#Scrambler 850 manual

The multi-brake lever is where a clutch lever is on manual-shift quads. The braking system employs a single brake lever on the left handlebar that actuates the hydraulic disc brakes on all four wheels, while a foot-controlled lever applies to the rear wheels only. We wouldn’t mind a little bit of more floorboard traction for our feet, but we feel comfortable sitting or standing while riding. The handlebar position is tall enough for gangly riders, and the hand controls are comfortable for small or large hands. The 850 cockpit is roomy and slender from the gas tank to the running boards, at least in 4×4 terms. You only notice a lack of power steering in tight trail sections with lots of corners. However, the 850 isn’t difficult to pilot. We thoroughly enjoyed the smooth and light feeling of our 2017 Scrambler 1000’s EPS. Our biggest gripe is that the 850 doesn’t come with power steering. The machine corners quite well for its size, and the bar isn’t difficult to turn. Sometimes you have to be careful to not tag your leg on it while climbing aboard. The gear shifter is easy to use but feels like it can get jammed. Also, jumping a hefty 4×4 machine isn’t as confidence-inspiring but it has the capability. Due to the weight of the 850, it doesn’t handle whoop sections as well as the 450 that is half the weight.

The rear end soaks up rough chop that a straight-axle and swingarm setup can’t handle, which provides less fatigue on long rides. The rear travel numbers are 10.25-more or equivalent travel than a number of solid-axle sport quads! The back of the machine has a dual-A-arm independent rear suspension system and preload-adjustable shocks. Unfortunately, only the Scrambler XP 1000 comes with compression-adjustable shocks. The front suspension boasts 9 inches of dual-A-arm-design travel controlled by spring-preload-adjustable shocks. The thumb throttle is wide and comfortable. The all-wheel-drive switch is attached to the throttle housing and is easy to operate. It may not be as low to the ground as conventional sport quads, or nearly as light weighing in at 735 pounds, but its suspension handles the rough stuff better than you’d anticipate. We feel the heavier AWD Scrambler’s engine and suspension performance qualify as a sport quad. We know that our first thought when someone says sport quad are images of roosting through the dunes on a TRX250R or sliding sideways through corners on a YFZ450R. The surface area of the throttle lever is large and easy to manipulate for hours of riding. You can switch between rear and all-wheel drive through an easy-to-operate thumb-operated selector switch. If the system didn’t perform as well as it does, we would be bummed that the Scrambler 850 doesn’t come with a true locking front differential. This 4×4 system only sends power to the front wheels once it senses the rears slipping. Polaris is proud of its On-Demand all-wheel-drive system. We rarely run the machine in two-wheel drive.

Polaris’ On-Demand all-wheel-drive system works very well in rocky and muddy terrain. There are high and low forward gears, neutral, reverse and park controlled by a shifter on the right side of the gas tank. The engine is paired to a fully automatic continuously variable transmission. And when you push that thumb-operated throttle, you can feel every horse. It’s a twin-cylinder, EFI, 850cc, liquid-cooled four-stroke with 78 horsepower. The Polaris Scrambler 850 isn’t shy in the power department. The Scrambler 1000 even comes with electronic power steering, but until you ride one of these beasts, you won’t believe us when we say it’s the new definition of a sport quad. Yes, it’s true that the machine has four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. Polaris calls their Scrambler a “sport performance ATV,” and, honestly, we don’t feel they are wrong. The days of sliding corners on a variety of brand-new sport 450s are disappearing, and a new breed of sport quad has come to take the spotlight.

#Scrambler 850 manual

In fact, only Yamaha currently produces traditional sport quads with manual transmissions and solid rear axles. Most sport quad manufacturers have taken our pride and joys off of their assembly lines.