2000 Polaris Xplorer 400 4x4 test ride

[@tommosher]

I enjoyed this video last year when I came across it. Little did I know that I would wind up buying one just like this! Excited to learn all about it.

[@kelikran54]

I love my '96 400. I ride it pretty easy though just mostly cruise bush trails in low range. It starts to push coolant when it warms up a bit. I put a bigger overflow jug on it and just pour it back in the rad every so often. Been running it like this for a year now and still going strong. Guess it's probably a head gasket too, but am reluctant to mess with it as long as it keeps running great. I also put a digital temp gauge on it as well as a manual fan switch. I turn on the fan around 30 c = 82 f. Thanks for the nice demo.

[@rockspowersports]

@K. Gilbertson I really do enjoy these older 400 2 strokes! And yes it does sound like you may have a pin hole in the head gasket pushing the coolant into the overflow. I’ve seen that quite a few times on these 400’s. It’s actually a pretty easy job to do. Pulling the plastics and fuel tank is the biggest pain… Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@mattwold7598]

Just do a simple top gasket change

[@MrTJohnston]

Absolutely loved my 96 Polaris sport 400L.

[@darinhill6543]

Great video on the machine but love the property and trails lol

[@HarrisHotRods.]

I had a 96 Xplorer 400, never any issues. looking to get another just like it soon, Miss it way too much!! I still have my childhood quad I was gifted down. A 1985 Suzuki Lt50 2 Stroke. All original and still will start right up and run perfect for my kids to ride! Plan on doing a restoration on that soon just to do it but 2 strokes are usually pretty reliable and very cheap and easy to rebuild!

[@rockspowersports]

There good machines. This one was jetted a little to rich I believe. I bet your kids love riding that lt50!

[@HarrisHotRods.]

Oh yea everybody always loves that little quad. My mid 70 year old dad let's it haul him around the yard every now & then just to be funny. Lol and he's a little over 200lbs maybe 250lbs & like 6ft 2 tall. It's somethin to see for sure!

[@rockspowersports]

@@HarrisHotRods. I bet that is something to see lol

[@dscanadianoutdoors3257]

Just picked myself up a 94 sportsman 400, looking forward to getting it going.

[@Kingsoupturbo]

I have a 94 400L, it does about the same top speed, around 50mph, that one sounded down on power for sure, they are pretty easy to control on full AWD engagement, light steering.

[@georgepoling3219]

I had a 1995 300 that would bust the chain every time I tried to do a doughnut. They are a little bit Dawgy. I finally figured it out though. Seem it had a hairline crack between the carb and the jug. And they do shake vibrate, rattle and roll. I paid $700 4 the wheeler and a generator . I put an $8 dollar part on the genny and sold it for $500.00. All and all I had the 4 wheeler for i think 8 more mushroom seasons and sold it for $625.00 it still ran good but needed a fresh round of tires. I'm pretty sure it was the best thing I've ever purchased. Good luck with u and yours

[@98dodge360v8]

I rebuilt mine. The factory is only 378cc. I had it bored out .060 to 402cc with a wiseco piston and ritter cycle 91 octane high comp head. Piped and carbed plus clutched and has a 3000rpm engagement on 26 htrs. Thing is a beast. Lots of power and tire for the weight. Its like have a 400 scramber thats useful.

[@rockspowersports]

I bet that thing moves right along! I have a scrambler 400 that needs a rebuild, I might end up doing some work like that to it.

[@98dodge360v8]

@@rockspowersports rick ritter at ritter cycle racing is the man. I want to say the jug, piston, and head were under $400, that was a few years ago though. I have a couple 400 scramblers. One has a broken piston skirt. I think the big bore high comp is in its future. Probably pipe and clutching plus xplorer sprockets. More top speed and same tire size front/rear.

[@rockspowersports]

@@98dodge360v8 ya $400 for the top end isn’t bad I’ll have to check them out. I’m pretty sure mines going to need a new crank too..

[@MidnightPolaris800]

Dude make a video

[@_..-.._..-.._]

I used to be obsessed with the polaris 2 strokes. If I remember correctly, the 400 2 stroke could be built up to about 80hp with a big bore ported jug and all the other goodies. Very fun, the cyclone 250 version of the trailblazer from 1990 was a beast with something like 32hp instead of 20 of the later ones.

[@shanegiggie]

I had a 96 250 trail blazer it was pretty reliable motor wise, but the biggest problem I had with it was they put the starter on the frame and it would wear out quick because it was always covered in mud and water. It had real good power for a 250. Easy on gas and oil.

[@rockspowersports]

Yes I’ve had many 250 trailblazers and trailboss’s. The starter location was a very bad design…

[@shanegiggie]

@@rockspowersports For sure, other then that it was a pretty good little bike. Mine had a clutch kit and a couple other things done too it. It was pretty respectable for a little 250

[@rockspowersports]

@@shanegiggie Ya I’ve drove a trailblazer 250 with a hot seat performance pipe and a clutch kit and it was impressive for a 250 for sure

[@upnorthvlogs]

I have a sportsman 570 rides like a Cadillac been fantastic but I miss those older Polaris is how easy they were to work on and run forever like a Honda ones I had anyway I had to 400 L s a couple of magnums & 250s scrambler Etc

[@rockspowersports]

Yes the older 2 strokes were very easy to work on but I think the new 570 will be more reliable.

[@upnorthvlogs]

@@rockspowersports yea true my sportsman 570 has 8500 miles and all I have really done his regular maintenance yearly few batteries tires 2 belt changes I believe

[@tedkowal1]

I live in vermont and I have the same four wheeler it's the same year everything's pretty much the same. Nice video

[@rockspowersports]

That’s cool! Which part of Vermont are you from?

[@tedkowal1]

@@rockspowersports lyndonville

[@tedkowal1]

@@rockspowersports My brother is a carpenter and he worked on a house up in island pond

[@rockspowersports]

@@tedkowal1 oh gotcha your pretty close then.

[@michellealms3238]

Does the 96 have a coolant reservoir.? How often do u check that counterbalance oil ? What a horrible access that is! Thanks

[@jandeband]

Just bought one, love it

[@chrisreibold1634]

I'd love to find a very nice condition original 1997 sportsman 400l. I think that was the last year for the old style plastic before it became the xplorer 400. I like the look of them better with the steel racks and big steel bumper.

[@rockspowersports]

Those older style sportsman 400L are getting hard to find.. I had last winter but it wasnt in great shape.

[@RedArmor24]

My favorite xplorer 400 2001 plastic black body.

[@rockspowersports]

I guess I’ve never seen that color scheme on these.

[@RedArmor24]

@@rockspowersports it paints spray black.

[@GregIshnook-sq5co]

Hello, I got a Polaris xplorer 400L from a family member. I am not sure what’s wrong with it but when I press the throttle it doesn’t go the speed which the throttle is applied. Takes a while to get on step. Also the electric start doesn’t work. Makes like a clicking sound. I’m guessing it’s the starter solenoid I ordered another starter solenoid, but I’m not sure why it doesn’t want to go the speed which the throttle is applied. Any feedback about what’s wrong with it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[@Carguylogan]

When you first started the engine and it was idling, it sounded like it was knocking. I looked at a 400 L today and it sounded like that too. Is that normal for these 400s to have that rattoe sound from the engine at idle?

[@rockspowersports]

Every Polaris 400 2 stroke I’ve been around sounds like this. They all have that rattle noise when idling.

[@davidkizer9915]

Sounds like it could use a little adjustment, sounds like it breaks up a little bit on the bottom end

[@rockspowersports]

Yes for sure. It was running a little rich.

[@rockspowersports]

@@Tyler-zw4kq the throttle response is not as crisp as it should be.

[@jakefeist4643]

I have a newbie question, do you not have to mix the gas on these? You just put the oil in that front black cap and the gas in the other?

[@rockspowersports]

As long as someone didn’t modify it then yes the black cap up front is for your injection oil and you put regular straight gas in the gas tank. Sometimes people don’t trust the injection system and they will install a block off plate then just run pre mix in the gas tank.

[@bobbygray6998]

Hey love the videos think you could do a video on a Polaris expedition I have one and I hav been told it is the only manual utility bike Polaris made

[@rockspowersports]

You are correct , the xpedition 325 and 425 are the only manual utility atvs that Polaris made. I do not have one ay the moment so I can’t do a review on one. Maybe one day.

[@bobbythegamer5592]

@@rockspowersports ok thank you for responding it has been a very good bike until I blew the rear differential up on it

[@rockspowersports]

@@bobbythegamer5592 I heard they were good machines seen a few with transmission problems usually not rear diff problems.

[@bobbygray6998]

@@rockspowersports ya well it was abused by my grandpa now by me for about three years. I broke the shifter on it and welded it back on but it is a tank I have taken it up hills you can’t stand on . It is a very impressive machine and I hope someday I can see it on your channel so I can see what you say about it! I love the videos man keep up the good work 🙂

[@MBTUE]

I often see these for sale but tend to stay away because it's a 2 stroke. I now know that they seem ok.

[@rockspowersports]

A lot of people do tend to stay away from 2 stroke atvs but there’s always someone out there for it.

[@oldsthunder8847]

It’s a lot easier to rebuild a 2 stroke rather a 4 stroke. I’d take a 2 stroke any day.

[@rockspowersports]

@@oldsthunder8847 they both have there ups and downs but they for sure are easier to build and make a lot more power compared to the same size 4 stroke

[@MS-mr4zm]

I have a 2001 that is a beast takes a licking keeps on ticking

[@grandcrappy]

Maintain them, especially muddy water riding. Ride a cold motor real easy for a few minutes.

[@norbetobolanos8509]

In the cap where he says that the cooling oil is put, what oil should it have?

[@rockspowersports]

If your referring to the black cap in the front that is for 2 stroke oil. If your talking about the small white reservoir on the side of the machine, that is for coolant.

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

Easily change the sprockets for top end

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

How's chain n top end. I'm gkna buy but spend sum on it to get it legit how's 4x4 ..as a side bike but I Wana ride it alot

[@rockspowersports]

They are nice wheeler’s and make good power for there size. The 4x4 is an all wheel drive system so as long as the fluid is maintained in the hubs they work great.z

[@blaykntucks]

Ever have any overheating issues? I have 2 of them and have had em since brand new. 1 of em is syrating to overheat a bit. Tore it apart and cant seem to figure it out.

[@rockspowersports]

I had a scrambler 400 that would push the coolant into the overflow bottle and then eventually push it out of the bottle. It ended up being a bad head gasket on mine.

[@rolop847]

I could get up the river to snow with my 3 wheeler

[@dgov2660]

How's this compared to sportsman 500 1996 model

[@rockspowersports]

-It’s a little lighter due to being a 2 stroke and solid rear axle which makes it feel sportier. -Doesn’t have as much torque as the sportsman 500. -The ride is not quite as smooth with the solid rear axle, still pretty decent ride though. -The Sportsman 500 is better for work and the Xplorer 400 is better for playing around on.

[@RedArmor24]

@@rockspowersports exactly correct I had 2 atv sportsman 500 1996 and xplorer 400 2001

[@cashcaswell4153]

How much are these going for. Thank you for the video. Im from good ol new hampshah

[@rockspowersports]

I sold this one for $1300 I’d say you should be able to pick them up in good running shape from $1000-$1700

[@dwitcraft]

Is this machine for sale at your dealership? Thx

[@rockspowersports]

It’s already been sold.