Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition ATV
The new 2021 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition will tackle even the worst mud holes, and even on dry surfaces, you'll be tired of smiling behind the wheel of this ATV.
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000
It seems like only a short time ago that the public was introduced to the improved 2021 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000, a sport-utility ATV whose technical characteristics were simply breathtaking. When it comes to trail riding, the Sportsman XP 1000 is incredibly fast, but at the same time very compliant and handles well. Even despite its impressive weight, controlling the ATV does not cause any problems. This is facilitated by a soft suspension with long travel, exceptional stability and electric power steering from Polaris. The Sportsman is an amazing all-terrain vehicle. But if you need an ATV that will get through the deepest mud, then a more specialized unit like the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition will do the job.
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition
What makes it special? Based on the Sportsman XP 1000, the new Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition boasts a host of changes and enhancements that make it a true mud monster. Polaris' collaboration with High Lifter is a very good move because they have been making ATV mud machines for 20 years. According to Scott Seat, owner of High Lifter, they outfitted the Polaris ATV with custom tires and suspension and made it "waterproof." These three points are key when building a dirt quad.
Assembly of any mud all-terrain vehicle begins with tires. The 2021 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is equipped with 29.5 x 9.5-14 High Lifter Outlaw II tires on 14-inch cast aluminum wheels. At the same time, tires with a diameter of 26-27 inches are installed on the standard model.
The ATV is powered by the same ProStar engine with two parallel cylinders of 952 cc. see (produces 85 hp). Only it was tuned for mud driving. The engine is not equipped with Active Descent Control. The CVT ratios have been retuned upward to accommodate the larger tires. The robust front-wheel drive and axle shafts were borrowed from the standard Sportsman. The all-wheel drive system operates in a 1:1 configuration, which allows for virtually no loss of rear tire traction before the front wheels lock up and begin to "row." The air intake and belt are protected from water ingress.
Cabins
Standard all-terrain vehicle layouts with one and two rows of seats are also used in the RZR. Single-row vehicles have two seats for a standard off-road crew, a pilot and a navigator. On the four-seater Polaris RZR, the seats are in two rows, the wheelbase and the car itself are longer than usual. It also weighs more. That's why the RZR 4 rides a little slower and stays on the road a little more stable. The invention of Polaris - single-seat Side-by-Side. The RZR RS1 is designed for those who prefer to ride alone. The only seat is located in the middle, so the car is more compact, lighter and cheaper than its multi-seat counterparts.
Polaris RZR ergonomics have been perfected for decades
Waterproof
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition 2019
The air filter, clutch inlet and outlet ventilation ducts are located above the steering wheel to prevent water from entering them. The radiator was also raised as high as possible, now it is located where the front luggage rack used to be. The cooling fans were upside down. Access to the radiator has been simplified so that it can be easily cleaned as soon as necessary.
Even though the entire electrical system is relatively well protected from water ingress, the sealed fuse box is still mounted high in front of the radiator. This arrangement also made servicing easier.
RZR 2021 Updates
RZR Pro XP Ultimate Rockford Fosgate LE can be heard from afar. In addition to the traditional components of the top-end RZR, such as the turbocharged engine boosted to 181 horsepower and the Dynamix active suspension, it is equipped with a powerful 800-watt Rockford Fosgate Stage 4 HO audio system
RZR Turbo S Lifted Lime Limited Edition - model features new color scheme, aluminum roof, low doors, audio system, high power LED headlights, vibrant color scheme.
The material of the engine air intake has changed for powerful models. Now it does not overheat during prolonged driving at full throttle.
All models except the small ones now have a charging port. A charger is connected through it to keep the battery in working condition during long periods of inactivity.
Polaris RZR Lineup Expands for 2021
Mud ATV
The 2019 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition has a number of other features that make it a great dirt bike. The Extreme Duty's front bumper features built-in tow hooks and a heavy-duty 3,000-pound winch. It is installed high so that the driver does not get his hands dirty when using it. There's a rear bumper for extra protection, and it's also helpful when you need to get your friends out of a tight spot. At the top of the steering wheel you can see a special handrail; it should be used as a lever when you need to rescue the ATV from a mud captivity.
The footrests have special holes to prevent the accumulation of water and dirt. High Lifter engineers worked with Polaris to develop A-arms that provide maximum ground clearance, even on particularly rugged terrain. Both the front and rear suspension are tuned to handle not only the increased weight of the ATV, but also the additional weight from sticking mud. Stiffer springs allow the suspension to operate at the top of its vertical travel and maintain proper ground clearance. The suspension's vertical travel has been reduced to accommodate the larger 29-inch tires. The front suspension has a travel of 188 mm, the rear 170 mm.
Polaris designers decided to remove the rear anti-roll bar to allow the rear suspension to perform better even in the deepest ruts. The steering stops have been modified to prevent the wheels from turning too much and thereby avoiding rubber friction. With larger tires installed on the ATV, the dimensions have increased slightly: the 2019 Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition is 2235 mm long, 1245 mm wide and 1321 mm high. Thus, the new ATV is larger than the standard Sportsman by 121 mm in length, 35 mm in width and 32 mm in height.
But the most important thing is that the ground clearance has increased by 50 mm and amounted to 343 mm. As a result, the High Lifter Edition is 45kg heavier than the standard Sportsman, now weighing in at 442kg. This colossus is stopped by hydraulic disc brakes, which are activated by a lever on the steering wheel and a pedal on the right side. The load capacity of the rear parcel shelf is 34 kg. The ATV also features 7.6 liters of luggage space (like the standard Sportsman 1000 models). The 1.25-inch hitch can tow up to 680 kg.
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition ATV test
During our test drive, we had absolutely no regrets about the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition. As a mud all-terrain vehicle, the High Lifter Edition model is impeccable, while demonstrating excellent performance even on dry ground, which sometimes remains between two holes filled with mud. When you point the ATV into the dirt, the engine seamlessly sends power to each of the four wheels so powerfully that it feels like the new Special Sportsman is being catapulted out of the mud.
It was even possible to put it on its rear wheels when they crossed a muddy pond about a meter deep. It's amazing how, in a deep puddle, the pilot's weight affects a car that already weighs almost half a ton. When driving on the rear wheels, in order to maintain the desired direction of movement, the driver needs to hang over one side or the other.
High Lifter Outlaw II tires do not lose traction on either hard or soft bottoms; Problems can only arise if you put the ATV on its belly. But even in this case, a small push or just a swing is enough. The tread pattern has particular advantages when driving on deep ruts.
Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition 2019
Outlaw tires are the best mud tires there are , but if you drive on a dry surface, you don't feel any unnecessary shaking. They hold the given direction of movement equally well on any ground. Despite the fact that the vertical travel of the suspension had to be reduced to install larger diameter tires, this did not in any way affect comfort. The 29-inch tires handle small bumps, leaving the suspension to handle the rest. Of course, the new ATV cannot compare in comfort to the standard Sportsman, but we must admit that it is quite soft and dampens obstacles of any size well.
Even without a rear anti-roll bar, the ATV corners accurately on dry surfaces. The Polaris electric power steering is amazing at low to mid speeds. Steering is very light and the driver feels no vibration or kickback when negotiating potholes and obstacles.
At high speed the ATV feels very light, which is certainly not what you would expect from an all-terrain vehicle. The brakes are powerful and have excellent feedback.
Technologies
Dynamix electronic suspension
Active electronic suspension has long been used on asphalt vehicles, but in the off-road world it was first implemented by the Polaris concern several years ago. Dynamix is available on top RZR models. The driver can quickly change shock absorber settings without using a tool or leaving the cab. Using the toggle switch you can select one of three damping modes. Hard is turned on when you need to minimize the rocking and sagging of the car. Sporty gives maximum stability when driving fast. Comfortable is needed to drive not very fast, but relaxed. The suspension automatically adjusts to the driving situation. When braking, it adds stiffness to the front shock absorbers, when accelerating - to all of them, but a little more to the rear ones, when cornering - to the outer shock absorbers, and when jumping, all four wheels resist a hard impact as much as possible. Information about the operation of the suspension is shown on the color screen.
RZR engine
The two-cylinder turbocharged ProStar engine with a volume of 925 cm3 produces, depending on the modification, from 168 to 181 horsepower. At the same time, he has everything in order with torque at low speeds. Also in the RZR line there are naturally aspirated engines with a power of 110, 75, 45 horsepower.
Transmission
The CVT transmission is easy to operate and does not require gear shifting. If the rear wheels slip on slippery ground or when the gas is suddenly opened, the automatic all-wheel drive system itself transfers part of the traction to the front ones. If desired, you can turn on the 2WD mode and drift in rear wheel drive.
Results
Today, the market is filled with products that will help you turn your 4x4 ATV into a true all-terrain vehicle. However, you will have to spend a lot of effort and a lot of money to make an ATV better than the Polaris Sportsman XP 1000 High Lifter Edition. This particular model is presented in the Polaris showroom as the ideal ATV for dirt riding.
If the Sportsman 1000 model is expensive for you, then you can buy the smaller 850 model. Only it is not equipped with bumpers, a winch, etc. And, of course, you need to understand that this will not be 1000 at all; the Sportsman 850 does not have enough power to spin large wheels in a deep puddle.
Expert reviews
Nikolay Bogomolov, test editor of Motoexpert magazine:
I attended the launch of the first Polaris RZR in the USA. Back then, if you wanted a fast Side-by-Side, you had to take something utilitarian like a Rhino, throw out half the parts, buy a bunch of tuning for a lot of money, dock them together and drive this semi-finished product. And suddenly they rolled out a car that, right out of the box, can drive quickly on broken ground, jump on trampolines, and nothing falls off. Compared to today's RZRs, those RZRs were childish. The power is three times less, the track is narrow, the stability is so-so. But for 2008 it was a huge success. After that, other manufacturers from North America began to make sports equipment, then from all over the world, sometimes RZR even lagged behind them in some technologies, but then caught up and surpassed them. The most surprising thing about top models is the suspension. You can ride along a broken cross-country track, jump big jumps and feel normal. Huge shock absorbers absorb bumps so well that it’s not always clear whether you’re driving or flying. And all this in combination with a turbocharged engine. You don’t have to pay a lot of money for the RZR; there are budget trim levels. They are not as powerful and sophisticated as the top ones, but they are also interesting.
