| Sportsman
550XP & 850XP
Utility ATV Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2009
Polaris Sportsman 550XP & 850XP Utility
ATV |
Millville, MN - Polaris has
sold over a million Sportsman Utility ATV models
since its debut and will continue to grow by
leaps and bonds, and 2009 will be no different,
with a list of firsts for the Sportsman lineup
being bigger and better than ever. Polaris has
been hard at work. They have been reworking
last years Sportsman 700 and 800 models, they
have been designing an all new (Well almost
all new the shift knob from the 2008 models
will be returning for 2009) pair of Sportsman’s.
Polaris has introduced the new Sportsman XP850
and Sportsman XP550 Sport utility ATV.
The Sportsman XP 850 and XP 550 have new chassis
that feature a dual a-arm front suspension with
preload adjustable progressive dual rate spring
shocks providing 9” of wheel travel. The
dual a-arm front suspension has less camber
and toe change through its travel which helps
to reduce bump steer compared to the previous
single a-arm and strut design of years past.
The rear dual a-arm independent suspension has
also been updated to Polaris’s Rolled
IRS system. The Rolled IRS rear suspension is
designed to allow the rear wheels to move in
an up and rearward direction. The Rolled IRS
results in a plusher ride with less feedback
being transferred into the chassis when coming
into contact with square edge obstacles. The
Rear suspension on the Sportsman XP also has
preload adjustable progressive dual rate spring
shocks, which provide 10.25” of wheel
travel.
| |
|
The Polaris
Sportsman XP Features Dual A-Arms Front
& Rear with 9" of Travel up
front & 10.25" of travel in
the rear. The Sportsman XP also has
an impressive 12" of ground clearance
|
|
| The
Polaris Sportsman Feature large 14"
cast aluminum wheels |
To further improve the ride and handling of
these two new models Polaris designed new 14”
wheels with a large offset. This offset moves
the centerline of the ball joints as far to
the outer edge of the wheel as possible further
reducing bump steer. These 14” wheels
provide plenty of room for new larger brake
rotors front and rear. Steering an ATV with
a loaded front rack or while using an optional
front plow has always been a chore. Polaris
has designed a power steering system that implements
a small brushless DC motor. This power steering
system is the most powerful available and provides
a variable assist with more assist at lower
speeds and reduced assist at higher speeds.
Class leading suspension travel and the most
ground clearance at 12” is sure to make
Sportsman XP 850 and XP 550 a very trail worthy
pair.
Rider comfort not only comes from a well handling
chassis but from proper well thought out ergonomics.
A well-tuned CVT transmission has always been
a key feature on the Sportsman lineup but with
previous engine and transmission configurations,
the CVT cover protruded into the riders left
foot well. The CVT cover created a awkward foot
position with the left leg been forced farther
out than the right leg. In an effort to balance
the rider’s leg position and to provide
a narrower more controlled stance Polaris rotated
the engine in the new Sportsman 90 degrees which
positioned the CVT to the rear of the ATV. The
new engine arrangement decreased the mid section
width of the Sportsman by 8 inches.
| |
|
Polaris
Rotated the engine on the Sportsman
XP Models to allow for a narrower mid-section
chassis to improve rider comfort, and
it also allows for easy maintenance
with the spark plugs, oil fill, and
more easily accessible by removing the
fender panels
|
