2014 Polaris Sportsman 850 Xp Reviews
Polaris offered seven Sporstman 850 4x4s for 2014, including three LE models, so deciding which to get can be a little confusing. Don't worry; we're here to help. If you're a seriously aggressive rider, there's only one model you need to know about—the Pearl White LE.
WHAT MAKES THE PEARL WHITE LE SO SPECIAL?
Lots of things. The Pearl White paint is hard to miss, but this LE isn't just a special color. It has electronic power steering, but so do all the other 2014 Sportsman 850s. Special equipment is really what sets the Pearl White LE apart. There are Fox Podium X compression-adjustable piggyback reservoir shocks, front and rear, just like the ones on the Scrambler 1000 Sport 4×4. You also get a 2500-pound winch and special 14-inch aluminum wheels with 26-inch PXT six-ply tires. A front storage box and handguards come with the package, and there are more eye-catching items, including a special seat cover, red A-arms and white shock springs.
HOW MUCH IS ALL THAT GOOD STUFF?
The Pearl White LE is $11,999. It's not cheap, but it's a smart buy compared to adding its many extras to the base Sportsman XP 850 EPS, which goes for $9999. Can-Am's Outlander 800R XT-P is the most similar 4×4 out there in terms of size and equipment, and it costs $13,049.
WHAT MAKES IT GO?
An 850cc, fuel-injected, single overhead-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder inline twin. To keep the machine's midsection comfortably slim, the crankshaft on the 850 runs in line with the frame, and the transmission is behind the engine.
WHAT KIND OF 4WD SYSTEM DOES IT HAVE?
The Sportsman has selectable 2WD/4WD with an automatic-locking front differential. When you select 4WD, the machine remains in 2WD until the speed-sensing system detects slip, at which point the front differential locks in a fraction of a wheel rotation and stays locked until 4WD isn't needed. It's so effective it's hard to notice when the front wheels get power, but you will notice that the Sportsman is nearly unstoppable in 4WD.
On some machines, riding with the front differential locked means lots of steering effort along with the extra traction. The Sportsman's power steering lets you enjoy the traction without the upper-body workout.
HOW FAST IS IT?
Seriously fast. As with a high-caliber hunting rifle, you really want to watch where this thing is pointed before you pull the trigger. Get into the throttle on the 850 in a big way and you will arrive at your destination ahead of schedule— and ahead of other fast 4x4s. The 700s will have to develop a taste for your roost. The only sport utility 4×4 under 1000cc that's quicker than the Sportsman is Can-Am's Outlander 800R, and it's not much quicker.
HOW IS THE POWER ON THE TRAIL?
The Sportsman has more power than you'll need for any normal situation on the trail, but it's easy to apply only as much as you want. The best thing about the power delivery on the 850 is that Polaris didn't kill the fun to make it controllable. You can ease along the trail, and if you like, the Sportsman won't be intimidating at all. Whack the throttle open, however, and imposing hills and long stretches of terrain are devoured. All along the way, the 850's engine is fun to play with, because its throttle response is quick and strong, and the engine revs freely with amazingly little vibration. The Sportsman's dual-outlet exhaust sounds great too.
WHAT'S THE SUSPENSION PACKAGE LIKE?
It's a sophisticated system. Most 4x4s have dual-A-arm front ends, but the Polaris has more travel than most with 9 inches. The Sportsman's rear A-arms are rolled and canted rearward to respond to bumps more easily, and the rear end has 10.25 inches of travel. The Pearl White LE's compression and spring preload-adjustable Fox piggyback reservoir shocks are what really set the Sportsman's suspension apart from the basic, non-gaspressurized shocks most sport utility 4x4s come with.
HOW DOES THE SUSPENSION WORK?
It's amazing. The Fox shocks are true racing-quality units, and their action and fade resistance let us ride the Pearl White LE harder and with more control than is possible on the other Sportsman 850 models. The shocks help just as much in normal play riding and cruising. The ride quality is a cut above regular Polaris shocks, which are very good. Even the bottoming control on large, unexpected bumps is better.
HOW DOES IT HANDLE?
The Sportsman 850 is large, heavy, tall and fast—four things that challenge any quad's handling—but the machine's engineering masked those things so well we were continuously surprised how easy it was to handle. The slim, sporty midsection lets you move more freely than you can on many big 4x4s. Exceptional suspension performance makes the machine feel composed and in control at speeds and in terrain that are close to the limits for typical sport utility quads. Power steering definitely contributes to the Polaris' light handling feel, more than we like at times. Polaris power steering adds more assist than most, and the light steering is nice at low speeds and on twisting trails. At high speeds, however, the steering could use more feel, and the 850 lets you reach high speeds easily.
HOW IS IT FOR CLIMBING HILLS?
If you don't make it to the top, it's not the Sportsman's fault. There are physical laws that govern how steep or tall a hill a machine of a certain power and weight can climb, but the 850 doesn't seem to obey those laws with a good rider aboard. The Polaris 4WD system finds traction seamlessly, and the machine's power and stability let it conquer steep climbs with ease. Riding down hills on most trails is effortless on the 850, but going down the really slick, steep ones calls for some concentration. The Sportsman's brakes are strong and the machine has engine braking, but it only acts on the rear wheels unless you engage Polaris' Active Descent Control, which limits speed and enables four-wheel engine braking.
HOW DOES IT HANDLE WATER AND MUD?
So well you'll forget you're on a sparkling white quad. This is not a quad that makes you look for ways around the mud. The 850's power, 4WD system and more than 11 inches of ground clearance make it the kind of machine you go hunting for mud pits and water crossings with. The engine and transmission are well-sealed for deep fording too. As stock tires go, the PXT radials are more aggressive and more effective than most.
HOW ARE THE DETAILS?
Most are outstandingly good. As we explained, the Pearl White LE is exceptionally well equipped. The special paint, wheels, high-end suspension, storage box, winch and style extras make this model look and work better than a standard Sportsman 850 EPS, and the machine itself has a lot going for it. The slim midsection and roomy ergonomics make this one of the most comfortable 4x4s made, and the engine's smoothness, power and sound all add to the fun. So much is right on the Sportsman that its only flaws—too much steering assist at high speeds and the sometimes vague shift lever—seem out of place.
WHAT IS OUR FINAL ANSWER?
The Sportsman XP 850 Pearl White LE takes the sport utility 4×4 concept and moves it closer to the pure-sport 4×4 class with no loss of utility. It also has distinctive high-end style that manages to stand out, even in a market crowded with special editions and limited editions.
2014 Polaris Sportsman 850 Xp Reviews
Source: https://utvactionmag.com/2014-polaris-sportsman-850-le/
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