[JR850]

Thought I would post up and say hi.

I've been riding bikes and quads for years. Never owned Polaris before but I just sold my trusty ol' 2004 Suzuki Twin Peaks 700 and I have a '17 Sportsman 850 SP on the way. I've been lurking for a few weeks and soaking up what I can. I'very got a few questions for you guys so I'll probabky be posting up in the sportsman section. Looks like a good forum ya'll have put together here. I will have to admit, I have done my share of trash talkin against polaris over the years, usually to my buddies who I have had to pull back home, but it was all in good fun! I hope it doesn't come back to haunt me :grin

I used to do a few hare scrambles on utes in the Mid East but my mid 40's have slowed me down a bit. Mostly ride HM in WV now days and that old SRA isn't cutting it anymore. Trading all that for a nice cushy ride and a sweet upgrade in power too. I just hope it lasts 13 hard riding years like my prairie did. Can't wait for my dealer to locate one in Radar Blue. Got her for $9,300 OTD. How did I do? Big shout out to Crossroads Polaris in Albemarle,NC. Driving an hour and a half to deal with them. If you hate to haggle and deal, these guys are no BS. Payden hooked me up.

Anyway, Ive got a few questions for you ...

Should I spend a grand on a 3 yr warranty from polaris?

Do the 2017's need the cecco braces if I ride fairly hard?

Is the pinion cover fixed on the 17's? Don't want to disable or remove ADC if I don't have to, but I don't want to grenade my front diff either.

Probably gonna clutch it for getting out of the hole a little quicker. I loved what Dalton did for my prairie, but you guys seem to like QSC so I'll probably go that route. I know it voids warranty on the clutch, but I'm probably do it anyway from the start.


THANKS! and howdy from NC

JR

 

[jhalpinjr]

Welcome JR!

I cant help you too much, as my unit is mostly stock.

But: I think you did do OK for that price OTD. ON the Polaris extended warranty- I was able to get my dealer to split the cost- I paid $500 for mine, and did it on a separate transaction after the machine was invoiced/paid (paid on the spot)

 

[JR850]

Thanks for that, I'll try to approach the warranty similarly if I decide to go that way. I am leaning towards getting the extended warranty, but have also read horror stories about lean ecm mapping and timing gear slippage not fully getting covered by Polaris. The dealer is also looking for other entities to warranty their machines other than Polaris which may or may not be a bad thing. I will have to bend his ear a bit more.

How many miles on your machine yet? Have you seen any evidence of frame deformation at the a arm mounts?

 

[jhalpinjr]

Thanks for that, I'll try to approach the warranty similarly if I decide to go that way. I am leaning towards getting the extended warranty, but have also read horror stories about lean ecm mapping and timing gear slippage not fully getting covered by Polaris. The dealer is also looking for other entities to warranty their machines other than Polaris which may or may not be a bad thing. I will have to bend his ear a bit more.

How many miles on your machine yet? Have you seen any evidence of frame deformation at the a arm mounts?

Hey JR,

I have 246 miles on my machine. I did a thorough inspection and noticed no warping or issues that I can see structurally. The only oddity I have experienced (other than 3 flat tires from punctures LOL), is when going through whoops (lots of them in the desert trails) if I push hard and the suspension in the front really nose dives- I get a sort of thunk- not so much a sound from bottoming out, but sounds like a gear box or other type noise. Its happened twice, but I haven't worried too much.

I do ride hard (trying to keep up with a buddy on a Raptor) but nothing structurally (knocks on wood)

 

[JR850]

Man, my old bike made so many chunks and rackets I was horrified at first, but nothing ever broke in the driveline and that thing took a serious beating. I broke several steering knuckles racing ( my fault) and went thru probably 10 sets of swing arm bearings, but the major stuff never died.

Good to hear that you are not seeing any frame issues. Do you think the thunk was in the front diff?

 

[JR850]

I just saw that you are on a 2016 touring. I know your frame is a bit longer and maybe beefed up in certain areas. It would be nice if they beefed up the standard 2017 frame and front diff where Ricky Cecco addressed.

Does anybody know if the 16s and 17s are different? I know Rick says the braces and pinion cover will still fit the 17's.

 

[JR850]

I remember reading in a thread where somebody attributed a front end clunk while bottoming to the possibility of the axles moving in toward the diff, possibly reaching their end limit of free play. I think it was speculationot but seemed plausible. I don't think that would worry me too much if that's what's up.

 

[jhalpinjr]

I remember reading in a thread where somebody attributed a front end clunk while bottoming to the possibility of the axles moving in toward the diff, possibly reaching their end limit of free play. I think it was speculationot but seemed plausible. I don't think that would worry me too much if that's what's up.

I think you are right on that one.

As far as the frames, I believe the 16 & 17 are the same except for the arched A- Arms. Time to hit this site to check

Browse

 

[Thatsnotaname]

I'm new to polaris as well I got my 850 sp a few months ago I'm at about 230 miles of pretty rough trail riding have yet to have any problems not running any frame braces. The only model with updated pinion covers are the highlifters I believe. My dealership ordered the updated cover from the highlifter for mine to be installed this week although it is still cast just beefier also being polaris will not void warranty. I will probably buy cecco after warranty is up! My only complaint so far are stock tires I guess. Also where your wires from head unit go down into the plastic it will rub and eventually looks like it will cut through.. I sliced some rubber tube and glued all the way around the sharp edge seems to have stopped the wear.

 

[SteveC25]

Just picked up a 17 Sportsman 850 a few days ago, ain't had much time to ride because of work but so far so good. Like mentioned above the wiring below the headlight pod needs some attention. I plan on doing that tomorrow if the rain holds off. I came from a 08 Sportsman 800 that was pretty much bullet proof so I'm hoping for the same from the new 850. I don't really wanna upgrade the pinion cover or do the frame braces so I'm hoping I'll be alright as I mostly just trail ride, but sometimes do ride a little hard. The power difference between the 800 and 850 was surprising and nice, and the power steering is a great feature that until now I thought was in-needed...But boy was I wrong.

 

[Thatsnotaname]

I hadn't thought about the EPS I thought the same thing having never had it. Now when I drive my honda its like sitting on a rock with bad handling and suspension.

 

[Mec89]

Need Help!!!! Purchased a 2016 Sportsman 850 SP. Polaris says that the machine has normal backlash!!! It sounds terrible, I ride the atv hard, jumps, wheelies, just having fun. The warranty ran out while I had it in the shop. Whatever it is it's not normal, every time you accelerate or try to stand the nose up it grinds, no power loss. Is it slop in the driveshaft, or something to do with pinion gear?? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT.! Thanks

 

[wkeggenhoff]

From what i have read diff cover upgrade required only if running bigger than stock tires although there is at least 1 failure with stock tires.

I'm on fence for frame braces myself. I ride hard and fast but not reckless. I guess is fairly cheap piece opf mind

 

[Thatsnotaname]

In my experience most times when a U joint has gone bad it presents as a clunk, the driveline slack I've experienced sounds very similar to a bad universal but I've checked them all and are good. Honestly if what you hear is grinding like metal on metal that is not normal. Is your 2016 sportsman used or new? Have you done break in service if new? If used have you checked your front diff fluid? I would start there and if your quad is used maybe consider a fluid change and check your drain plug for metal shavings while empty to see if your having any visual signs of metal on metal damage to the pinion gear. If you drive deep mud allot your regular fluid change interval on both differential will be significantly less.. I would check both to see if contaminated and consider fluid change on the problematic front that will be the cheapest way to start diagnosing imo.

 

[Mec89]

I purchased it brand new. It was the transmission that failed I knew that it wasn't normal. The dealership really had the nerve to say that it was making a different noise!!!!! No dumbass it got worse! I drained the rear end and put a new belt, which didn't fix it. But whatever, it's being fixed under warranty, Thanks for the feedback. 850sp is definitely a beast! Only regret is that I didn't buy the 1000. I pretty sure it failed by jumping a terrace a few months back. Broke a tooth or something. I want know until I get home. Thanks again.