Hi Guys,

Check out our RIDE REVIEW of the all new 2008 Polaris Ranger RZR! While you're at it, watch our exclusive video review with the Polaris Project Manager as he tells you the history and the future of the RZR.

NOTE: Check back on the review article in a couple days and watch our online RZR Action Video. We take to the trails and introduce it to some rock crawling and hill climbing.

Edited: 05/13/2007 at 10:05 AM by ATV Connection Moderator

By the way, if anyone has any questions about the RZR, post them here.

awesome review

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99 scrambler 400
Aaen pipe
K&N
wiseco piston
fox shocks
bear claws
o'neal bars
scott grips

96 Z71

screw oil injection

This might change my mind about side by sides!

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06 800 EFI
06 500 Scrambler HO
02 325 Magnum

Wooow... Man, this looks freaking SWEET!!

I WANT ONE!!l

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'06 Sportsman 800EFI (Green)
Lock & Ride Box & Backrest
Front and Back Polaris BodyGuard Bumpers
K&N Filter

After I rode the RZR for about an hour, Polaris asked me, "Well, what do you think of it?"

I had a solemn look on my face as I replied, "there is a major problem."

Suddenly they all stopped, turned and looked at me. Then the person to whom I was speaking said, "what problem?"

I replied, "I can't figure out how I'm going to get it on the plane to take it home with me!"

They all laughed.

How was the intake noise compared to a Rhino?

Edited: 01/21/2007 at 02:16 AM by CurrentRvierRZR

It looks pretty awesome. I would be interested to know if Polaris has cold weather options - windshield, doors, heater, etc.... Also, how loud is it inside the machine with the engine and tranny right behind you? Only one negative from me......wish it had a two inch receiver.

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I am on active duty with the Marine Corps; 25 plus years and counting. Returned home from Habbaniyah, Iraq, in July 06 and am back out on the left coast where I am stationed. My ATV riding is mostly in NW Minnesota on a 2004 AC 500 4X4 auto. Out on the left coast I ride a Hawg.

"And I; I took the road less traveled by..."

DBeck,

Thanks for the great report. Is Polaris going to offer a Regular and Deluxe version like they do on their Sportsman? I noticed that some of the RZR's had alunimum rims and some had steel. One also looked to have a bigger diameter rim than the others.

Do you know if Polaris did anything to the motor to increase power? Being that it is quite a bit heavier than a sp800, I was wondering how acceleratin compaired to the sp800?

Thanks

Yes, how quiet is the interior. The rhino is WAY too loud.

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Jeff
2008 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI Blue
2006 Honda CRF 230F

Past Loves
2006 Yamaha Rhino 450 (sold)
2007 KTM 450 EXC (sold)
2007 Yamaha Raptor 700 EFI (sold)
2005 Polaris Sportsman 500 (sold)
2004 Bombardier Outlander 400 ( sold )
2002 Kawasaki Prairie 650 ( sold )
2000 Honda 400 EX (sold )
1990 Honda 250X (sold )
2005 1/2 Twister Hammerhead LE (sold)

Thanks alot, how am I going to explain this purshase to the wife?

Nice review.

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2006 Polaris Sportsman 800 Blk/Slv 27" XTRs, 14" SS, 3000# warn, wnds, hand guards, custom bumpers and nerf bars
2004.5 Polaris Sportsman 500 Green, Hand and Thumb Warmers
2002 Polaris Sportsman 700 Blk/Slv 3000# warn, 26" ITP Spider Tracs on Alloys
2004 Yamaha V-Star 1100 classic

ledebuhr1,

I'm not sure how the laws are in other states, but here in MN, they are only allowed to have up to 40hp in the side x side machines. This is a real disappointment now that Polaris has offered this machine that, without a doubt, will change the way alot of people look at these machines.

If you don't need a side x side, and want something to ride in, not on, check out the Redline Revolt. It's been designed around what I believe to be a 750cc version of the Polaris motor. It's a parallel twin with 75 hp and said to top out around 60 mph if I remember right. But the Revolt will command another $5k over the RZR.

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2007 Honda Rincon
MN DNR Certified ATV Safety Instructor
Southern MN ATV Riders President
www.smnatvr.org

I forgot to say "THANKS" dbeck for the great write up.

Can the RZR be equipped with other accessories such as plows for those who want a sporty machine, but also be able to clear out the driveway in style?

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2007 Honda Rincon
MN DNR Certified ATV Safety Instructor
Southern MN ATV Riders President
www.smnatvr.org

From you pics to me of the rear it looks like the reciver is bolted on so might beable to change it tooo a 2" My problem is I can't figure how to swing the money to get it lol

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95 Tb racer Az Bad Boyz Preformance Reedcage conversion ,HPD pipe+ roller clutch,DGnerfs,34mm carb,Fox rear 1.5 shock,lighten to 255lbs,removered reverse gear.12t f 31t r, K&N fileter an out wear no airbox moved rear brake to axel, Sport class champ 2003, 1998 scrambler 400 4X4 2003 Predator,WB nerfs,Pep stablizer /2005 sportsman 700 efi.
http://photos.yahoo.com/x_scrambler3

So a side by side can not be over 40hp in MN? What about the other states? Isnt the ranger 700 right at about 40hp. I would hope the RZR is more than that. They need to change that rule.

Quote

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Originally posted by: DeeDawg
It looks pretty awesome. I would be interested to know if Polaris has cold weather options - windshield, doors, heater, etc.... Also, how loud is it inside the machine with the engine and tranny right behind you? Only one negative from me......wish it had a two inch receiver.

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There is already a half and a full polycarbonate windshield available. Both are shown in the interview video. The red machine had the half windshield and the green machine had the full windshield.

A couple days after we tested, Polaris was showing the machine to a large group of aftermarket companies. There will be a wide selection of accessories available for it.

They said that there is already a cab heater developed for it for winter. There is a polycarbonate roof available right now. I suspect a full hard cab will become available down the road.

I would say that the RZR is quieter than the other side-by-sides, but I would not call it quiet. With the RZR having the engine mounted behind the seats, much of the potential for noise is lessoned. There is a cover over the engine compartment and then the seats sit in front of the cover. That blocks the majority of the direct noise. You're not sitting on the engine, which helps. I suppose if noise was a concern, a guy could also apply some dynamat to the inside of the engine cover and that would probably help a lot, too.

I did not find the noise level obtrusive. It was louder outside the cab than inside.

this. is. AWESOME!!

its like a souped up Rhino with the capability of a Ranger!

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Originally posted by: CurrentRvierRZR
How was the intake noise compared to a Rhino?

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I didn't detect any noticeable intake noise. One thing I should mention is that we never drove the RZR without wearing a helmet. Everyone is very safety conscious at the press events. We were the first non-Polaris people to ever drive the RZR. Assessing noise in the cab would be easier without a helmet. But noise is very directional and as I mentioned in my previous post, there was a good amount of shielding to block noise in the cab area.

I would need some more time with the RZR in order to really be able to give the lowdown on the noise topic. At these press events, its really a "first look" for us rather than a full blown review opportunity. We prefer to spend a few days with a new machine before writing about it. For example, there are no woods in Arizona. We drove on trails with very little overhanging brush.

When the first Polaris Sportsman came out years ago, it was not legal for the trails in Wisconsin -- due to the weight of the Sportsman. I am sure that if there are issues with taking the RZR on trails in certain States that those rules will be worked on and changed.

I am REALLY impressed by the video and specs of the RZR! The engine appears to be laterally mounted (Honda-like). This, and and a host of other radically new features makes me slightly concerned in regard to bugs that will need to be worked out. What will Honda counter with, if anything?

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Originally posted by: LEP7MM
I forgot to say "THANKS" dbeck for the great write up.

Can the RZR be equipped with other accessories such as plows for those who want a sporty machine, but also be able to clear out the driveway in style?

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You're most welcome. Thank you for the compliment.

Yes, I asked Polaris about plowing with the RZR. A plow is either available now or will be soon. The engineer I spoke to said that the RZR should push a lot of snow. With our lack of snow this year, they weren't able to test in any really deep stuff. He did say, however, that the other Ranger (being a heavier machine) will be the better of the two machines for plowing.

Here in Minnesota, a lot of people also plow with a standard ATV. They work fairly well. So I would say that with the RZR weighing a 1000 plus pounds (with driver), that it should really do very well with a plow.

I hit on the performance aspects of the RZR in the review, but its also meant for serious work. Its a situation where you can justify buying the RZR for using it for work, yet you can go out on the trail and have kickass fun with it!