Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI: Only the price is small

When Polaris introduced the Sportsman 800 in 2004, it was their top of the line machine, the biggest, most powerful, most technically advanced 4×4 available from the Minnesota manufacturer. It was also the largest displacement ATV on the market and more than a few sources in the ATV industry complained that it was too powerful for any practical need and that it was escalating a horsepower war among ATV manufacturers. Today, the Polaris Sportsman 850 XP tempts riders with even more power, sophistication and refinement. The Sportsman 800 is still available, and amazingly, it’s price is lower than when it was introduced! It may be the best news for 4×4 riders who need big bore power, but don’t want to drop 10 grand on an ATV.

HOW GOOD IS THE PRICE?

It’s amazing. Back in 2004, the Sportsman 800 sold for $8599. Eight years later it’s only $7499! That makes it the lowest priced big bore 4×4 available for 2012. Among 750cc and larger 4x4s, Suzuki’s KingQuad 750 is closest in price at $8399, but it’s really not very close. Many 550cc 4x4s cost more too, and we’re talking about base 550s, not deluxe power steering models. Yamaha’s Grizzly 550 starts at $8699. and Polaris’ own base Sportsman 550, is $7699.

WHAT POWERS IT?

A fuel injected, 760cc, pushrod inline twin with two valves per cylinder. As twin cylinder motors go, the Sportsman 800 is unusual because both pistons rise and fall together, but fire alternately. On paper, the pushrod, two valve per cylinder motor sounds behind the times compared to the overhead cam, four valve per cylinder powerplants in most 4×4 ATVs, but on the trail or at work, it makes more power than most riders ever use. The compact cylinder heads also help centralize the machine’s weight to fight top heaviness. If you want more thrust, hop up parts for this engine are easy to find, because this same engine is used in several Polaris RZR models.

You won’t find electronic fuel injection (EFI) on every machine in the 800’s price range, and it’s a nice extra. EFI means instant starts in cold or hot weather, not having to fiddle with a choke for starting and warm up and no need rejet carburetors for high elevation riding.

WHAT KIND OF TRANSMISSION DOES IT HAVE?

The simplest kind to use, a belt type, continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Sportsman’s long range selector lets you switch between park, reverse, neutral, low and high ranges. The selector’s action isn’t as slick and precise as the best around, like those on Suzuki KinQuads and Kawasaki Brute Forces, but the shift pattern is more logically laid out than most, so you can go directly from low to reverse. It’s handy when turning around in tight spots and a real time saver for chores like plowing.

Unlike most 4WD machines with CVTs, the 800 has no automatic engine braking. That means it freewheels on downhills at idle. The machine coasts with more resistance in low than high, or you can trick the transmission into providing engine braking by blipping the throttle. We found thhe Sportsman’s powerful brakes make its lack of automatic engine braking a non issue most of the time, even on steep, hilly trails. Polaris offers automatic engine braking for the 800 as an option if you feel you need it.

WHAT’S THE 4WD SYSTEM LIKE?

It’s like no other. The Polaris system includes button selectable 2WD/4WD with an automatic locking front differential. To keep steering light, the system remains in 2WD even in 4WD until the speed sensitive front differential senses the rear wheels turning faster than the fronts. When that happens, the front differential locks in the fraction of a wheel rotation. The instant 4WD isn’t needed, the system goes back to 2WD

HOW FAST IS IT?

It’s seriously fast. The Sportsman isn’t quite the land rocket that a Can-Am Outlander 800R or a Sportsman 850 XP is, but it moves. Polaris has the 800’s clutching well matched to its strong low end power, so you get a satisfying blast of forceful acceleration any time you stab the throttle. We could go on and on about how handy the 800’s generous reserves of power are for navigating deep, power sapping mud or towing, plowing and other challenging chores, but the thrust of a 800cc quad is just plain fun.

HOW DOES THE POWER WORK ON THE TRAIL?

It’s abundant but controllable. The 800 has so much muscle it makes a meal of huge hills and long, slick mud bogs that can be a struggle on smaller, less powerful machines. New possibilities seem to open up in all sorts of situations because you can gather speed so quickly and maintain momentum in challenging terrain. Big bore 4x4s make average riders look like heros because sheer power lets them instantly conquer gnarly obstacles with ease. Truly talented riders can do amazing things with the 800. The Sportsman 800 doesn’t wheelie excessively, but skilled riders won’t be leaving tracks from the front tires anywhere they don’t want to.

As powerful as it is, the Polaris is not an unruly monster. It’s perfectly content to cruise at a relaxed pace, and it’s very tractable in technical sections of the trail that require precise control.

WHAT’S THE SUSPENSION LIKE?

It’s the system most Polaris machines used for years. MacPherson strut front ends are less common now, but the 800’s works as well as ever and offers 8.2 inches of travel, more than most big 4x4s have up front. Polaris popularized long travel independent double A-arm rear suspension on big 4x4s, and the Sportsman’s has 9 inches of plush travel out back.

HOW DOES THE SUSPENSION WORK ON THE TRAIL?

It provides very good comfort and enough bottoming resistance for fast trail riding. It can even handle whooped out trails at a surprising pace. Considering the Sportsman 800 weighs about 780 pounds with a full tank, the suspension does an amazing job. The ride quality isn’t quite as compliant and refined as the more expensive Sportsman 850 XP or Can-Am’s Outlander 800R, but you really have to be a connoisseur of ATV suspension to find fault with the Sportsman’s ride.

HOW DOES IT HANDLE?

At a casual pace, the 800 is surprisingly easy to handle. It’s very stable and the cornering feel is more crisp and accurate than we expected from a large, heavy machine with long travel independent rear suspension. The Sportsman is a pleasure to ride on twisting trails and it tracks confidently in open terrain at higher speeds.

The 800’s size and weight shows when you rush the machine through a series of tight turns. The Sportsman doesn’t get do anything spooky at speed, but the rider has put more effort into making the big machine change direction. Unfortunately, the 800’s girthy midsection limits the rider’s mobility, so moving on the machine for more control isn’t as easy as it could be.

HOW DOES IT HANDLE MUD AND WATER?

If your favorite kind of riding takes you where your machine’s tires are submerged at least some of the time, the Sportsman 800 will serve you well. Its tall suspension provides more than 11 inches of ground clearance and there’s plenty of power on tap to churn through deep mud and water. The Polaris 4WD system is as effective as any and more convenient than most, because it locks the front differential the instant maximum traction is needed. The Sportsman’s engine, transmission and driveline is well sealed for use in wet, sloppy conditions, too.

HOW DOES IT HANDLE HILLS?

It’s better at going up that going down. The Sportsman has so much power and traction for climbing we had to hunt for hills that challenged it. We topped every one we tried, but descending the steep slippery ones requires more attention than on some machines. As we said, there’s no automatic engine braking, so you have to get on the gas slightly to use the engine to help slow the machine, and that’s not always practical. When the engine braking engages, it’s pretty strong, so the rear wheels skid where traction is sketchy. Because of the Sportsman’s speed sensing front differential, only the rear wheels get engine braking in 4WD. Many machines provide engine four wheel engine braking in 4WD. Fortunately, the brakes are strong and controllable. Sport riders like the Sportsman’s linked, single lever braking less than separate brake controls, but the system is easy to use.

HOW ARE THE DETAILS?

Most are very good. It would be great if the Sportsman were slimmer in the middle and the shift lever had a slicker, more solid feel, but updating these features would mean a big change to one of the most likable things about the 800, it’s incredibly low price, and the Sportsman has a lot of nice features that are missing from many more expensive machines. The huge, lockable, sealed front storage compartment built into the front rack is one of the largest on any ATV. The rear rack accepts Polaris’ quick mount Lock and Ride accessories. Fuel injection means instant starts. Three powerful lights make night rides fun and safe.

WHAT IS OUR FINAL ANSWER?

You can’t do better for the money. The Polaris Sportsman 800 isn’t quite as sophisticated as the more expensive big bore 4x4s, but it delivers more power and comfort than most riders could ask for, at a lower price than some manufacturers ask for their 550s.

HIGHS

-Least expensive big bore 4×4

-Plush suspension

-Awesome power

-Proven dependability

LOWS

Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI: Only the price is small - UTV Action Magazine (2024)