[creed82]

Many of you know I owned and loved my 2016 Honda Rancher (SRA, EPS, DCT AUTO, 4x4). I put over 3300 miles on my Rancher, mostly on the forest roads and trails in my area.

I have been watching the Polaris Sportsman evolve for years, and the 570 has intrigued me. Mostly, it has disgusted me with how many reliability complaints I read online.

My new boss owns a 2014 Sportsman 570 with just over 1000 miles on it. This week he invited me to take it out any time I like.

Today I had my first experience on a Polaris Sportsman 570 EFI (non-EPS). I did a 38-mile loop through the rough country and rode all types of terrain, including: paved highway, rocky road, hills, straights, jumps, sandy washes, two-track, forest road, cross-country, etc.

These are my open/honest first impressions:
1. The Sportsman is WAY more powerful than the Rancher...like, in another league.
2. The Sportsman is far more comfortable at speed, and the engine does not sound/feel at all stressed running down the road even at 45-50 mph. Increase throttle pressure and it picks up more speed. My Rancher was running out of breath past say 43 mph, with a top speed of 50mph. This Sportsman is comfortable/capable beyond 50mph, and I hit 65 mph on several straights.
3. The Sportsman has superior suspension - at least in terms of ride and comfort. On the Sportsman I could sail through terrain that became challenging or too rough on the Rancher. Jumps land like a cushion on the 570.
4. The flat floorboards are more comfortable to me on the Sportsman, when compared to the raised pegs on the Rancher.
5. The standing position on the Sportsman is much better than on the Rancher.
6. Build quality feels superior on the Rancher, especially quality control. The Sportsman's plastics and bodywork rattle like crazy at slower speeds.
7. There is incredible power on tap with the Sportsman 570, but I learned quickly to treat the CVT transmission it like a turbo that has to spool up. If I want a hit of power to pull up the front tires or kick out the back end on a turn, I have to hit the throttle one full second before I want the power surge. This is opposite the Rancher with it's direct transmission that responds immediately to throttle input, but with less power.
8. When I got back from my ride, I felt less fatigued than I did after the same ride on the Rancher.

I will not get into all of the other details. I will point out that I am not trying to be negative about the Rancher, or sell the Sportsman. I am simply sharing my honest impressions from today's ride. I am not even addressing issues like reliability or resale or features. Those are long topics in and of themselves.

 

[SamUK]

Hey Creed, good to hear from you

I’ll agree 100% with the floor boards on a Rancher, the peg sits to high from the board. When I made the boards for my 300 I took that into consideration, I’m able to stand comfortably with my heel and toes on the boards whilst still having grip from the pegs under the arch of my foot/boots.

Is the sportsman IRS, I don’t think you mentioned? I have read many write ups that say IRS is by far the way forward for comfort. Has your boss owned this since new, any reliability issues as of yet?
Hope your enjoying your new job too, I can see another ATV coming into your life sooner rather than later haha

 

[fishfiles]

The is only one problem with the Polaris , they are the cheapest atv out there for a reason , cause they are cheaply built , one step above the Chinese clones , they don't last -----time will tell

 

[shadetree]

The is only one problem with the Polaris , they are the cheapest atv out there for a reason , cause they are cheaply built , one step above the Chinese clones , they don't last -----time will tell

yep, every one I know that has a Polaris ?, has had more time fixing it, than riding it !. parts are very high dollar. they ride great, which about the only thing they have over any other brand.

 

[mac102004]

Polaris makes very competitive machines but I would not want to own one outside of the factory warranty length or without carrying a fire extinguisher lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alloutdoors]

My neighbor has one and agree, a powerful/great riding unit. I have owned multiple Polaris products (Rangers) and always enjoyed the ride and features, but I keep coming back to Japan models.

 

[mrbb]

and this is pretty much why so many folks say HONDA is out of date with there atv's
everyone seems to make faster more powerful models of same like category
Polaris have always rode softer than most all other atv's
but that softer ride also I think is why things fail faster , alot more movement, means faster wear on joints

honda sells atv's based more on there OLD super long lasting reliable ATV's than another other reason IMO
and sadly, as honda sat back doing pretty much little to any new additions or updating
the rest of atv makers passed them
and then many ATV makers now make atv's almost as reliable, DARN close, but with more power and modern things
and IMO, Honda , reliability is NOT what it used to be
and they are getting by on that OLD Rep they had, that loyal folks yap about all the time LOL
I still like foot shiting, too old school from growing up doing so, but minus that, honda doesn't offer what so many other makers do in so many other ways

Honda needs to step up there game as so many seem to say so all the time here?

 

[ATC4ever]

Friend of mine has the previous model (500) & changes bushings on it more often than i can count, he also had to drill holes in the brace that holds them to put grease zerks in. Another friend used to work at a Pol/ dealer & said they were always selling bushings for both sleds & wheelers.
My 2c.

 

[creed82]

Hey Creed, good to hear from you

I’ll agree 100% with the floor boards on a Rancher, the peg sits to high from the board. When I made the boards for my 300 I took that into consideration, I’m able to stand comfortably with my heel and toes on the boards whilst still having grip from the pegs under the arch of my foot/boots.

Is the sportsman IRS, I don’t think you mentioned? I have read many write ups that say IRS is by far the way forward for comfort. Has your boss owned this since new, any reliability issues as of yet?
Hope your enjoying your new job too, I can see another ATV coming into your life sooner rather than later haha

Howdy Sam! Yes, aggressive riding on the Rancher always bugged my feet a little, just the constant pressure across one spot on my foot.

Yes, the 570 has IRS plus a lot more travel, and I'm sure that makes the difference. He has owned it since new, and so far he has had no reliability issues. I think it has about 1070 miles on it now.

I started with a new company this past Monday, just one week in. So far, I love it. BIG IMPROVEMENT! And yes, I sure hope I can snag another ATV soon. I NEED one for my sanity.

 

[creed82]

Here's my video review of it:

 

[creed82]

The is only one problem with the Polaris , they are the cheapest atv out there for a reason , cause they are cheaply built , one step above the Chinese clones , they don't last -----time will tell

That is PRECISELY my concern with the Sportsman.

 

[creed82]

The is only one problem with the Polaris , they are the cheapest atv out there for a reason , cause they are cheaply built , one step above the Chinese clones , they don't last -----time will tell

yep, every one I know that has a Polaris ?, has had more time fixing it, than riding it !. parts are very high dollar. they ride great, which about the only thing they have over any other brand.

Yes, after my ride I would say comfort and power are the advantages. Just this morning I was reading about a "babied" '16 Sportsman 850 blowing the motor at 2200 miles on the Polaris ATV forum. The same OP also complained about melting plastics, glowing pipes, etc.

 

[creed82]

Polaris makes very competitive machines but I would not want to own one outside of the factory warranty length or without carrying a fire extinguisher lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My favorite part of your quote..."without a fire extinguisher." Haha!

 

[creed82]

My neighbor has one and agree, a powerful/great riding unit. I have owned multiple Polaris products (Rangers) and always enjoyed the ride and features, but I keep coming back to Japan models.

I'm predicting that's what will happen to me.

 

[creed82]

and this is pretty much why so many folks say HONDA is out of date with there atv's
everyone seems to make faster more powerful models of same like category
Polaris have always rode softer than most all other atv's
but that softer ride also I think is why things fail faster , alot more movement, means faster wear on joints

honda sells atv's based more on there OLD super long lasting reliable ATV's than another other reason IMO
and sadly, as honda sat back doing pretty much little to any new additions or updating
the rest of atv makers passed them
and then many ATV makers now make atv's almost as reliable, DARN close, but with more power and modern things
and IMO, Honda , reliability is NOT what it used to be
and they are getting by on that OLD Rep they had, that loyal folks yap about all the time LOL
I still like foot shiting, too old school from growing up doing so, but minus that, honda doesn't offer what so many other makers do in so many other ways

Honda needs to step up there game as so many seem to say so all the time here?

Mrbb, please explain this line to me: "I still like foot shiting..." I mean to each his own, just curious. Haha!

 

[creed82]

Friend of mine has the previous model (500) & changes bushings on it more often than i can count, he also had to drill holes in the brace that holds them to put grease zerks in. Another friend used to work at a Pol/ dealer & said they were always selling bushings for both sleds & wheelers.
My 2c.

I did notice that this 570 has grease points all over the suspension and I thought, "I wish my Rancher had those."

 

[mrbb]

Mrbb, please explain this line to me: "I still like foot shiting..." I mean to each his own, just curious. Haha![/QUOTE]
real simple, I grew up riding things with REAL clutches, NO semi auto's or auto's
I shift gears on bikes with my left foot
its just natural for me to WANT to do it, I listen to the motor and WANT to shift as I feel is needed and NOT reply on the auto ??? to shift for me
since about NO one else but honda has a 4x4 atv with a foot shift, it really limits my options LOL

shifting gears manually is a skill so far and few have today,
I say LAZY # 1 reason why
and second, it takes MORE skills to shift manually, there is a lot more eye hand ear foot coordination involved with shifting manually, its a SKILL,
not every idiot can master
like a auto/semi auto deal of today's atv's and lazy society we live in
just look at cars and trucks today and how few can even be had in an stick shift
there was a time when stick shifts ruled the market, and main reason was they were more simple to fix and repair and they allowed for more use of a small motors HP, by allowing you to stay in a power range
auto trans were for more the rich folks, and not the average working man many many many moon's ago LOL

and then the average backyard tool turner could also work on them, they kept things simple as to todays high tech everything

 

[jdp]

Creed, I rode them and I feel at low speed or low ranger or say going down a hill the clutches and belt dont grab enough to hold back or pull smooth on hard hill pulls. All of these I rode were just 100 miles past break in. I prefer gear transmissions more.

 

[shadetree]

Mrbb, please explain this line to me: "I still like foot shiting..." I mean to each his own, just curious. Haha!

real simple, I grew up riding things with REAL clutches, NO semi auto's or auto's
I shift gears on bikes with my left foot
its just natural for me to WANT to do it, I listen to the motor and WANT to shift as I feel is needed and NOT reply on the auto ??? to shift for me
since about NO one else but honda has a 4x4 atv with a foot shift, it really limits my options LOL

shifting gears manually is a skill so far and few have today,
I say LAZY # 1 reason why
and second, it takes MORE skills to shift manually, there is a lot more eye hand ear foot coordination involved with shifting manually, its a SKILL,
not every idiot can master
like a auto/semi auto deal of today's atv's and lazy society we live in
just look at cars and trucks today and how few can even be had in an stick shift
there was a time when stick shifts ruled the market, and main reason was they were more simple to fix and repair and they allowed for more use of a small motors HP, by allowing you to stay in a power range
auto trans were for more the rich folks, and not the average working man many many many moon's ago LOL

and then the average backyard tool turner could also work on them, they kept things simple as to todays high tech everything[/QUOTE]

I agree with this all day long ^^^^^ !!. I love manual shifts on my motorcycles, atvs ( semi-auto for atvs ), I've owned a truck with a 4 speed manual tranny 4-banger ( dang good old truck back then ), all this crap they got today with es shifting and such ?..pfftttt..lazy mans..or womans...lol ..way of driving/ridin. my Silverado has a tach in it..AND IT HAS A AUTO TRANNY ?!..figure that out !!!..lol. only manual shift I've never drove is a manual shift on the column ( tree for all us old folks )..lmao.

 

[UnkleRaRa]

I got to ride my dads 850 through some mud yesterday.

The main thing that REALLY stands out on his machine is just how smooth and soft it is.

After jumping off my 400EX, riding that thing seriously felt like I was floating on a cloud.

It rides nicer than my car... seriously haha.

Another thing that may or may not be a good thing, is the engine braking.

I rode it around, and never even thought about touching the brakes.

If you were cruising at say 30mph standing up, and let off the throttle without being ready, it would toss you right over the handle bars haha.

The way Polaris mounts the engine and tranny also allows for a narrower seat, so you really feel like you're sitting on it properly, and not bow-legged to accommodate the trans.

Apparently the 2017 model they addressed the fire hazards by putting a butt load of heat shields everywhere, and the motor has been redesigned.

Only time will tell how long it'll go before issues arise, but that what warranty is for! haha.

I will keep you guys posted on how it goes over the next little while.