Polaris Sportsman 850 long-term review!

[@ctfan1486]

I got my 21 in December 20. Got for light work. Mainly plowing long driveway hauling cart around etc. About ready for second oil change so it doesn't get used alot. Been very happy so far. Glad see a review on the 850 most reviews are on the 570.

[@quadbilly2106]

Thanks for watching! Im sure you will be happy with it, they are fun machines

[@cowboyzr2]

Thanks for the review man. I’ve been on the fence about buying a new 850 or 1000 Ultimate Trail… I think I’m gonna pull the trigger.

[@Jessyvw1207]

I have a 2018 850 and agree with every point. Bushings I'm now with garage product. Bearings I have the grease tool that goes over the the axle so to me is very easy to use, but I have still replaced the fronts twice and the back twice and probably due soon (but already have bought) I do run in quite a bit of mud and run 30 inch cryptids so I expect to use bearings a little more. But I also have 10k kms on it. The time not holding if it does it again all you do is disconnect the battery for a bit and it fixes it. Biggest point is Bushings!!! Went through the originals in less than a year, then the second set even less time. Since garage product I've had no issues at all. Great review

[@quadbilly2106]

Thanks for watching! Garage products will be ordered shortly. I do love the machine and everything has a weak link.

[@bounce12]

Anything change with the 2023? I’ve been a Yamaha guy all my life but after buying a 2017 grizzly 708 I’ll never give them another cent so here I am thinking about getting a Polaris 850. They weren’t very good bikes back in the day so I’m kinda sceptical. I drove a new rubicon 520 and there absolutely trash. The 2” lol screen and garbage transmission stopped me from owning a new Honda.

[@brandonzempel6106]

Great video seriously. I have a 2020 sportsman 570 premium with 2400 miles and 160 hours. I wanted the 850 but I'm poor and couldn't do the extra 2000 bucks. Im considering finally trading it for a grizzly or the Polaris 850 but my 570 has had nothing go out aside a brake pressure switch which made the brake lights stay on continuously. That was 400 plus but it rides absolutely amazing and maintenance is so easy I'm not sure I should trade it. As you and others know the 570 cannot outdo the 850 but if you only ride under 30 mph the 850 has little on the 570 in my opinion. In fact I don't know if the 850 has anything on it at low end? I would love to have both to compare. I have not again replaced anything and bearings are still good on mine. I just read and hear so much about sportsmans being junk vs Yamaha and Kawasaki. Can am you seriously can't shift without hitting your arm as the shifter may as well been under the seat. Honda has no power steering lol. I do like how the 23 grizzley has almost no grease points and Kawasaki 750 I think has to be near legend but you only get two 35 watt lights that seriously suck. I don't want to need a lightbar just to use it at night. Plus Kawasaki accessories are a joke. Can't even get a windshield. My point is tho my sportsman starts in Minnesota every time, runs unbelievable, and flat out rides like an old Cadillac. You can't call sportsmans junk unless you're comparing them to the 90s two strokes but they were just starting out. I had a 2017 450 before this and that was flawless and this 20 is perfect as well. That's two in a row. The only thing I worry about is if I trade this 570 off I won't get to see how many miles it could have made. It uses no oil at 2400 and gives me no reason to believe it ever will. Just an absolutely fabulous machine. Thank you for a great video and to all the people who think today's sportsmans are junk remember they are the number one selling ATV in the world and most people who love them don't comment. You only see the ones who don't which I believe gives them a bad reputation.

[@kcatv9556]

Damn that’s quite a few miles on that machine already. I could see racking up the miles pretty quick running the trails at Hatfield. Sounds like you’re happy with the unit that’s good.

[@quadbilly2106]

Hey bud thanks for watching! Maybe We can still link up this fall and put some more on it! Happy riding bud!

[@fistcover3831]

Looks like the bushing prices range from $99 - $323 from the garage products site

[@quadbilly2106]

They are worth the money though

[@glennh3977]

Great news to hear, just bought my 850 Premium Trail a month ago in the same color. Only bummer is the lock and ride box won’t be back in stock until October…..

[@quadbilly2106]

Thanks for watching

[@andrewvantassel5181]

I have had my 21 850 for exactly 1 year in a week. My bushings have all kinds of play in them, upgraded ones will be coming in the future. All 3 brakes on my bike wore out at the same time. Mine has the led headlights, I had them replaced under warranty due to moisture in them. The new ones I got were exactly the same. I do love mine tho!

[@quadbilly2106]

For all their faults, they are awsome! Thanks for watching!!

[@Rogue_Wave5150]

I am on the fence on a new 570 trail for light use. Possibly add tracks. I just can’t get over the negative comments

[@quadbilly2106]

The 570's are worse than the 850/1000 get a Honda

[@terrymartin7993]

Two questions: 1 : what don't you like about the Bearclaws ? I absolutely love mine and they will be my tire always going forward 2 : are the bushings different on a 570 ? I have 3600 km on my 570 premium and they are solid !!! Grease everhy ride I'm in a lot of water with red Marine Grease and they are mint 👍

[@quadbilly2106]

Bearclaw dislike. Fronts are to flat across face and do not corner well, especially in loose stuff. My only gripe though We have 570 and 450 bushings are terrible. I suggest you pull yours apart and inspect, the rears especially out at spindle wear the metal inserts out. I greese religiously and only thing that works are going with good after market company

[@backwoodsgearhead]

On your extended rack where the paint chipped rust-oleum makes a rugged black that matches up pretty nice.

[@quadbilly2106]

Thanks. I definitely grav a can!

[@Justin-tp3lr]

I just got a 2022 570 trail. Hopefully they have fixed some of these problems. But time will tell I'm only 2hrs into the 25hr break in period

[@quadbilly2106]

I will be posting a video soon of a 21 570 that is a new channel addtion and yes it looks like a few things have been updated

[@chrisreibold1634]

Thanks for the great video! I really like these machines and would like to get one when the market cools a bit. I just went to Hatfield and Mccoy for the first time this past spring. It was awesome! Want to do Rockhouse next time.

[@quadbilly2106]

Well thank you for watching. Warrior is my favorite but I've been to Rockhouse also. Easy to get to Devilanse and Buffalo mountain from there also

[@freidrichnietzsche6643]

it's odd the Polaris allowed such a design failure into final product with the bushings that wear out so fast. Question: what brand wheel bearings will you go with? Aftermarket or Polaris? I'm still 99.9% convinced I'll be getting an 850 or 1000 regardless!

[@quadbilly2106]

I love riding the 850. The power seems endless to me. I just put the Polaris HD bearings in, they are significantly heavier than stock, so time will tell. Go with garage product bushings. The othe weak link id the collar for the power steering. Splines get worn and create steering slop arount 2000mi

[@freidrichnietzsche6643]

@@quadbilly2106 many thanks for the reply Billy! The steering slip will totally get in my nerves… it’d be worse than having a rattle in the dash of your truck that you can’t find!

[@freidrichnietzsche6643]

@@quadbilly2106 theoretical question: if $ was no object, would you go for the sportsman xp 1000S?

[@quadbilly2106]

No. I don't see how the power could be usable and i feel you would just break more stuff. 850 halls my 290lbs ass with ease

[@bounce12]

That’s nothing imagine buying a new grizzly in 2017 only to have the engine done 3 times because of the great Yamaha engineers. They wouldn’t do anything for me other than the recall and it still had to be torn down again twice!!!

[@Jack-xk3qp]

Great review man, really enjoyed that !

[@quadbilly2106]

Thank you!

[@whiterhinooutdoors4572]

Nice looking quad do you still have it ? I bought a 570 new in 2018 I didn’t have any issues with it but didn’t have it long it was the best riding most comfortable quad I have ever owned I have a brute force 750 that beats me to death every time I’m done riding it I’m just wore out the brute is a fun machine but for rough or moderate trail riding it’s not a good ride

[@quadbilly2106]

Yes I do. And agreed!

[@KuntryFried_ATV]

That's awesome. Just out of curiosity, what exactly do you have in your "This Day Just Could Not Get Any Worse" storage box? I thought that was hilarious when you said that. Lol

[@quadbilly2106]

First off thanks for watching! Im making a video on the stuff we carry with us, so check back soon and check it out.

[@chiefmjh1]

Where did you say you can buy the heavy duty bushings ?

[@quadbilly2106]

Garage products

[@KuntryFried_ATV]

Great vid, thanks for posting. What kind of tires are on yours and what size. I really like the shape and look of those tires.

[@quadbilly2106]

Kenda Bear claw HTR

[@blkwng81]

What year is your sportsman ?

[@quadbilly2106]

20

[@michaelhefford6420]

@@quadbilly2106has your opinion changed since this video? Any other issues pop up? I’m debating going from a Yamaha Kodiak 700 to either a 570 Trail or the 850 Trail. Just not sure about the bushings and other issues, whether it’s worth the hassle. No issues at all on the Yamaha in almost 3 years and over 2000 miles, but it rides about as smooth as a tank

[@badas95Z]

You still have the ADC with that pinion cover? I thought you had to eliminate it when you go to the cover?

[@quadbilly2106]

On older modles I believe, but everything works just fine on my machine. Thanks for watching!

[@badas95Z]

@@quadbilly2106 thanks for the reply. I'm stuck between the highlifter and trail model. Night and day I know but just want to make the right choice the first time lol

[@quadbilly2106]

Well, what do you plan to do more of? Mud or trail? If you plan to trail mostly and some mud, the high lifter is hard to live with on the trail, yet a few mods and the one like mine can be fun in the mud and comfortable on the trail. Let me know what you decide. Either way a bad day riding is still a good day!

[@badas95Z]

@@quadbilly2106 well I'm not a water hole person, I'm not trying to swim lol. I will play in the mud. Mostly trail but when I come across some mud on the trail if it ain't super deep I'm hitting it. I love the bells and whistles and the look of the newer ones though I can't lie. I was hoping they would change the highlifter this year but no such luck

[@badas95Z]

@@quadbilly2106 but whichever one I get I'm probably gonna put a set of Elka stage 3 shocks on

[@alloffroad7607]

Good info, thank ya

[@semtech30]

In other words. The best quad you'll ever ride. My 2014 is going strong, no issues at all. Cadillac of quads. The mud , sand and water is the enemy on any machine.

[@MarkSmith-vk6vz]

Damn I haven't even hit 200 miles yet 😂

[@mecanicul_8]

Nice ATV👍👍👍