Don't demo a polaris switchback assault

[dwh039]

I should have never hopped on a polaris assault . Why can't yamaha make me a 115 to 120 horsepower crossover sled under 500 pounds? I know the assault is an 800, but the coming year they offer it in a 600. The handling puts my phazer mtx to shame, it's stable both on and off the trail, yet effortless to carve in the powder. Side hills are second nature to the assault, where as the phazer is white knuckles and sweat. Sure the controls and finish aren't as plush as yamaha, but whens the last time you were in mid flight and looked down at the bars and said man that hi low beam switch looks sweet. As far as reliability, you won't find a better 2 stroke motor than the 600 liberty. If you feel like bashing, do what makes you feel good. I'll keep the phazer in the stable since it's still dear to my heart and runs like a champ. Going to let my throttle thumb do the thinking on this purchase and hopefully not have to use any of the three years worth of warranty. Yamaha bring me back to the blue side in the near future.

 

[kinger]

They do ride nice!

 

[09nytro]

......LMAO.......that's funny.....when walking away I never look back and say man the fit and finish is awesome ....I say man that thing just kicked my

They are great sleds !!!!

 

[newfie09xtx]

This is where drinking the blue koolaid only hinders you. Yamaha makes a good machine for the trail and there are many advantages to yamaha but off trail... Not so much.

Not bashing just stating the facts...

 

[Irv]

I should have never hopped on a polaris assault . Why can't yamaha make me a 115 to 120 horsepower crossover sled under 500 pounds? I know the assault is an 800, but the coming year they offer it in a 600. The handling puts my phazer mtx to shame, it's stable both on and off the trail, yet effortless to carve in the powder. Side hills are second nature to the assault, where as the phazer is white knuckles and sweat. Sure the controls and finish aren't as plush as yamaha, but whens the last time you were in mid flight and looked down at the bars and said man that hi low beam switch looks sweet. As far as reliability, you won't find a better 2 stroke motor than the 600 liberty. If you feel like bashing, do what makes you feel good. I'll keep the phazer in the stable since it's still dear to my heart and runs like a champ. Going to let my throttle thumb do the thinking on this purchase and hopefully not have to use any of the three years worth of warranty. Yamaha bring me back to the blue side in the near future.

Not bashing, just stating the facts.
This was written by a worker/mechanic at a Polaris dealer up here in Canada.
I also wanted a 600 Dragon/IQ/Shift before I purchased my Vector, but couldn't take the chance on this motor after everything I read about it.
The 06-10 800's were worse but I also read quite a few posts about the 600's going down too.

"From what I've seen since MY2011 Polaris 600's are closing the gap on 800's in regards to engine failures. Mostly because newer 800 cfi's have way less problem's than the earlier ones. However I have noticed more of the formerly "bulletproof" 600cfi's in the shop with engines down in the past few seasons and that is even despite the fact that our 800's outsell 600's by 3 to 1"

 

[timebomb]

My brother in law has the 800 switchback proride. I rode it once, it's awesome. What keeps me away from it is the engine. I love Yamaha 4strokes, never going back

 

[dwh039]

Thanks for the info irv. I realize that I will be doing a motor in the next four years, but my body will only let me ride like this for the next five, so I might as well have fun doing it in that time. maybe I'm better off with a 800 with a piece of cardboard behind the fun flipper, instead of riding the crap out of a 600. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.

 

[number1kyster]

I have a buddy who had a turbo high country last year which was nothing but trouble. This year he bought a left over 2012 assault 800. 4,500 trouble free miles so far. He loves it!

 

[blue er]

i realize after 7 winters with the apex while the motor never let's me down and always seems to get me home, so does all the polaris arctic cats and ski-doos have had one engine failure in the group and it was a vector 973 blew a connecting rod.
when i reflect on all the money is spent on trying to get the sled to handle and all the goofy stuff that breaks wheels rails, slider eating machine pipes donuts and bushings, handwarmers think i could have put pistons and rings in a doo 800 at least twice.
buy whatever you like they all have issues including yamaha

 

[stomper]

Like said above they all have good and bad issues. If you are a high mile rider the 2 strokes might not be the ticket but for someone who puts on 1000 to 2000 miles a year it would be ok. Some guys I know put on around 4000 miles a year. thats why the drive yamahas. With those miles you would almost have to do a rebuild every year or so on a 2 stroke, providing you can get that many miles on the before theblow up..

 

[Irv]

Thanks for the info irv. I realize that I will be doing a motor in the next four years, but my body will only let me ride like this for the next five, so I might as well have fun doing it in that time. maybe I'm better off with a 800 with a piece of cardboard behind the fun flipper, instead of riding the crap out of a 600. Constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Don't blame you one bit, and if was into the type of riding you're currently into, I would also buy the same sled

Enjoy!

 

[fxnytroxtx]

Rode assault 144 and it's really easy to ride in powder compared to my nytro. Nice sled.

 

[RxThunder]

I will stick with my 4 strokes, I trail ride 95% of the time and rarely go off trail unless its a lake or road. I towed 2 Polaris sleds this year and an Arctic Cat and my Yamahas have never left me stranded yet. If you want to ditch bang or do deep powder than maybe a Yamaha isn't for you, but I will stick to reliability. One of the polarises snapped 2 motor mounts and a torque stop, and the other Polaris 600 liberty burnt up, while I was racing an older xc 700 he also blew his sled on the lake. all had less than 6,000 miles on them. To each their own but I will stick to Yamaha.

 

[sleddingfarmer]

You're only young once! The Nytro couldn't do what I wanted to do, so I bought my XRS 800 etec, and had 3100 trouble free miles. The 4 strokes can't hold a candle to a sled like that. They are crazy fun. So light and nimble and man are they fast! But now I'm on a 1200X and its a perfect 'happy medium'.

Buy the 800, buy the extended warranty and ride the crap out of that thing while you still can! You said you're keeping the phazer anyways...so that's a perfect backup sled. Hold that SOB wide open anytime you want to go straight forward!

 

[WarriorWithin]

I had an assault pro ride and it is an awesome sled! You can't beat it off trail and for a lot of my riding it was the sled to have, but prior to my assault I always rode a Yamaha. After two seasons I was starting to get worried about my 800. It never let me down but it uses next to nothing for oil and I never cold get that thought out of my mind so I would add a few ounces of oil to every tank. The fit and finish is not the same as a Yamaha and I you think the Yamaha bushings are bad look at Polaris. After 1000kms I had all the a arm bushings replaced (major slop). To top it all off my dads stock nytro was neck and neck with my assault in a drag up to about 70 mph. At the end of the day as awesome as the sled was off trail I missed the four stroke reliability, sound and feel. After reading everything about the Polaris 800's on a different forum I decided to sell it and picked up my current sled. The nytro is completely different but for where and how I ride it's a better sled. Plus the super charger puts it in a different world!! Lol! In all honesty though as long as youve got a Yamaha in the garage and do a ton of off trail and jumping the assault is pretty hard to beat! Just my 2 cents