first of all, not having to use the overide button when you need 4x4 in reverse is awesome. second thing is the belt must be piano string tight!! and the alignment must be absolutely perfect with the new set up being married together so the old alignment issues should be out the window. When doing some climbing and some extreme off camber climbing, I experimented with high gear and when in a similar situation with a Can-Am 800 or a PoPo 800 the belt would definately been slipping bad or in the case of theCan't-Am it would be studdering and very jerky. On the 850 it would just engage very smooth and no detection of slip. Then I tried some of the exact same spots in low and it is just awesome, so smoot you would think it was a hydrostat or something. And lastly the 2 1/4 extra inches of wheel base is a huge help when trying to climb steep hills or trying to traverse off camber stuff life washouts where you might only have three tires on the ground and once in a while only two. I have owned around 20 Polaris fourwheelers, 1 honda Rincon, honda 400 foreman, and the Outlander 800. This is hands down the best overall machine I have ever owned.

This is not to rain on anyones parade, as most of you don't ride in deep water or mud, as I do, but,I see a major problem.

I just had the oportunity to ride with a few Polaris techs and saw the result of a drowned 850.

The airbox is above the engine and has no drain. This means any water drains down the tube and comes to rest on the throtle body. There is no drain on the tube (manifold as the techs called it) and this makes for a long recovery. The enire throtle body must be removed to drain any water.

The good thing is that after an hour or so the 850 cranked and was back on the trail.

By the way, I got to ride the new Ranger and the power steering is awesome. I was in 4WD and had two fingers and a thumb on the center hub of the steering wheel and I just gave it a spin, grabed it and gave it a spin again and I could go anywhere I chose. Truly amaizing!!!

Now don't get me wrong. I know the person they gave an 850 to for the last week (not the one that drowned.That was done by a tech). He could screw up a steel ball with a rubber mallet. He put that 850 to the test, trail, mud, and deep water, and it was still screeming fast. I even saw him skim a deep water pit on it!!!

The techs had wores luck trying to keep up with him. At least 4 broke axles and 1 broke a-arm on a Ranger.

I am not to worried about the whole deep water thing, I don't do a lot of deep water/mud stuff but do cross the occasional deep stream/river but very rare that it would ever go over the seat and the air intake and belt intake is directly under the seat and the way the ends of the intakes are place and made it will protect them from a hard splash also. You mud boggers on the other hand may have your work cut out for you when making snorkels.

Hay Mud Duck--I like your not to rain on anyone's parade so i guess I'll use it to. Most peolple that want to play in water that deep buy a boat. Lol lol lol lol hope you have a sense of humor.

Just read where alot of the parts on the 850's are made in China along with the Polaris youth quads. What's this country coming to?

It sounds like the power delivery is a lot like the 2009 Outlanders, toned down on takeoff to make for a more managable trail machine. These new Polaris 850s sure look like the quads to beat in 09'. Very nice write up.

quote:

Originally posted by cc1999:
These new Polaris 850s sure look like the quads to beat in 09'.

I agree, can't wait until Colorado Flyer gets his.

The wait is over. I could not resist the temptation, especially after this last weekends icecapade. Cherry red, Warn 3.0, cargo box for the back, Front and Rear bumpers to protect me from Grizzlies attacking me, and full skid plates...

Well, o.k I gotta wait but it was a cool dream while I had it...

colorado flyer did you buy and 850? If you did where did you find full skids?

Sorry Cutterman, it was all a dream and as I told Cabman, I would have to wait 2-3 years for a full set of skidplates. Not happening.... Unless of course you know someone that wants a cherry 2005 800EFI with all kinds of goodies, then I could give a full report...

wants and has the money to buy from you are different animals

sorry guys, I guess I got all excited about full skids and didn't read your whole post!!