Polaris Predator

[Desert Rat]

I looked at and rode all the new machines except the honda "phantom" that nobody can seem to find yet. I ride a lot of dunes and the best bang for my buck was the Predator. A lot of little goodies that you like to put on them are already there. Wide A-arms, heavy wide rear axle (dura blue), good adjustable and rebuildable Fox shocks with rezzies all the way around ($180 extra for front rezzies), good ventilated brakes with braided brake lines, Maxis tires and heavy rolled edge Douglas wheels, etc. I picked it up a week ago Saturday ($5,995 list $5,600 cash plus taxes). The chain rattles a bit, but that should be an easy fix. The shocks were a little stiff on the factory setting, but that was easy to fix. I flipped the dumb grab bar over last weekend. It is bent up high and Im not 6'5'' tall. They should change the bend on the flag mount tab toward the back. It is bent forward too much and the flag likes to do a tap dance on your helmet. Road it around "easy" on some fire roads over the weekend to break it in a bit and I'm impressed so far. It has a strict break in period with an oil change after one hour riding or one tank of gas. Kind of contradicts itself when you consider a 3+ gallon tank. Supposed to have real tight engine tollerances. I thought it might feel big but it feels about the same as my 440ex with a wider stance. Can't hardly waite to open her up. It is supposed to have 42 horses stock and an easy gain of 10 more with a better flowing filter, opened air box, good slip on pipe and bigger jets according to Rath Racing. I'm told to go from a 150 to a 165 main jet and drop the needle clip one notch with these modes at my altitude. Ordered the Pure Polaris slip on (White Brothers), K&N, jets and will open up the air box and rejet it by this next weekend I hope. After those first few rides I think it has the power as advertised. I'll tell you how it runs againt my 440ex, 295r and my sons Banshee in a few weeks. If the engine is reliable (the big ?) I think this machine will be a home run for old man Polaris.

[2fun]

Originally posted by Desert Rat
I looked at and rode all the new machines except the honda "phantom" that nobody can seem to find yet. I ride a lot of dunes and the best bang for my buck was the Predator. A lot of little goodies that you like to put on them are already there. Wide A-arms, heavy wide rear axle (dura blue), good adjustable and rebuildable Fox shocks with rezzies all the way around ($180 extra for front rezzies), good ventilated brakes with braided brake lines, Maxis tires and heavy rolled edge Douglas wheels, etc. I picked it up a week ago Saturday ($5,995 list $5,600 cash plus taxes). The chain rattles a bit, but that should be an easy fix. The shocks were a little stiff on the factory setting, but that was easy to fix. I flipped the dumb grab bar over last weekend. It is bent up high and Im not 6'5'' tall. They should change the bend on the flag mount tab toward the back. It is bent forward too much and the flag likes to do a tap dance on your helmet. Road it around "easy" on some fire roads over the weekend to break it in a bit and I'm impressed so far. It has a strict break in period with an oil change after one hour riding or one tank of gas. Kind of contradicts itself when you consider a 3+ gallon tank. Supposed to have real tight engine tollerances. I thought it might feel big but it feels about the same as my 440ex with a wider stance. Can't hardly waite to open her up. It is supposed to have 42 horses stock and and easy gain of 10 more with an better flowing filter, opened air box, good slip on pipe and bigger jets according to Rath Racing. I'm told to go from a 150 to a 165 main jet and drop the needle clip one notch with these modes at my altitude. Ordered the Pure Polaris slip on (White Brothers), K&N, jets and will open up the air box and rejet it by this next weekend I hope. After those first few rides I think it has the power as advertised. I'll tell you how it runs againt my 440ex, 295r and my sons Banshee in a few weeks. If the engine is reliable (the big ?) I think this machine will be a home run for old man Polaris.

Thats great info Desert Rat!
We've been waiting to hear from someone who actually bought one!

Since I also pretty much only ride in the dunes, your evaluation is valuable to me!

Let us know more about its ability to climb the steep stuff, and how it stacks up against the other quads!

[Tyler33]

I just got my Predator today. I rode it around for about 30 mins breakin it in. I really wanted to see how it revs but i was good and kept it under 1/2 throttle. The chain does make some wierd sounds, but you dont notice it much unless you are coasting. Theres snow here so i didnt find much out, the low end doesnt feel as snappy as my bros ex. It does seem like it revs faster. The pegs are back too far but ill get used to it. It started easily with the choke on in 30 degree weather. It did take awhile to warm up. Ill post more as i ride it more.

[Woody_YZF]

Take it out on a track for me, would you? I have to know. This is killing me. I'm still leaning towards the Z400, but the info's getting better all the time. Especially if the price tag is sitting around $6k retail.

[Woody_393]

Holy cow. When it rains it pours... 2 in one day.

Thanks both of you for the details. This machine does seem like it could be really awesome. I honestly can't believe the price tag on it. What gives? It is almost too good to be true.

How has reliability for other polaris products been? 4-strokes in paticular. I know they have pretty good stuff when it comes to water craft and snowmobiles, but they are all 2 strokes.

Anyway, good info, and thanks for posting it.

And welcome both of you to ATM (all things moto). I hope you come back often and of course keep us up to date on how the bike is doing.

[Woody_YZF]

Polaris makes a couple of four strokes. They make the scrambler 500 and the Sportsman models. They are pretty reliable for the most part. The Predator is their first with a five speed transmission though. That's what I'm not convinced about yet. I think I may be getting closer to be willing to make the jump onto the Polaris bandwagon.

[2fun]

Originally posted by Tyler33
I just got my Predator today. I rode it around for about 30 mins breakin it in. I really wanted to see how it revs but i was good and kept it under 1/2 throttle. The chain does make some wierd sounds, but you dont notice it much unless you are coasting. Theres snow here so i didnt find much out, the low end doesnt feel as snappy as my bros ex. It does seem like it revs faster. The pegs are back too far but ill get used to it. It started easily with the choke on in 30 degree weather. It did take awhile to warm up. Ill post more as i ride it more.

Tyler33;
Thanks for the info, and welcome to ATM (all things moto)!

Yes, please continue to tell us of your likes and dislikes of the new predator!

[Tyler33]

I rode for almost an hour today. It started right up again, it dies if you leave the choke on too long. After it died it started with no choke easily. I got on it a little more than yesterday, its almost like a 2 stroke. Either the motor is lugging and barely wanting to go or its spinning like crazy. I noticed the chain noise even less today (probably because my bros ex is so loud). I did some small jumps, its hard with snow because if you hit the throttle before the face of the jump it spins and can turn you sideways in the air. It felt good, about like my brothers which has works triple rates with rezzys on the front. The main thing i notice is how quickly it revs once the tires break loose, the throttle response is awesome. Cant say much about the handling, i was in an open area so i didnt have to turn. I did hit a bump in 3rd gear that i didnt see until i was by it, i figured the rear end would bounce up but it stayed down and i wheelied, i barely felt it. Tomorrow ill probly change the oil and loosen the suspension up a bit since it felt a tad stiff. There is 3 inches of threads to loosen the preload on the fronts.

[Woody_YZF]

Tyler33,

Between the 400EX and the Predator, the predator weighs 50 lbs. more. Can you tell that it weighs more, or does it seem to feel pretty good. Of course you probably won't really know that until you get some good jumps in.

[Tyler33]

The predator feels sturdier, the ex almost like a bicycle when comparing the two. I came from a scrambler so i dont know the meaning of heavy. The throttle, brake, and clutch feel like they are higher quality on the pred. I climbed a small hill and could feel the difference in the weight of the front end, it didnt even try to come up where the ex would. I didnt notice the front end being heavy when jumping, the power made it so i was landing rear wheels first all the time unless i coasted over the jump. These are small natural jumps, nothin very big. The ex seems like it preloads better, the suspension helps it get higher. When i do it i try to load the suspension but dont get much of anything to happen. Im probably doing something wrong. Hopefully ill do some more riding this weekend and ill let you know how it goes.

[Woody_YZF]

The Predator suspension is set up to not have as much pre load I believe because you don't want a lot of air, you want distance on a track.

I did finally go to the Polaris dealer and check one out. It felt pretty good to sit on. The only thing I did notice was that the foot pegs feel back a little ways, but that would be easy to get used to.

[Woody_YZF]

Did you get the rezzies on the front shocks? While at the Polaris shop the salesman said that the one thing that he didn't like about his was that 2nd gear seemed a little tall. Have you noticed anything like that? I know that was exactly the problem with the Raptors their first year and I don't want to go down that road again. Thanks for the info. keep it coming.

[Tyler33]

Nope no rezzys. The power bit me today. I was on a sand bar, put it in 2nd and hit it. The front end came up slowly while i was spinning then all of a sudden it was on the grabbar. After that i dont know what happened but i knocked the front left tire off the bead. No worries though, plastic is fine, handlebars ok, the grabbar is a little bent but hardly noticeable. I rode quite a bit of trails , second gear pulled well, i didnt have much of a problem with it. If you slip the clutch a little itll pull 2nd almost from a standstill. 2nd does last well into the speed of 3rd of most other quads ive ridden. It has less low end than a raptor, but i didnt have much of a problem with 2nd. I tried some hills which was the bank of the river we ride on. I was surprised how easily it went up. Both the traction and the front end staying down worked very good. Hillclimbing is pretty much limited to first gear unless you are really moving, though. By the time you get into the power of second you are going fast enough to jump over the hill. Gearing it down might be in the plans for later on. All in all, a pretty decent day. Im tired since i woke up at 615 to take ACT's.

[Desert Rat]

Finished breaking in the Predator enough to get on it a little this weekend. Has the power I was hoping it had. I'm sure it will run with my 440ex (which is no slouch) through most of the gears then leave the 440 in the dust on the top end. I'll know better when my son has time to go riding with me and we do a little drag racing for root beers. The gearing seems a little tall and the power comes on from mid-range to the top. Not much bottom end. This coupled with the long travel, wide stance and the front end weight bias should make it a good dune machine. That is what I bought it for. The pegs seem a little bit back, but I understand it is set up that way because the new front end design and engine weight forward bias mean you can stay back on the seat and drive it though the corner full on rather than finessing it with body english and clutch work. I talked to Daryl Rath (Rath Racing) this morning. He is sending me his air box mod kit, assortment of jets, different taper needle and a K&N filter. He said this along with the Pure Polaris slip on (White Brothers) will really wake it up. He has done a full set of dino tests with different combinations of pilots, mains and needles. Included will be some instructions to make it dummy prof. Just what I need!

[2fun]

Great info guys!

Keep it coming!

I would especially be interested on how it matches up against the R's as far as power and speed go!!

[Tyler33]

Desert Rat, does yours make a squeaking sound from the steering column when you ride over bumps? It sounds like rubber rubbing on metal. Does something need to be greased or does it just do it? What kind of 440 kit does your ex have? That sounds pretty impressive if it runs with it. Its annoying how people in other boards dont give the predator much credit since its a polaris. Let me know of any experiences with raptors, theres a couple around here that id like to dust. They have exhaust though.

[Woody_YZF]

In talking to the Polaris dealer, he said that drilling a hole in the air box and putting in the little uni filters helps a lot. They didn't design the air box very well as far as air intake.

On the EX, my stock Raptor will beat my buddy's 440 with everything on it pretty handily until we get on a good hill in the dunes, then he has better torque. I will admit that I am about 70lbs. lighter than he is though.

[Woody_YZF]

I'm afraid that Polaris is going to have to prove that they can make a good five speed. I still think they could work on the weight thing.

[Desert Rat]

The last time we were drag racing at the dunes my son was running against a Raptor (with a pipe, K&N filter and bigger jets) and a Bombardier with a similar setup. My 440EX and the raptor would both out run the Bombardier a little bit. The Raptor and the EX ran even. It came down to who got the better start. Mind you, this was in the sand on short distance of 60 to 70 yards. I know both the Raptor, Bomardier and Predator will probaby outrun the EX on the top end. My EX has a Web cam, 10.5/1 piston, Pro Circuit pip, White Brothers CDI, K&N filter and a dino jet kit. The dino jets kit (different taper needle in the kit) made a bigger difference than I thought it would. That is why I ordered the airbox mod kit for my Predator from Rath Racing. He includes jets and a different taper needle that gave the most horsepower gains on the dino with the airbox mods, K&N and White Brother pipe. Getting the jetting right on a 4 stroke after some mods can be a pain. They are all good bikes. So many variable, including rider abililty, its hard to tell who will run the best on any given day. I'm just so glad all the manufacturers got off their duffs and started building some performance quads. The only choice we have had for years was a Banshee or keep patching our old 250r, etc. About the squeeky front end on the Predator, mine makes no noise. One thing I do like it the fact that the Predator has grease zerks all over the place. Try given them a shot. One may have been missed at the factory. Polaris could have done a better job on setting up the air box. It's real easy to get to and service but you can't run it without the lid. It hold the dumb flat paper filter on.

[Woody_YZF]

My buddy's 440 is actually a 430 come to find out. He doesn't have the CDI box and his kind of cuts out in the high end. Did putting a better CDI box in help yours? Sorry wrong thread, but it came up and I had to ask.