New

Hi, had a 2010 wreck it now have 2011 550 I am very happy with it we ride in Idaho hill Mt.s flat lands Just a great ride In mine the 2010 had old red speed o digital, the new one has much better old school dial type

 

I have a non eps 850, kinda felt the same as you, they steer so much easier than the older ones and felt it was something else to go wrong.

 

I have a 2011 xp 550 no power steering for the same reasons you mentioned, I love it just like that. It steers and handles very well without it. You will be happy with a 550 just shop around for the best deal, I found my 2011 a couple of months ago and got a couple thousand off list.

 

well i have a 550 xp 2009 model and so far it hasnt been the best but that is because apparently the previous owner ragged it, i originally got a good deal on it i bought it middle of last year for 4200 nada price on it was 5200,since then i have put a new throttle cable ,new shift linkage,new flywheel, air/fuel control module,re snorkled it twice thanks to the dealer yea i was mad about that,and right now i have the secondary off my clutch cause it isnt working right,havent got it open yet to tell exactly what the damage is cause the bolts in it are so tight, and 2 of them stripped out even after tons of pb blaster, got to get a screw extractor and get it open to see, but when it is all running for a week or 2 i love it, i have a 2011 grizzly 550 too with power steering and i ride the polaris over it all the time i gave the 2011 to my girl and custom painted it for her cause she likes it better anyways but take some advice buy it new and finance in the loggest warranty you can

 

I love my 2010 550. I stole it for $4k w/EPS back in November. Could not be happier. My buddy has a 04' 700 Sportsman and he might have a little advantage off the line but I pull ahead over 30MPH. When I get my QSC clutch kit installed this week I'm hoping I'll beat him off the line too.

 

when I bought my 850 nonEPS I drove it home from the dealer, I got halfway home, with the new bike, and I stopped to have a better look at the bike I just picked up....I had to make sure they gave me the right bike, I thought maybe the dealer gave me a EPS model, it steers SO easy when driveing, I thought I had EPS.

 

Test drive both. If you are riding an older mcpherson strut type front end sportsman the steering will feel like power steering on the xp.

I definitely do not regret getting a non-eps model. The only thing I will say negative is sometimes over small rocks the steering will feel as if it is "rattling". I have ridden an eps model over the same rocks and it does eliminate the rattling effect.

Also you are right in one thing. It is a system that can go wrong and is very costly to diagnose and to replace parts when it gets out of warranty.

 

My 550 has treated me well and has more than enough power for anything I've thrown at it so far including mud over the racks... the only downside is I'm a speed freak, but I'll be getting a renegade 800 to cure that.

 

I also have a non eps 550. I spent the money on a winch instead and prefer the non eps. I rode a one with and didnt like the feel.

 

Just bought a 2012 850XP non EPS and I love it, really don't need the EPS even just standing still it's not that hard to turn. I'm with you just another thing to go wrong.

 

No problems with my non eps. It steers just fine.

 

I believe the best part of the power steering is the anti-kickback, not so much ease of turning the handle bars but that sure is nice too.

 

I drove both models eps/non eps and decided to buy the non eps model..for a few reasons..

1. it was $1400 more for eps...Not justified for the difference.
2.I believe its just one more part to fail..More money,more money!
3.The eps model felt loose..I could feel the tires more with non eps..It's hard to explain.But I really did not like the feeling.

my 110 lbs wife rides my 550 no problem...Never once herd her complain it was to hard to steer.

I can see if you do allot of mud/mountain/rock riding or on a touring because the extra weight and also older riders would want the luxury for ease of use..but for my use of the bike it is not needed.

 

I had a 550xp without eps..i test drove both and ended up getting the non eps. I only trail ride and didnt install aggresive tires so there was no need for the eps. The non eps steers very easy. BUT the eps models have the nice paint, nice wheels, and of course the power steering. The power steering is expensive if it ever needs replaced. I could see you needing the eps if you have some type of shoulder injury or disabilty in the arms, do lots of mud riding with huge heavy tires in 4x4 mode, or do lots of technical riding like rocks where eps would be beneficial.

 

I got the EPS 550 and my buddy got the same bike without EPS. We've traded a couple times to see the difference. I have to be honest I love the EPS so much I won't ever ride one without.

1/ what extra problems? We all drive cars with much more complex power steering systems in them with virtually no problems. It's not new technology, just new on bikes.
2/ I have a crappy low back and by the end of the day pulling and pushing on the non EPS over rocks, stumps and in mud I can Barely walk. I can ride my EPS all day and good to go.
3/ the price was only $800 difference when I bought it (2009 550XP) and since then every bike made has come out with power steering so I think my resale will be much better when the time comes.

One ride my bud and I went on ended up with him unable to get over an obstacle. Wash out with metal culvert. I walked over and up the sharp bank with one hand. Every time he and then I on his bike tried to get his over it, his wheels would catch and yank the steering bars out of his hand. Then we couldn't pull them straight and hold them to climb up the other side. We just gave up and went back. Rare instance but the EPS made that obstacle a piece of cake.

 

2010 550 non eps model, green.
Love it and have had zero problems because of no eps, in fact I would like to see how many of the ball joint problems are on machines with eps? Also, in 10' the eps cost another 3/4 gal of fuel and I would rather the fuel capacity for my riding.
I have added a winch, very easy to do btw and have upgraded the tires to radials, Pitbull Growlers. Seriously, the upgrade to radials made a huge improvement on handling and steering... I did not go oversize.
You really can't go wrong, these are great machines, especially for the more performance minded utility rider. This last winter, in fresh snow, I beat a 10' Grizzly 700 that had oversized Big Horns, exhaust and chipped. Not only off the line, but in the deeper stuff.
So, my advise - Get one!

skip

 

EPS= more electrical= future problems

 

Say's those who don't have it, but wish they did. Really no need to talk down about something you don't have any experience with, and know nothing about.

 

my point is its one mre thing to fail and cause grief....you'll never hear anyone compalining that their manual steering f*&k up and cost $1000 to replace, and there already has been stories from all brands and EPS failure, do your homework before you make yourself look like an idiot.

 

My point is that power steering is not new or cutting edge technology.

Reminds me of every time cars added something like power windows, door locks, cruise control etc and all the "just one more thing to break" people came out.

I've done my research, owned an EPS bike for 3 years and the only trouble I've had with the bike was the brakes and ball joints. Should we go back to bikes with no suspension and no power brakes because they are causing me lots of grief? To the tune of about $1500 in repairs so far!

This thread got off the rails and I'm partly responsible but I don't think you needed to call me an idiot. Kind of makes you look like one.

Everything on an extreme use piece of equipment from tires, to mufflers, to the on board computers can fail!

I've had 2 dozen people take my bike for a ride and go crazy over how much easier it is to drive. So far every one of them has upgraded to EPS when they got new bikes. About 4 so far and the rest have said they plan to also.

I have no issue with non EPS bikes! Or people who prefer them. I just think avoiding one because it might fail is ridiculous.

Do your research on happy EPS owners and you'll get Lots of those. Do research on ANY product no matter how good or well made and you'll get tons of crap reviews and doomsday information. It's just impossible to go by the Internet for any reliable information.

I know about 6 EPS riders. No problems with any. I'll go by personal experience and common sense on this one, and don't think that makes me look like an idiot.

 

here's an example from a quick 15sec search I did, (even though its not an electricle problem, still causing grief though)

http://www.polarisatvforums.com/forums/polaris-xp/18470-does-anyone-have-play-there-eps-box.html

 

550 eps

I will start from the beginning. I had a 2001 Sportsman 500, and bought my wife a brand new 2008 500 Sportsman, and I thought it felt and drove so much nicer. My 13 year old daughter still preferred to use my 2001 when we went out. I sold my 2001, and picked up a brand new 2010 550XP non EPS. Drove them both, the eps was nice, but not needed. So, then my daughter, now 14 always drove my 2010 550XP and loved it. She had no steering issues, and pretty much refused to drive the 2008 anymore. With that being said, we decided to sell the 2008, and ended up getting a 2011 550XP - eps for a smokin deal, not my choice. The PS is nice, but again, not needed. To me, just adds to another issue to go wrong. My eps light has come on twice already when running, but went away after about a minute. My wife also drives them both, and no problem using the non eps.
Comes down to what you want or need.
Good luck

 

I love my EPS. When I swap rides with my buddies that have non EPS, I love it even more. If and when it fails me I'll pay the $1400 with a smile to get my EPS back. It's only money....you can't take it with you!

 

I'm a big fan of EPS and find this debate interesting, but all Roosky wanted to get from this thread was how well people liked their non EPS machines. He already told us he couldn't afford the EPS option.

 

Well on that note then, I really enjoy my non-EPS 550. Have never "felt" the need for EPS. And I refuse to ride one with EPS... because I'm afraid I will love it and the wife probably wouldn't look to kindly on me spending anymore money than I already have on this addiction:veryhappy:

 

I've tried mine without EPS. Easy, just remove the eps fuse. Steering is still lighter than most bike bike I've ridden. I can't say about shock absortion, since my eps unit was still there to counter them, but from the many reviews out there, the anti-kickback steering works wonder.

For long or very technical rides, it's a very nice thing to have, but on these XP, there're just an option, not a necessity. Still, once you get used to it, you won't go back to a non-eps bike. Ever.

 

Let’s start off by saying what I do any don't do with my ATV. I ride allot of roads as in SD you can license your ATV like a motorcycle and there is just not much options on the east side of the state. I also take my ATV's out to the Black Hills and ride allots of the forest service roads/trails out there - these trails are mostly rocky. I do not do much for mud riding so any can't tell you if there will be difference between EPS and manual steering as far as mudding is concerned.

I had a 2010 550 without power steering that I put 2000 miles on it and just purchased a new Blue Fire 550 w/ EPS that has about a 100 miles on it now. The 550 without power steering was sold to a family member in order to get more people involved, plus I just liked the color of the new machine(matches my truck). There is defiantly a difference between the two when I am driving on asphalt or concrete… however I do not notice much of a difference when driving on gravel or grass (or anywhere else there is low traction for the back tire). My Mom who is about 60 and 5’4”, my Dad who has had some shoulder problems in the past, and my Fiancé also own 550 XP that do not have power steering. Even after riding 80 mile of trails out in the Black Hills everyone still wants to do more riding at the end of the day and no one complains of soreness due to the steering.

Now power steering seems nice, but I don’t think it’s something you’ll miss if you never had it.

Wyatt W.

 

Their are five 850 xp's in my group and they all have power steering but 1. All of them with power steering, theirs has gone out. One of them it went out twice, once while i was riding it. The one without it though has had 0 problems. Sure it's nice, but i don't think it's worth it. A guy at the dealership said its the hardest thing to change on the bike because its so hard to get to. Its harder fix it than to take the motor out. You have to take pretty much the whole bike apart and if you don't have warranty the guy said it cost about $2500 for a new one. Now i don't know if all of that is true but that's what the guy at the dealer said.

 

hhhmmmm, maybe I do know what I'm talking about...what do you think BOBX2, and HUNTGOLFRIDE?