The 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium is the newest 50-inch UTV from Polaris, first introduced to the market over a decade ago.
Briefly about the model
Engine: 875cc Twin
Power: 75 hp
L x W x H: 107" x 50" x 69.5"
Ground clearance: 11"
Price: $15,199
In fact, the original Polaris RZR is considered to be the model that started the UTV industry. This 50-inch wide model was an important development because... Many off-road trails have width restrictions.
The 50-inch RZR has been a key model in the Polaris lineup since its debut in 2008, and several manufacturers have followed the company's lead with their own compact sport UTVs.
This year, we spent five weeks behind the wheel of a 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium with EPS (electronic power steering) to experience the tight 50-inch trails originally built for ATVs.
Polaris RZR 900 fits in the back of a pickup truck
Specifications Polaris RZR 900 Premium
The RZR 900 is equipped with a two-cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled engine with electronic fuel injection. The engine displacement is 875 cc, rated power is 75.
The RZR's drive system is Polaris True On-Demand AWD and 2WD. Transmission choices are P/R/N/L/H. Standard on the RZR 900 is Engine Braking System (EBS), which slows the RZR downhill (to prevent the vehicle from falling on a steep slope).
Under the cab, German-made ZF Sachs shock absorbers are located at each corner. The front and rear suspension are identical, according to Polaris, with a dual A-arm design with an anti-roll bar. Wheel travel is 10 inches and ground clearance is 11 inches.
RXR 900 PXT tires and ZF Sach shocks combine with front and rear A-arm suspension to keep the vehicle in control.
The front and rear braking system of the 2020 Polaris RZR 900 Premium is a four-wheel hydraulic disc system with two-speed calipers that provide excellent stopping power.
Tires on the RZR are 26-inch PXTs on cast aluminum wheels.
The 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium measures 107 inches long by 50 inches wide and weighs 1,176 pounds. The Premium RZR 900 has a fuel capacity of 9.5 gallons (enough for a full day of riding).
Polaris RZR 900 Premium Cabin
The doors on the 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium are known as “1/4 doors.” This means that the doors are the length of the opening, but are only 1/4 of its height. Polaris has been using these doors for several years, and every RZR that has been tested so far has had the doors rattle on the track all day. This time, the doors on the 900 Trail Premium fit tightly to the chassis and do not rattle.
“Doors 1/4” Polaris RZR 900 Premium 2020
The steering wheel offers tilt adjustment and the driver's seat moves fore and aft. Legroom is a bit tight, but that's typical for a compact Sport UTV.
The instrument cluster, attached to the instrument panel near the center, is an analog gauge that displays vehicle speed and engine health indicators.
Supportive seats are designed to prevent the driver and passenger from rocking. The seat back is high enough to protect your neck, head and back. However, it would be better if the seat were three inches longer. After a long day of riding, your legs become tired due to minimal thigh support.
Results of the Polaris RZR 900 Premium test on the track
The 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium is a fast and nimble 50-inch all-terrain vehicle. The 875 cc engine performs well on steep and twisty roads. The shocks, ZF Sachs, keep the RZR planted straight on the road while keeping roll and sway to a minimum; excellent front and rear A-arm suspension.
The RZR 900 has good visibility, especially over the hood and below the right and left front fenders. When driving along rocks, between trees or at the top of a hill, the RZR's narrow and low profile is a plus, helping the driver navigate tight terrain, especially when the passenger provides directions to avoid an obstacle.
1/4 doors are good, but not ideal for those who ride an all-terrain vehicle in the spring and fall - dirt and water from the front wheels will get on the driver and passenger.
With its 107-inch wheelbase, the RZR 900 is highly maneuverable and stays on the trail.
The motor is quiet. The RZR 900 engine meets US federal government noise requirements.
Inside the cabin, little things like cup holders and a passenger compartment are nice, but I wish Polaris had found a way to increase the size of the cabin storage box.
Testing the Polaris RZR S 900 ATV
The Polaris RZR S 900 is powered by a 75 hp, 875 cc, DOHC ProStar engine. The ProStar engine is designed and manufactured by Polaris. Over the past 4 years, more than a million copies of various sizes have been sold. On the highway and in the dunes, the power of the engine is felt, although at an altitude of 1981 m it is not as impressive as it could be where there is more oxygen. Throttle response is quick, and Polaris claims it's the fastest-accelerating RZR to date, but it's hard to judge at this altitude. There are no questions about its design even in conditions of height difference.
While the beefy character wasn't on full display, we did appreciate the 60-inch A-arms found on the RZR S 900. Our first day of testing took us through a lot of dunes, but there were also plenty of two-track trails between the trees. . On the second day we rode along narrower trails and special roads. When driving over the dunes, the 900 felt stable with little body roll. When entering a sharp turn, the ATV impresses with its horizontal position. The term “on rails” suits it perfectly.
The Polaris RZR S 900's suspension features FOX Podium X 2.0 shocks front and rear and dual A-arms—awesome. Suspension travel is 31.12 cm at the front and 33.53 cm at the rear. This is much better than the 800, but not up to XP level. On bumps, the extended wheelbase (2 m) shakes quite a bit, and the shock absorbers reliably absorb shocks. Even when pushed to the limit, the ATV remains obedient. The RZR S 900 exemplifies the balance between agility and suspension performance.
The 26-inch GBC Dirt Commander tires have good grip, but not great grip. They can easily lose traction in liquid mud and spin in sand. The ground clearance is excellent—31.75 cm; we never hit an obstacle with the bottom.
The cabin of the Polaris RZR S 900 is almost the same as the XP 1000. Legroom is the same. Although on the highway we felt a little cramped due to the fact that the passenger seat was secured a little in front. Only the driver's seat can be adjusted fore and aft, but the 1000 can adjust both seats. If you compare legroom and shoulder room with the S 800, you can see how far the interior designers have come. Comfort level is high. Everything looks and feels significant and updated. Quarter doors instead of screens were a nice addition.
Conclusion
Will we take the 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium for a ride? Oh yeah. He is so deft on the trails, when maneuvering between trees or rocks, you feel like a greater master than you actually are. Thanks to the short wheelbase and tight turning radius, there is no need to make two- and three-point turns.
However, in testing, we found that despite tight corners, the short wheelbase will make the little RZR strain a bit, unlike its longer wheelbase rival.
The 2021 Polaris RZR 900 Premium is a nimble 50-inch Sport UTV. It has enough power to explore hard-to-reach places and narrow paths. And it's quicker for an 875cc engine than you'd think.
Polaris 900 RMK: in the cave of the mountain king
The new Polaris mountain snowmobile has three cherished letters in its name: RMK. What does it mean? However, I won't guess. And I won’t rack my brains (what if it comes in handy?), but rather I’ll ask the Polaris representatives in Russia directly: what is RMK? Oops!
Now I know everything. RMK is Rocky Mountain King. That is, the king of the rocky mountains. Or like this: Mountain King Rocky. Yes, the last option is somehow softer and friendlier. Warmer. In winter there is never too much heat, especially in the mountains. Especially in rocky ones.
Polaris 900 RMK is a good king. He is omnipotent, but he will not cut heads from shoulders in vain. He will forgive his subjects their mistakes. For to forgive is the property of the strong, not the weak. And Rocky is just like that: strong, powerful. And wise. Because it is built on the latest IQ platform - just like its brother 900 Fusion, which we talked about in detail in the last issue.
True, unlike Fusion, King Rocky has his own individual characteristics due to his mountain specialization. And it's not just the long caterpillar. RMK uses a range of technical solutions that turn difficult movement in deep snow into an easy and safe undertaking. On the Polaris website, the star of the North American NASCAR racing series, Ryan “Rocket” Newman, talks about the snowmobile. And if only he could tell. He also shows! It feels like riding a snowmobile effectively is as easy as shelling pears: the rider handles King Rocky so easily and naturally. Perhaps, but only for this you have to be a professional athlete - like Newman. Although he himself, commenting on his driving, enthusiastically talks about how pleasant and interesting it is to drive the new RMK.
He wants to believe. Because the engineers seem to have thought of everything to make Rocky a successful summit dweller. The shape of the wide lower part of the body is calculated in such a way that when moving through deep snow, the RMK does not shovel a snowdrift in front of itself, but glides along the surface, as if cutting through the snow surface. By the way, this is still good if it’s smooth! But what if you have to ride like a goat over uneven surfaces? Rocket Newman believes that the RMK’s suspension is soft and elastic, which, combined with the rigid power structure of the frame, makes the car’s behavior understandable and predictable. But not at the expense of comfort. Agree, this is a very flattering description, isn’t it? This is about the rear suspension. The front one is made on double wishbones and has such kinematics that even when riding on one ski, the snowmobile steers well. And in mountainous conditions, and even on long slopes, this feature is quite difficult to overestimate...
Now about the new engine. The Liberty 900 engine, two-stroke and two-cylinder, develops almost 150 “horses”. The cylinder walls have a coating called Nicasil (a thin, thin layer of nickel with super-hard silicon carbide particles), and the piston skirts have a coating called Grafal (graphite with a special filler). Exhaust valves are titanium. It’s clear that all this riot of technology significantly increases the service life of the engine. The engine is equipped with a fuel injection system and a knock suppression system (DET), which detects the moment it occurs and adjusts the ignition parameters and the timing of fuel injection.
We have already written about the Rider Select system - the driver can adjust the steering wheel depending on the driving conditions and thus manipulate the center of gravity of the snowmobile. But the RMK track is something special. In its manufacture, Split-durometer technology is used - lugs made of rubber with variable density: they are more rigid at the base. By the way, RMK is available in several versions, which differ from each other in track length: 151 or 159 inches. And even 166 inches - more than four meters! Absolute world record.
Strong, kind, wise... How many rulers in world history have combined these qualities? Mountain King Rocky won't stay in his cave. With such and such qualities - and locked up? Figurines! To serve for the good of the people, to conquer new mountains - this is his destiny.
