OWNER’S REPORT: Polaris Outlaw 525

Polaris has always been a leader in building 4×4 quads. That’s what they’re known for, but even they couldn’t overlook the booming popularity of sport quads that began again in 1999 when Honda introduced the 400EX. It took Polaris some time to get up to speed, but by the end of 2002 they had a good sport quad in their lineup called the Predator 500.

Within a few more years high-performance 450s became the latest rage, and Polaris jumped in to do battle with Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki in that category as well. ATV riders were mightily impressed when Polaris made a partnership deal with KTM to use their engines. The Fuji 500 engines of the Predator were good, but the KTM engines generated even more power and did so in a lighter, more compact package.

By the end of 2006 ATV riders were going to Polaris dealers to buy the new 2007 Outlaw. Instead of a 450, though, its engine was 510cc and called a 525. In 2008 they offered a 450MXR version if you wanted to race in the 450 class. This quad and the 525 S had the normal swingarm rear suspension, but in ‘08 Polaris also offered another version known as the 525 IRS, which stands for Independent Rear Suspension.

The Outlaw 525 IRS became very popular with hard-core trail riders, because the rear sprocket and brake disc were up higher and not as likely to hang up on rocks, tree roots and ruts. It became the  Outlaw model that Polaris sold the most of, and we also received many more reader surveys from IRS owners versus the S model.

All was good until the economy took a decline and the sales of sport quads began to soften. This caused the Outlaw 525 to no longer be in the Polaris lineup after the 2011 model year. However, there are still plenty of these machines out on the trail today, and they’re a good option for used-quad buyers, the same as a YFZ, KFX, LT-R or 450R would be. An Outlaw 525 allows you to get a quad with a KTM motor for less than a used KTM quad usually sells for. When you look over these survey results you’ll see that Outlaw 525 owners would prefer to buy another new one if they could.

Model year
(of surveys received)
2011……………………………….. 3%
2010……………………………….. 7%
2009……………………………….. 8%
2008……………………………… 39%
2007……………………………… 43%
Types of riding
Fast trail riding ……. ..★★★★
Leisure trail riding …….★★★
Sand …………………………..★★★
Snow …………………………★★★
On a track ……………………. ★★
Organized racing …………… ★
Work & haul …………………… ★
Hunting & fishing ………….. .★
The one thing you like most about your quad
Power …………………….. ★★★★
IRS ……………………………….. ★★
Ground clearance ………….. ★
The one thing you like least
Discontinued ……………..★★★
Nothing …………………………… ★
Tall gearing ……………………. ★
Clutch …………………………….. ★
Handlebars …………………….. ★
Changing oil ………………….. ★
Seat ………………………………… ★
Carb ……………………………….. ★
If you could improve one thing on your quad
Shocks ………………………..★★★
Nothing …………………………… ★
Airbox …………………………….. ★
Add EFI ………………………….. ★
Exhaust …………………………… ★
Lower gearing ……………….. ★
During normal usage, what broke, malfunctioned or prematurely wore out?
CV boots …………………….★★★
Nothing …………………………… ★
Chain slider ……………………. ★
Sprocket bolts …………………. ★
A-arm bushing ………………. ★
Clutch cylinder ………………. ★
What accessories have you added?
Exhaust ………………… ..★★★★
Nerfs ………………………. ★★★★
Hand guards ……………..★★★
Air filter ……………………….. ★★
Bumper ………………………… ★★
Tires ……………………………… ★★
Skid plate …………………….. ★★
Handlebars ………………….. ★★
Wheels ……………………………. ★
Shocks …………………………….. ★
Steer stabilizer ……………….. ★
Jets ………………………………….. ★
Seat ………………………………… ★
Trail Tech ……………………….. ★
Happy with the outcome?
Yes …………………………… ..100%
No ……………………………….. ..0%
How do you rate your quad’s durability?
Excellent ……………………… 61%
Okay ……………………………. 39%
Poor …………………………….. ..0%
How do you rate its quality & attention to detail?
Excellent ……………………… 47%
Okay ……………………………. 53%
Poor ………………………………. 0%
How do you rate its performance compared to other quads in its class?
Excellent ……………………… 85%
Okay ……………………………. 15%
Poor ………………………………. 0%
How do you rate your local Polaris dealer?
Excellent ……………………… 54%
Okay ……………………………. 25%
Poor …………………………….. 21%
Would you recommend a friend to buy an Outlaw 525?
Yes ………………………………. 85%
No ……………………………….. 15%
If you were to buy another ATV, what would it be?
Another Outlaw 525 ….★★★
Polaris Scrambler ……….. ★★
Raptor 700 ………………………. ★
KTM 450XC …………………….. ★
Renegade 800 ………………… ★
Commander …………………… ★
Honda 400X ……………………. ★
What dream quad would you like to see the manufacturers offer?
New KTM 525 …………….★★★
Honda TRX650R …………★★★
New Honda 250R ……………. ★
Raptor 4×4 ………………………. ★
Lighter IRS quad ……………. ★
New Outlaw racer …………. ★

★★★★ = most responses, ★★★ = many responses , ★★ = some responses, ★ = few responses