Predator...Yea right!

[RideRed400EX]

Don't flame my post because of the title because I think there has been WAY to much hype about the Polaris. A neighbor just traded has Raptor in to buy this bike (probably to match his shiny Sportsman 700) and, in my opinion, he got screwed. It has nowhere near the power of my 416. Handling is good but the suspension sucks on anything but super-smooth trails.

I haven't been around for a while so if everyone is tired of hearing about this I apologize. Just offering up another 2 cents.

[kicken250x]

I too think they are POS's. I think they will have tranny probs being this is Polaris's first manual clutch quad. The suspension looks like it would be the best on the market. I've rode one but not through anything rough or fast it front end doesnt dive like the 400 when you hit the front breaks and they really dont have all that much power....

[infantry317]

This subject has been going back and forth for a while. First I'll say, I haven't ridden one, but I met Daryl Rath and looked at his and talked to him about the Predator. He is running stock shocks with rezzies (and kicking everyones A**). A WB E-series pipe (adds 8hp according to Cody Anderson) and a Yfz426 carb (takes care of low end problem). A friend of mine that also races with Daryl rode one of his stock ones and thought it was pretty good for stock.

[EricB]

the front end dive is just adjustment i'd say...

[Zuki]

Originally posted by kicken250x
I think they will have tranny probs being this is Polaris's first manual clutch quad.

I'm not too wild on the looks and all, but better redo your research. This is actually Polaris' second manual tranny.

[kicken250x]

This is Polaris's 2nd manual tranny quad?? What was the other one? The only quads I can ever remember them making was automatic trannies. Thanks for correcting me though I dont like to spread false info about things.

[Atreyu]

It was one of there large displacement utilities...I cant remember which one though. I belive the cyclone was a manula tranny too (i could be wrong)

i wanna say hte first manual was the Expedition 425 then they made a few otehr 5 speed utilities

[Rip_Tear]

What was Polaris's first manual Tranny? I have never seen one, and even the dealers I asked said they have never seen one.

[ZMAN]

there ok i'm not gonna bash one but pooplaris has that big packet in dirtwheeles and personally i seen a stock Z beat a preadator by about 5-6 quad lenghs and the man on the preadator has had it about a week and he is still breakin it in but he rides slow through trees and the plastic scratches east it was made for the track but i wudnt put it on that either

Pull
On
Leaver
And
Realize
It
Sucks

[VooDuu Child]

I remember reading somewhere that polaris didn't make the tranny on the Predator. Time will tell the tale of this machine, as with any. Still very glad to have my Z.

[Zuki]

Originally posted by VooDuu Child
I remember reading somewhere that polaris didn't make the tranny on the Predator. Time will tell the tale of this machine, as with any. Still very glad to have my Z.

Think, i repeat think, it was the motor actually. If my memory serves me correctly i think the motor for the predator was being built by Fuji. No joke, at least i think it was the pred.

[goochy]

they also make Victory motorcycles, with a clutch.

[Texan32]

Zuki is right. Pooplaris also uses Fugi to build their watercraft engines.

[Z400central]

polaris didnt make the motor or tranny.....Fuji did........fuji ALSO makes the engines for subaru...boeing, and other major companies......so problems with the motor and tranny? highly doubt it...

[Texan32]

hpi,
i would bet money on that. I have PERSONALLY seen SEVERAL fuji jet ski motor weld pistons to cylinders!!!!!!!!!

[Rip_Tear]

So no one answered the question about what other quad Polaris has made with a manual Tranny, I would seriously like to know. I highly doubt that Polaris has actually made a manual tranny, when they can get other people to do it for them.

[cheetah]

I wish some people would lay off Polaris a little bit. I'm not a big Polaris fan, but at least they are trying to give the people what they want in a new high performance sport quad and that's a little more than some companies. *cough*Honda*cough*:rolleyes:

[Zuki]

Originally posted by cheetah5431
I wish some people would lay off Polaris a little bit. I'm not a big Polaris fan, but at least they are trying to give the people what they want in a new high performance sport quad and that's a little more than some companies.

I hear ya on that. Just stating facts that its not their first manual tranny, and that fuji makes their motors. Can't knock em for tryin, that's for sure. Look at it this way, it adds a competitive motivational tool for the other mfrs. to get their arses in high gear to get something out in order not to lose their loyalty base. ****, the more sport quads out there, the better for all of us in the long run. That way, nobody gains a monopoly on the market AND OUR WALLETS!

[RED121572]

Yes, Fuji makes the motor, but its not Fuji's design, its Polaris's design. Fuji makes the motor to Polaris spec's.

I have recently purchased a Predator and have about three hours on it. At this point, I can tell you this much;

Compared to the stock set up on the 400, the suspension on the Polaris is far superior for high speed tracking. Its plush and it doesnt wonder. As for the trails? I havent found out yet, but will next weekend.

The machine was designed a bit differently. It was built not to be a wheelie king. And its not. The polaris doesnt have that bottom end "snap" my Honda does. The polaris does get rolling in a hurry though, once mid range has set in...your in for a scary ride through top end. It absolutely screams!

Ive raced a stock Z-400 with my current honda and walked away from it. My honda would get the first jump on my Polaris, but the Polaris would in no time scream past the Honda.

Make no mistake, The polaris isnt a master of low end grunt, but it is a handful at top end. Now, Ive never ridden or raced a ported 416EX, but if I were to bet on the Polaris or the 416, I would put my money on the Polaris.

Im sure some of you have seen this but Ill print it again. I read this info off the internet. The predator in this test was fitted with a GPS.....

The Polaris does 0-60 in less than 6 seconds.
...thats 4 seconds faster than a 400EX
...thats 3.5 seconds faster than a Z-400
...thats 2 seconds faster than a Raptor.
Top Speed was Measured at 76MPH.
(all the machines above are stock)

Stay tuned. After my trail ride next weekend, Im going to post a thread on all of my thoughts about the poopalaris.:D

[Texan32]

Hey red. keep us posted on how she hold up over time.

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

I am going riding today!It will be the 1st time I have been actually out on the trails with the Predator. I will get some pictures and let you know how it ran.

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

Here are a couple....Sorry when I downloaded it the red turned green:grr I hate *****ty cameras

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

here is a better 1 after we were done and it is actually red...I think it might be green because my camera dont take very good motion pictures

[exriderdude]

i think polaris should just stick to there utilities, i think that the predator is not going to be too race worthy, atleast not in any upper classes.


i not dissing or anything cuz polaris is a great company, for utilities. THEY ARE #1 IN ATV SALES YOU KNOW.

[RED121572]

Originally posted by exriderdude
i think polaris should just stick to there utilities, i think that the predator is not going to be too race worthy, atleast not in any upper classes.


i not dissing or anything cuz polaris is a great company, for utilities. THEY ARE #1 IN ATV SALES YOU KNOW.


Whoa! Did you set yourself up! LOL Tell me, why dont you think they are not going to be race worthy? Need input!!

RED

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

I am waiting along with Red on this one....why isn't it going to be race worth?

[RED121572]

Predator,

How do you like your machine? I really like mine so far. Let me know what you think of it as a trail machine. Im taking a short trip east of here next sunday for a trail ride.

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

I really like mine as a trail machine, It climbed hills great and actually it rides wheelies great!I can ride 1 for a while. I climbed a few nice hills today and at the top of 1 I LAUNCHED!It was the furthest I had ever jumped a quad. I am going again tomorrow I am pretty sure. I will update again then too!

my dad thought he could outdrag me this morning too...lmao we were going back home right down the middle of the road he says go and luckily I was just putting down through in 1st gear or he would have gotten a better jump on his auto..he has a 700 Sportsman I didn't shift out of 3rd!

and everybody dont think I am bragging I beat a utility!I just thought it was quite funny that he thought he was going to beat me!:p

[RED121572]

Dude,

I dragged a 700 sportsman on pavement over the summer with my Honda. Man ole man, If I were to get a utility, that would be it. I beat him but he never got too far behind. Thats outstanding for a quad that wieghs two tons. lol

On that polaris, Ive read the suspension is set a bit soft for jumping. Did you find that to be true at all?

I was jumping it a little bit in and out of a ditch yesterday. It seems like a great quad to catch air on.

Does your machine have that annoying chain rattle? I hated it at first, but the more I rode it, the more I didnt pay any attention to it.

I was going to remove the heel guards this morning, I got one of em off. Unfortuantely, I dont think the rear fenders are sturdy enough and would flop up and down like crazy.

When you figure out a way to remove the warning stickers, let me know. lol

[xXx*PREDATOR*xXx]

Powerwasher! lol jsut make sure you dont hit the decals!and it did seem like a great bike to jump on! and the rattling when I test drove it I realized it and I was like we wont buy it unless you fix it...lol but they did! yea my step-bro has a 400 and my dad can keep right behind him on pavement,but once we all hit the trails thats when everything changes!

[Woodsrider]

Originally posted by hpicrv00
polaris didnt make the motor or tranny.....Fuji did........fuji ALSO makes the engines for subaru...boeing, and other major companies......so problems with the motor and tranny? highly doubt it...

Uhmm fuji dont make jet engines dude. GE, RR, and Pratt&Whitney is all you will find on boeing jets.

And as far as other MT quads, the 425 expidition was the only other one, and they had a recall on mostly all of them. For a pin backing out causing it to seize.

[MX26]

Let the haters hate. Who cares. I bet they wouldn't be running their mouths saying how poorly Polaris are designed when their ride is broken down out in the woods, and you come along with a rope.

The 1st manual transmission was put on the 425 Expedition model. I stopped following Polaris closely about mid 1999, but I have never heard of a tranny failure on those models. I'm not saying they're not out there, and there arent alot of them, just that I haven't heard of any.

Oh... And that comment about Polaris never being competitive in the upper ranks of racing..... LOL, Aside from the Moto 440 and 250R, what production quad IS competitive in A+ racing?

[toby400ex]

someone said that darlys shocks are stock, they are stock bodys but are getting revalved cuz they are out of whack.....like the looks of the whole machine lol.

[Z400central]

yup. Darl's are stock fox with rezzys......
wonder how those walkers are?
:confused:

[infantry317]

Well, when I looked at his Predator and talked to Rath @ the Moto-Dome, he said to me that they were stock, just added rezzies. This was on 12-15-02. I'm sure he did re-valve them he rebuild all his stuff to his tastes from what I understand. Keep in mind he has three machines. So we may not be talking about the same unit. He's also doing a lot of experimenting.
Scott

[RED121572]

Im wondering If those Walker Evans are any good also. The sell for 900 clams. Im gonna call polaris today.

Im gonna give Elka a call to see if when they plan on producing a shock as well.

[QuadTrix6]

Don't Knock It Till You've Rocked It :D

[RED121572]

Get this....

I called Elka this morning, couldnt get anyone on the line. So I sent them an email. I just knew my email would be lost and I would here from them sometime next month.

They actually replied back to me today. Now, thats the way to do business!! They sent me info and prices on there predator shocks.

Ive heard good things about Elka Shocks, there customer reps seem to be on top of things as well. Thumbs up for Elka Inc.:D