Mojave, CA - Last year Polaris started
a whole new era in ATV racing by introducing the first
ever IRS sport ATV, the Outlaw 500. I was given the
opportunity to race the 500 for ATVriders.com at the
Spartan GNCC race in Kentucky after not having a chance
to ride in over eight months before the race, so I was
worried about not being in shape enough to last the
2 hours and still finish well in the overall results.
I was pleasantly surprised when I not only finished,
but I was second overall in the Morning Race. I felt
like I could go at least 2 more laps, which I largely
contribute to the IRS suspension being so forgiving
in the rough Kentucky terrain. I was very impressed
with this new Polaris Outlaw, but I noted two things
that I'd like to see changed. One was it need to go
on a diet and second it need a more snappy engine to
be competitive in the pro class.
 |
KTM
Powered
Outlaw 525 |
Not long after that race, the rumors started flying
about a new Outlaw that would be getting an engine
from a KTM motorcycle. I have rode and raced KTM bikes
in the past and knew that they build some of the best
off-road racing bikes in the world. I had a feeling
this was going to be exactly what I wanted in the
Outlaw.
In October I got a call from Harlen Foley, ATVriders.com,
asking me if I'd like to go with him out to California
and test the all new 2007 Outlaw 525. Before he even
finished his sentence I was packing my bags. I had
never been so excited to ride a new quad before.
We arrived in Mojave CA to a beautiful snow fall
on top of the surrounding Sierra Mountains. It was
like something out of a Robert Frost novel. Although
very windy and a bit cold for Southern California
it was still great weather for riding.
The folks from Polaris picked us up from our hotel
and drove us to the Jaw Bone Canyon riding area just
outside of Mojave. It was the typical high desert
terrain with plenty of sand washes, rocks, whoops
and steep hill climbs, which was great terrain to
really open up the Outlaw 525.
First on order was a walk around of the bikes as
the Polaris reps explained the new features for 2007.
First off the engine is straight out of KTM's 525
EXC motorcycle with a few minor changes to make it
more suitable for the Outlaw ATV. The oil capacity
was doubled over the motorcycle for longer life and
fewer oil changes. Also, the 6th gear was replaced
with a reverse gear, and the Mikuni carburetor was
replaced with a Keihin FCR-MX carburetor, which best
carb on the market bar none!
| |
|
|
Keihin
FCR-MX Carburetor |
Arvin
Ryde FX Shocks |
The Outlaw 525 also was upgraded with new dual piston
front calipers along with a hydraulic clutch for better
response and feel, and it is equipped with Maxxis
radial tires, which will be much better than the old
Dunlop tires. The engine is more compact leaving room
for a larger 3.9 gallon fuel tank, this will be great
news for the GNCC and desert guys because there will
be no need to buy a larger tank. The air filter has
been changed to a larger better filtering system.
The seat latch problem the plagued the 500 has been
redesigned and should no longer be an issue. Polaris
also changed the gusset on the sway bar so that will
no longer break like the early release Outlaw 500.
The suspension was also switched from the Fox shocks
to the Arvin Ryde FX shocks. With all these changes,
the all new Outlaw 525 also went on a diet and lost
39 pounds, which reduced the weight down to a more
nimble 395lbs, which is nearly equal to the Yamaha
Raptor 700.
| |
|
|
The
new dual piston front calipers paired with a
hydraulic clutch provide for the best front
brakes on any production sport ATV on the market
today. |
