q Since 1996, the Sportsman 500 has been the most popular Polaris and standard measure for good value in a 4x4 quad. When Polaris introduced the 550 in 2009, it wasn’t just a bored-out version of the 500. Instead, it shared the same all-new design of the 850 Sportsman. Its 550 motor was also rotated 90 degrees in the chassis so that the crankshaft was in line with the driveshaft. Along with fuel injection, it was available with power steering as well.
Has the Sportsman 550 been a success based on the opinions of its owners? The results of this owners’ report would suggest that to be true. Some years ago, Polaris set out to improve the reputation of its ATVs in regards to quality, reliability and trouble-free operation. To its credit, Polaris appears to have succeeded. In the categories of durability, quality and performance, 100 percent of Sportsman 550 owners here gave their quads an excellent rating. q
MODEL YEAR
(of surveys received)
2011 17%
2010 42%
2009 41%
TYPES OF RIDING
Leisure trail riding HHHH
Fast trail riding HHHH
Snow HHH
Hunting & fishing HHH
Working &?hauling HHH
Mud HH
Sand HH
Organized racing H
THE ONE THING YOU
LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR SPORTSMAN 550
Comfortable HHHH
Power HHH
Handling HH
EPS H
Engine braking H
4x4 system H
Reliable H
Ground clearance H
Suspension H
THE ONE THING YOU LIKE LEAST
Tires HHH
Weight H
Noisy H
Suspension H
Single pedal brakes H
Shifting H
IF YOU COULD IMPROVE ONE THING ON YOUR QUAD
Suspension HH
Less weight H
More power H
Bigger gas tank H
Clutch H
Shifting H
More ground clearance H
Diff-lock H
DURING NORMAL
USAGE, WHAT BROKE, MALFUNCTIONED OR PREMATURELY WORE OUT?
Nothing HHHH
CV boot H
Wheel bearing H
Tires H
Belt H
Battery H
WHAT ACCESSORIES HAVE YOU ADDED?
Winch HHHH
Handguards HHH
Bumpers HHH
Storage box/bag HHH
Hot grips HH
Lights HH
Hitch HH
Exhaust H
Air filter H
Skid plates H
GPS H
Radio H
Racks H
WERE YOU HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME?
Yes 100%
No 0%
HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR ATV’S DURABILITY?
Excellent 100%
Okay 0%
Poor 0%
HOW DO YOU RATE ITS QUALITY & ATTENTION
TO DETAIL?
Excellent 100%
Okay 0%
Poor 0%
HOW DO YOU RATEITS PERFORMANCE COMPARED TO OTHER QUADS IN ITS CLASS?
Excellent 100%
Okay 0%
Poor 0%
HOW DO YOU RATE YOUR LOCAL POLARIS DEALER?
Excellent 83%
Okay 9%
Poor 8%
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A FRIEND TO BUY A SPORTSMAN 550?
Yes 100%
No 0%
IF YOU WERE TO BUY ANOTHER ATV, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Sportsman 850 HHHH
Another Sportsman 550 HHH
Can-am Renegade 800 H
Yamaha YFZ450 H
Kawasaki KFX450 H
WHAT DREAM ATV WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE MANUFACTURERS OFFER?
Polaris Mud Pro HH
Sportsman 1000 H
Street-legal ATV H
HHHH= most responses
HHH= many responses
HH= some responses
H= few responses
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