into a drill that work pretty good
I have 2 , one 570 and 850 never had a problem with them i guess it depends how you treat your machine or just bad luck .
Just bought a 2021 850 premium trail and its a monsterrrr
@@DuttyBoukmansToe how old are you? Do you know anything about the powersports market ??? Do you know how hard it is to find ANYTHING right now lol. Let alone a NEW name brand quad. I drove 3 hours to a dealership to get the 850 and it was the ONLY one around bigger than a 600 lol .. what do you ride im assuming nothing for asking stupid questions like that.
@@nickalasd.1091 chill buddy, CHILL
If you beat your machine no matter what you have it will break. I don’t understand how most of you guys don’t realize that. Take care of your machine, and it will last longer
I have a 2002 Sportsman 500 with EPI clutch kits and I haven’t had and still don’t have any problems with it…
I also have a Can Am 1000 Renegade with no problems
I've got three Sportsmans. Two 570's and a 1k. I've had and 850 as well. I ride the hell out of them and I've never had an overheat. Also never lost a wheel bearing or had an issue with power steering. The battery does definitely suck.
High hp big engine canam same issue I mean yea the weak slugs prolly won't run hot
Just bought my first quad a 2023 polaris sportsman 850 ultimate trail and no regrets dont plan on beating it and ill just take care of her and clean/service her
Yea but the Polaris smokes the Honda
Not in reliability
Nothing beats Honda In reliability
If only they made a mud specific model.
That is a aftermarket winch, it’s Kai. Polaris winches actually fit nice.
My dad had a 2014 Polaris sportsman 550 hunting edition and babied it, prevent maintenance and all since he’s a mechanic and every ride he took it on an axle or something would break and it got to the point where he had it up on the jack it took him a year to put it back together then he sold it. I know it’s and older model so it may have been just that but Polaris lost my dads time and money with that machine. And compared to his 2000 Polaris sportsman 500 he rode the shit out of it beating and took it for a ride every week and it was a tank didn’t have any issues till the end when my dad was already thinking of getting a newer one
I own 2 sportsmans that I bought new from dealer. 2010 400cc carb and 2017 450ho. I grease the sus points and maintain the batteries during winter… nothing more. I do treat them with respect but they aren’t babies. I plow my yard with the 400. Havnt had these issues. They both run great. My 450 has fouled 2 plugs so far tho, plus I swapped the plug wire as well. I carry an extra plug in my tool kit just in case this ever happens again. I believe it was bad gas tho
I liked the video just because of the title. I hate my Polaris.
Awesome video. Sounds like completely valid points!
My Polaris sportsman 450 2020 I’ve had for 4 years never ever had any problems with it ever except basic stuff like tire, wear and getting a little bit slower because it is heavily used every single day and still rides fine to this day
07 sportsman efi 620 hours rolled maybe 10 times. I'm good about fluids and maintenance however I beat the breaks off this thing. Love it.
Sorry bro but I ride mine 7+ miles a day just to get home. These things are bomb proof. Take care of yours and it won’t break down. Not sure where you got the ideas about the battery either. I had mine buried in 4 feet of snow from October-March and it turns right on every time.
I have a 2014 Polaris 850 touring With 2500 km on it was outside all Winter with a covered on it buried in snow (-25) - 30. I thought the battery would be dead but it started Right up When it came Spring I was shocked I thought I was going to have to get a new battery for it.
Love my 2 Sportsmans! I've gotten excellent service out of both of them. So much so that I would have a hard time buying anything else at this point. Maybe it's the operator and not the bike?
True
It sucks spending so much money on an atv and having so many problems. I have a buddy with a Polaris Rzr and he had so many issues. But great video thanks for the info.
i have a 2013 850xp with over 8000 miles and have had no problems at all. like i always say it's all about they way you treat it and service it.
My battery on my Polaris 550 four-wheeler lasted 10 years
I've owned a few Polaris models at this point. Your right, questionable engineering. But I keep going back 🤣
I own a 2004.5 sportsman 700 efi and drive it every weekend been flipped crashed few times but all ive ever needed was regular maintenance every once in a while. No major issues i love it and ive owned every brand of atv at one point or another. However my winch doesnt work i guess thats one negative lol
I own a 2019 sportsman xp 1000 premium and love it. Most comfortable ATV I’ve had , and the power is insane. Ive had Hondas in the past and they were great, but after making the switch I’ll never go back
I got a 2010 sportsman and we have no problems with it it is the best machine I have ever had. You say their junco because you ride mud all the time just mud and I recommend mud light 2s 26” best tire in my opinion for a 500👍😀
If you get mud build up at the radiator. Why not make a plate on the sides so it doesn’t throw the mud or dirt on it
Would like to see videos on each mod you did.
Why is my man in such a rush throughout the video😂
2010 sportsman 400 h.o. Owner chiming in, not once have I had any issues as stated in this video, wheel bearings fine, front diff fine, bushings? Never greased them and still fine. My radiator is even more exposed then this model yet never ran into any issues there either. All depends how you treat your items in my opinion
No manual pull start which is important up here in Alaska.
At least that guy he’s honest about the atv he bought!!!!Polaris should listen carefully about polaris owner!Especially when you paid 10,15,20 thousand dollards for a polaris atv!!!!
I just ordered a 2022 Grizzly cuz Polaris does blow -
Good luck?!?!?!?!
So when are you selling your 850
My 2011 Sportsman 550 Touring EPS has had none of these problems. I guess some of us just know how to take care of our machines.
1000 miles on my 18 850, never had one single issue, machine is a beast