We enlisted the help of some outside riders
to throw a leg over the 850 to compare it to
other big bore models that they were familiar
with. One rider happens to compete in the GNCC
Series and was eager to see what the stock XP
850 could do. After a lengthy ride session that
involved everything from a normal trail ride
to an all out thrash session, it was interesting
to get his take on the Polaris.
Surprisingly his initial view of the power
transfer wasn’t satisfactory, and this
followed suit with our second rider. Both commented
on how sluggish the 850 seemed when exiting
a corner or accelerating form a dead stop. Interestingly
enough, after acclimating themselves to how
the power delivery is controlled, both stated
that they felt a change in riding approach would
be all that was needed or working on the clutch
to make it hit a bit harder down low might make
them feel more like they were on other machines.
Our GNCC racer even commented that he felt this
machine could easily be a contender in the Limited
classes with very little work.
To the Sportsman defense, no changes were made
as we wanted them to jump on and ride it as
it was sent from the manufacture and both agreed
that simply adjusting the factory suspension
would be of benefit depending on your particular
weight and riding style.It’s always interesting
to get the opinion of a racer or two as compared
to an average everyday Joe like me who just
wants to enjoy a day on the machine. I found
the stock suspension just about perfect for
my riding level and speeds encountered.
Our second rider is mainly a MX rider at heart
and his contribution related to the suspension
in corners. He also felt the power could be snappier
down low but also expressed at how well it did
handle and how strong it was in bone stock form
with no adjustments to the shocks.
Durability through our time with both models
was impeccable. While we don’t set out
to destroy anything, we don’t baby them
and try to emulate real world riding based towards
the consumer and place the machines in situations
that most are likely to encounter. I am pleased
that we suffered no mechanical or cosmetic issues
with either model with the exception of a dead
battery on the 850 that required only a charging
cycle and a loose throttle housing. A good bath
and typical maintenance and these machines should
be good for countless miles of off road fun.
