By any means – I do not intend to have this sparking an insane dispute here –

I remember when I got my Grizz than many, many people in this forum commented that EPS is for sissy’s – what are you a girl? What - you have no power to turn the handlebars blah, blah ….
Given the fact that Polaris came with and EPS system for the Sportsman – props for them. And for what they did with the 850. Was about time.

I am curious how many of you that made fun of the whole EPS on Yamaha are salivating about the new Sportsman and its features.

For me, I wouldn't get the P/S on the Polaris due to the diminished fuel capacity, I am able to cover over a hundred trail miles without adding fuel. Adding the epi springs on the front end adds lift to it and makes the steering feel a lot lighter than stock even carrying 4 gal extra on the front rack as I did at Taylor Park. Flipping the tie rod ends takes a lot of the bump steer and kickback out of it. For me, this works fine.

I think the EPS probably accomplishes this better and would be valuable for lots of riders, but after just finishing 700+ miles in a week, I can say I wasn't tired or sore from fighting a non P/S bike. bad camper battery and having to run generator twice a day, yes, but not steering effort.

And NO, i wouldn't consider someone a sissy because they rode a P/S bike.

I like another member have ridden ATVs for years without the power steering, so why would I need it now and it not worth the extra $ to me.

In years to come when I get old and weaker, I may consider it, but that is a long time from now.

I wouldn't make fun of anyone who had one with PS, I would push them off of it so I could give it a try.

I would get the EPS as I concentrated on how the steering actually felt while a rode for the weekend a couple of weeks ago. I think that the EPS would make the 850 a lot more nimble in tight trails than say the 800 is now. I drove a Grizzly with EPS and it was pretty good. I don't think that it is about strenght, I think it's about making better ATV's!

I don't really see the need for it. But then I have never ridden one with EPS. Ya got to know if it works for one the rest will follow. Kinda like lockers, IRS, more HP etc.

I had posted this earlier but here goes again. I had chance to ride a GRIZZ with PS on a rather rough trail I thought it was ok. Not really some thing that would be a deal maker for me, but I think and others have said my machine steers easy.

Is it nice yeah, hard to dispute that fact. It would be nice for POOPSIE but I can't say I have ever had a day that at end of the day my arms were about to fall off from steering. If it came with a machine I was buying as a free extra, by that I mean not paying extra that I knew of OK. I wouldn't add it to a machine with an extra cost, if was there I'd be ok with that. Just not a deal maker for me.

to ride a honda without the eps and then get on one with eps...........hondas needed this years ago...........on my polaris i didnt even think about ps cuz i didnt think it steered that bad. but after riding a honda for awhile now the ps would be nice......poor hondas going bye bye one day.........only not soon enough..

I have a Popo 700 AND a Griz 700. PS ROCKS!!! After I bought the Griz I posted in many forums how great it is. I posted that if I could get the PS from the Griz onto my Popo I would be happier than a pig in you-know-what. Now I got my wish - the 700 is being traded as soon as the 850's are available. I'm even willing to buy a 1st gen bike & deal with the issues that a new model will bring.
Now, if I could get a Popo with a front diff locker - that is what I feel Polaris needs to work on next. I rarely need the 4th wheel locked - 99% of the time 3 wheels churnin' will get me through whatever I'm in. Having that 4th wheel locked definitely affects the nimbleness of the Popo. The ride & overall feel of the Popo is much better than the Griz. While some bash the Popo for its weight, I like it as it seems to make for a much smoother ride. Also, the Popo "feels" tougher than the Griz. Having said that, the Griz has never been in for a repair (knock on wood!!!) I've certainly had my issues with my Popo.

Well, since I am not one who will ever finance a toy AND I am cheap, I will probably not a get an opprotunity to own a PS Popo for about 10 years or so. Then I will probably be as old as Cob dirt and will need PS for my weak arms.

My current 10 year old machine is a long ways from retirement and since it is a fairly light machine those Horns, which have no side bite, provide no problems for me turning the front even at a stand still.

quote:

Originally posted by Nitestoker:
I like another member have ridden ATVs for years without the power steering, so why would I need it now and it not worth the extra $ to me.

In years to come when I get old and weaker, I may consider it, but that is a long time from now.

They said the same about cars, bet you have power windows/locks in your autos too. Nitestroker, I'm thinking your old now riding a touring model, but definitely not weak since manhandling that machine takes some strength! I rode Cobs Model T and actually liked some things about it, just not ready for the rocking chair just yet!
You Polaris guys crack me up, if Polaris came out with PS and no one else had it, you would be saying how great it is. Kind of like engine braking now, I remember when you guys said you didn't need that either!
A 10 minute test ride doesn't always tell the whole story, good or bad. I didn't think it was that big of a deal either, till I owned one for awhile.
BTW, I think everyone here knows I don't care what you ride, as long as you ride.

quote:

I remember when I got my Grizz than many, many people in this forum commented that EPS is for sissy’s – what are you a girl?

LOL..yeah, same story on the power of the Outty, "who needs it" now they're licking their chops. I hear ya.

About the power steering, I agree with Cabman and kinda Cob. First time I rode it down a fairly straight average trail, (like Cob did)the thoughts were same as Cob's. It's OK, but not sure i need it. BUT..ride it for a while on tighter trails at with some speed, or get in a tight situation where you need to turn around...and it shines! I want it on my Bomb! I know I could have used one on my last Polaris ('04.5 SP700). I think if Polaris had it on their machines, they could balance them better and make the front end not so light when climbing.

And I think everyone knows, I don't care what you ride, but Cabman is weak and needs power steering. Love ya man.

quote:

Originally posted by ATVer:
And I think everyone knows, I don't care what you ride, but Cabman is weak and needs power steering. Love ya man.

Funny guy! I shouldn't respond to posts when I'm stuck out here in a hotel room in Salt Lake City for the week and it's 95 degrees! Oh well at least the scenery is nice and I'll be camping somewhere in Colorado come Friday.

quote:

BlueManQuad

I don't know think you fully understand the POLARIS AWD. Any time AWD is activated all 4 wheels pull.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cob,

quote:

I don't know think you fully understand the POLARIS AWD. Any time AWD is activated all 4 wheels pull.

But the rear wheels have to slip for the fronts to engage, and I think that usually takes like a minute and a half if i remember correctly. Or was that Visco Lok?

Hope you're having fun Cabman....talk to you soon.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ATVer:

But the rear wheels have to slip for the fronts to engage, and I think that usually takes like a minute and a half if i remember correctly. Or was that Visco Lok?
QUOTE]

Visco's that quick??

Not even going to get in this one.

From what I have read in these very forums, the AWD drive will lock in a fraction of a second. COB - I believe you posted a fantastic description of the Polaris Hilliard clutch system a year or 2 ago. My problem with the Popo 4WD system is not the "4WD" - when the front clutch kicks in the Popo will go thru almost anything. However - on tight trails, when the Popo 4WD kicks in, it wants to plow straight forward, much like a 60's Jeep. All 4 wheels are churning with very little front diff slip. When turning - the front wheels need to be able to turn at differnt speeds while have to both provide drive at the same time. Having ridden a couple thousand miles on both the Popo 2WD/4WD and the Griz 2WD/3WD/4WD - I LOVE the Griz on this issue.
And COB - I WELCOME your opinion on this or any other ATV issue - Polaris or other - you are - IMHO - a Godfather of our sport. Keep up the good work!!!

quote:

Originally posted
My problem with the Popo 4WD system is not the "4WD" - when the front clutch kicks in the Popo will go thru almost anything. However - on tight trails, when the Popo 4WD kicks in, it wants to plow straight forward, much like a 60's Jeep. All 4 wheels are churning with very little front diff slip. When turning - the front wheels need to be able to turn at differnt speeds while have to both provide drive at the same time. Having ridden a couple thousand miles on both the Popo 2WD/4WD and the Griz 2WD/3WD/4WD - I LOVE the Griz on this issue.

The Popo isn't in 4wd on tight trails unless you are spinning, and should be easy to wheel around, the front axles are not connected, acts as a differential, maybe your front HIllard is sticking? The Grizz's 3wd is just that 3wd not 4wd. Locked in 4wd the front diff doesn't let 1 wheel turn without the other, no differential, and is a lot harder to steer than a Popo.

quote:

Originally posted by RickCJ7:
The Popo isn't in 4wd on tight trails unless you are spinning, and should be easy to wheel around, the front axles are not connected, acts as a differential, maybe your front HIllard is sticking? The Grizz's 3wd is just that 3wd not 4wd. Locked in 4wd the front diff doesn't let 1 wheel turn without the other, no differential, and is a lot harder to steer than a Popo.

Respectfully, RickCJ7, I don't think the front final drive of a typical Polaris EVER "acts as a differential." While the Polaris front wheels may rotate at different velocities, as a differential permits, no torque is applied to either front axle/wheel/tire when in 2WD.

I guess one might say, "When in 2WD (i.e., no rear-wheel slipping), the front final drive of a Polaris acts as a DISENGAGED front differential."

When in 4-wheel drive mode, however, an open differential applies equal torque to each associated drive axle; when one wheel slips, such a differential cannot supply more torque to the wheel with traction than the spinning wheel requires to spin; differential action some call "3-wheel drive." (An inaccurate designation in my view, since the differential, as mentioned, always supplies EQUAL torque to each associated drive axle.)

The typical Polaris ATV, on the other hand, HAS NO DIFFERENTIALS AT ALL. When in 2WD (e.g., when there's no spinning of the rear wheels), the front wheels "free-wheel," and may rotate at different velocities, but--such operation is NOT "as a differential," because--ZERO torque is provided to the front drive axles, wheels and tires.

A small detail, but . . . a differential's a differential; and most Polarises have no differentials (among exceptions, the Rocky Mountain King model Polaris, the ATP (rear differential only, I think), and maybe some big haulers like Rangers).

To defeat differential action, and increase torque to the tire with traction when one associated tire slips, various "limited-slip" mechanisms have been tried, with--what one might call, "limited success." Most schemes try to apply selective braking to the spinning axle, thus transferring additional torque (remember the ol' "equal torque" mandate) to the axle whose tire has traction.

Again, no biggie. And, realistically, I know this explanation and analysis will NOT convince anyone who favors the designation, "3-wheel drive," of any error in such a label.

If "3-wheel drive" exists with ATVs, then . . . standard autos, like, for example, a Crown Vic (one rear differential, no front-wheel drive at all), is a "1-wheel drive vehicle."

And, I guess an F-150, that Ford CALLS a "4-wheel drive" vehicle, in only a "2-wheel drive" vehicle, because it has two differentials, one front and one rear . . .

Kinda hard to explain, but--my best effort at expressing the notion, Polaris front-wheel final drive NEVER functions "as a differential."

Corrections and clarifications welcomed!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tree Farmer,

TreeFarmer - I agree that a standard "4 wheel drive" truck is actually 2 wheel drive - 1 front & 1 rear. Take a standard 2 wheel drive car & gun it on a snowy road & you will see only 1 rear wheel spinning. The exception to that is a vehicle with a limited slip rear differential. My Ford Expededition with a limited slip rear diff actually has better traction than my F250! I can get 3 wheels driving in the snow on my Expedition but only 2 on the F250.
As for my Popo - on tight trails when I am taking really sharp turns the 4WD kicks in. Perhaps the front hilliard is sticking - perhaps the sharp turning of the handlebars cause the rear wheels to spin faster than the front making the hilliard kick in - I don't know for sure. The quad has done this from day one. The Popo was my first quad so I didn't have anything to compare other than my buddy's Honda with "3 wheel drive". Being that the Popo has true 4WD, both front wheels start driving which makes the quad push straight ahead.
The Griz in "4WD" mode is typical 3 wheel drive - both rear but 1 front wheel drive spining. This allows the front wheels to spin at diffent rates making manuvering much easier than the Popo. I use the "diff lock" (true 4WD) on the Griz rarely - deep mud, steep rock climbing, etc. It's there when needed, but rarely used. IMHO - a better system.
I'm not sure on the Popo whether the front wheels on the Popo will spin at different rates from each other when not in 4WD mode - Cob - do you know? - But I have definitely noticed a big difference in the manuverability of the Griz over the Popo. The overall ride? Definitily the Polaris!
Again - I wish that Polaris would put a diff locker on their quads. "True" 4WD is overkill for most of what I see here in the NorthEast - but a definite requirement to get through the **** (crap) we have out here!!