New Polaris Ranger 900

[TnWV]

I mentioned waiting on a 2015 Polaris Ranger 900 in another thread. Well I picked it up today! Here are a few pictures to prove it happened.

My primary reasons for going with the Ranger 900 were space for me , my wife, and both small children in the cab, how quiet it is, and the fact that it is sporty enough for trail riding and still provides a good bit of utility function around the property.

So far I'm very impressed with the power and responsiveness of the machine. I have had it all over my property this evening and never used 4X4 yet. The kids seem to approve as well!

 

[Wnc3]

Congratulations!
We love ours.

 

[TnWV]

Another thing I really like about this Ranger is that there is absolutely no heat that gets into the cab area. Some others I've ridden in will burn you out. We put 1.5 hrs and 10 miles on it this evening.

 

[Deadman]

Now swap the Cams and ECU with a Razr 900 and you will gain 30HP!

 

[TnWV]

Now swap the Cams and ECU with a Razr 900 and you will gain 30HP!

Yes sir, I was told those were the only differences between the two motors, and you can actually tune the Ranger to over 80 HP if you desire. 68. HP seems plenty sufficient for now, but if I decide to lift it up and put big tires on it down the road, I'll tune it up a little.

 

[Deadman]

Please don't do the lift, huge tires thing! They are useless then. They handle like garbage, snap axles non stop, ride like crap!

Keep the stock height so its safe and fun for your family! Those Pro-star 900 Motors really cream with the Razr parts! Its amazing. The 1,000 is crazy powerful.

 

[TnWV]

Please don't do the lift, huge tires thing! They are useless then. They handle like garbage, snap axles non stop, ride like crap! Keep the stock height so its safe and fun for your family! Those Pro-star 900 Motors really cream with the Razr parts! Its amazing. The 1,000 is crazy powerful.

My buddy has the RZR 1000, and it is crazy fast and is what I would like to have. Just not feasible to put the kids in and take a ride. That means the thing would sit way too much.

There is a good chance I'll never lift it. The most immediate add on's will be a windshield, back glass, and winch. A radio will come at some point as well.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Nice looking utv....congrats. Polaris makes a great all around utv for work and play

 

[weathda]

TnWV, now that you've had your 900 for a few months are you still enjoying it? I've been researching and researching the Yamaha Viking and the Polaris 900 XP. I'm looking for something that will handle myself, wife and 2 small kids, but I don't want the long wheel base of the crews. Have some hilly property so wider is not a bad thing for me. I haven't test driven either model, just the Honda Pioneer. Loved the Honda, but not crazy about not having low range, plus I like the the three across the viking and 900 offer without losing all bed space. I plan to use it for recreation, toting fence posts and gear into the woods and running errands around the property (~100 acres).

On the viking, I'd all but settled on it. However, the noise, vibration of the single, and heat on the diff thing have me reconsidering. I'm reading where they have a sound dampening kit offered on the 2015 and there are work-arounds for the heat so I'm not completely put off. I like the offset middle seat, the constant belt tension, downhill braking, passenger grab bar, full skid pan and selectable drive mode.

On the ranger, I'm concerned about reliability and the slipping belt problem that I've read about. I love what I read about the quiet and smooth twin cylinder. Also 2" more shock travel, turf mode, tilt steering, bigger tires, etc.

I know they both have pros and cons and there are lemons in all of them. Just trying to do some more research before plopping down serious coin.

Any regrets on the 900 or any words of wisdom from your experience with it?

 

[nybirdman]

+1 for the Viking;my BIL just purchased one.Very nice machine.I am a big Yamaha fan,I have 3700 miles on my Rhino, only thing has been tires.We also have a Grizzley with 4000 hard use miles.I looked the Honda and didn't care for it's size,seemed cramped to me,lots of room on the Viking.I don't care for any of the Polaris ATV/SxS.

 

[weathda]

Thanks for the reply nybirdman. I do like the forethought that Yamaha put into the space and segmented foot area that keeps middle passenger feet out of the drivers area. I like the doors on it too vs none on the Polaris. I've heard Yamaha reliability has been good. I read of more people saying they'll never go back to Polaris vs people saying I'll never go back to Yamaha, but I'm sure Polaris sells more in the SxS market. I really just need to test drive them both. I'd love to hear from any with experience on both...maybe I should start another thread.

 

[DK35vince]

I've been researching and researching the Yamaha Viking and the Polaris 900 XP. I'm looking for something that will handle myself, wife and 2 small kids, but I don't want the long wheel base of the crews.

Have you checked out the Kawasaki Teryx 4. The 4 seat Teryx has the same wheel base as the 2 seater. But you do lose most of the bed space with the 4 seat.

 

[jcummins]

I've got a Gator diesel. Nephew came over this past weekend with one if those Teryx 4s...i was impressed. I had a Teryx before and it was decent. But his 2nd seat put the gator to shame on hauling people.

Having said that I couldn't use one do to the bed size. That's a killer. Also it had buckets front and back.... so 6 won't work.

I kind of like the new redesigned Mule. It doesn't have quite the wheelbase of others. But it's seats are down right badddd. The rear seat folds to make the bed a good size when your hauling 'stuff' instead of people.

Do know there are getting to be more and more times i need or would like to haul 4-6 people.

 

[TnWV]

Weathda,

I absolutely love my Ranger 900!! I had very similar requirements as you have, and couldn't be happier with the size, quietness, how smooth it is, and the power.

Like you I was set on the Viking, until I test drove it. I left very disappointed. I just couldn't live with the noise and vibration. It didn't impress me power wise either. That said, my boss recently purchased one and seems to be pleased with it. I'm sure it's a reliable machine, but just didn't fit me well and my wife hated it.

We immediately went and drove the Ranger 900 and was sold within just a few minutes. Very little cab noise, which with two small kids, was bery important. Plenty of space for me my wife and both kids to roam around the property comfortably. I have 286 miles on it and have never left my property yet. Over 200 of those have been with all four of us in it.

Most people who look at say there's no way they could fit it where they ride. Then I take them through my trails and they change there mind. It really is nimble for its size and I put it in some tight and steep places. Rarely use 4x4, but when I do, it's a beast. I really couldn't be happier with it. No issues so far. I wouldn't worry about belt reliability. My friend has an RZR 1000 and we've abused that thing, never an issue yet. Watch YouTube videos of how people treat them, it's amazing how much abuse they will take.

There is a lot of great machines out there, their just all a little different. The Ranger was the right mix between size, sport, and work for me. Just drive them all and pick the one that fits what you want the best.

Good Luck!

 

[TnWV]

Forgot to mention, the Teryx was really nice. Rode smooth and fairly quiet as well. I really liked that machine, but not enough room on the regular cab and not enough bed on the 4 seater. Like you I just didn't want the long wheelbase of the four seaters that had a full size bed, so I only truly considered models with a bench seat.

 

[DK35vince]

Forgot to mention, the Teryx was really nice. Rode smooth and fairly quiet as well. I really liked that machine, but not enough room on the regular cab and not enough bed on the 4 seater. Like you I just didn't want the long wheelbase of the four seaters that had a full size bed, so I only truly considered models with a bench seat.

I have been looking at the Teryx 4 but haven't had the opportunity to drive one yet. I'm considering one in a year or so .
I would be using one mostly for trail riding, so the limited bed space shouldn't be an issue.

 

[weathda]

Thanks for all the replies. I have an appointment on Friday to test drive the Viking, Ranger and Teryx.

Have you checked out the Kawasaki Teryx 4. The 4 seat Teryx has the same wheel base as the 2 seater. But you do lose most of the bed space with the 4 seat.

Haven't really considered it as I want the fullsize bed. However, the sales guy said he had a Teryx I could drive as well, so I'll try it out just to be sure before I count it out.

Do know there are getting to be more and more times i need or would like to haul 4-6 people.

That's what I'm afraid of, especially right after I get one.

Weathda,

I absolutely love my Ranger 900!! I had very similar requirements as you have, and couldn't be happier with the size, quietness, how smooth it is, and the power.

Like you I was set on the Viking, until I test drove it. I left very disappointed. I just couldn't live with the noise and vibration. It didn't impress me power wise either. That said, my boss recently purchased one and seems to be pleased with it. I'm sure it's a reliable machine, but just didn't fit me well and my wife hated it.

We immediately went and drove the Ranger 900 and was sold within just a few minutes. Very little cab noise, which with two small kids, was bery important. Plenty of space for me my wife and both kids to roam around the property comfortably. I have 286 miles on it and have never left my property yet. Over 200 of those have been with all four of us in it.

Most people who look at say there's no way they could fit it where they ride. Then I take them through my trails and they change there mind. It really is nimble for its size and I put it in some tight and steep places. Rarely use 4x4, but when I do, it's a beast. I really couldn't be happier with it. No issues so far. I wouldn't worry about belt reliability. My friend has an RZR 1000 and we've abused that thing, never an issue yet. Watch YouTube videos of how people treat them, it's amazing how much abuse they will take.

There is a lot of great machines out there, their just all a little different. The Ranger was the right mix between size, sport, and work for me. Just drive them all and pick the one that fits what you want the best.

Good Luck!

Yes, I read your other comments in another thread and your requirements seem to be inline with mine. That's great that your enjoying it. I have a feeling my wife will definitely be leaning more to the smoother, quieter machine. My wife and I are going to go test drive the ones mentioned above on Friday. Unfortunately, the guys said he only had a crew size Viking, but I'll be able to gauge it for the most part. He also said, he had a 2014 Ranger XP 900 that he could give me a super deal on. I think the one big change between '14 and '15 was the 8HP increase? I'm going to try and enjoy the shopping process. I have a three step plan, 1) put hitch on our tow vehicle. 2) get a trailer and 3) purchase. I just completed step one this past weekend. I'm starting to get pretty excited.

 

[TnWV]

I have been looking at the Teryx 4 but haven't had the opportunity to drive one yet. I'm considering one in a year or so . I would be using one mostly for trail riding, so the limited bed space shouldn't be an issue.

If primary purpose is to trail ride, the Teryx 4 is ideal in my opinion. Seats 4 without all the added wheelbase. If my children were big enough tontine in the back seats by themselves and I could justify a machine purely for pleasure, I think I would have got Teryx 4.

 

[TnWV]

T. Unfortunately, the guys said he only had a crew size Viking, but I'll be able to gauge it for the most part. He also said, he had a 2014 Ranger XP 900 that he could give me a super deal on. I think the one big change between '14 and '15 was the 8HP increase? I'm going to try and enjoy the shopping process. I have a three step plan, 1) put hitch on our tow vehicle. 2) get a trailer and 3) purchase. I just completed step one this past weekend. I'm starting to get pretty excited.

You are correct, the major change on the Ranger is the 8HP increase. One dealer told me the increase was strictly CPU tuning, the one I purchased from said it was a change in cams and better air flow by moving the air intake higher up into the cab frame. Either way I wouldn't worry about it as the engine is the same as the RZR900 which has 88HP. Either one is capable of more HP through tuning and aftermarket parts if desirable.

 

[RadarTech]

I have the 900. 2014.
And wouldn't change it.
Living in the mountains it's awesome. And a great addition to the bota!!