Dirt Wheels - February 2014

40 www.dirtwheelsmag.com
While riding in the Pennsylvania woods,
we quickly came to appreciate the light
steering, nimble handling and able
engine that the Sportsman 570 com-
bines into a formidable 4x4 package.

The Polaris 570 single-cylinder engine is a little gem with loads of nice features, including the spin-off oil filter and an effective counterbalance system.

The slimmer riding position is very welcome. Riders who grip the machine with their legs may feel heat from the exhaust through the plastic. If you wear tall boots and knee guards, you may not feel any heat at all.

Polaris has swapped to an A-arm front suspension on some of the other 4x4 platforms, but the MacPherson-strut system still offers a supple ride and good travel numbers.

The machine is just as comfortable while you are seated. Aside from integrating with the new bodywork, the seat feels pretty much the same, but the two-up touring model of the Sportsman 570 uses a one-piece seat like the Victory Vision. The Vision is the long-distance touring model of the Polaris motorcycle line, so it should be a great perch for two riders.

We found the look of the 570 aggressive and rugged. The large fenders did a great job of keeping mud and water off of the rider. While Polaris was working on the bodywork, it made the 6.5-gallon front storage box stronger and more functional. Hopefully you won’t need to deal with it often, but the electric terminal box is mounted in the front storage box, so getting at the fuses is a snap.

Above the bodywork are newly mounted plastic-decked steel carrying racks. At points, the rack’s steel frame is exposed to give more and stronger tie-down points. Most ATV rack systems are rated for 199 pounds for both racks combined, but the Sportsman is rated for 270 pounds, broken up to 90 in the front and 180 in the rear. The standard hitch is rated at 1225 pounds towing, but the machine is rated for 1786 pounds.

THE BONES

Polaris didn’t feel the need to
change the actual chassis, since it
remains thoroughly effective. There is
8. 2 inches of travel via a smooth-rid-
ing and responsive MacPherson strut
suspension in front and 9. 5 inches
of rear travel provided by a dou-
ble-A-arm independent rear suspen-
sion (IRS) system that provides great
ground clearance. Polaris claims 11
inches of clearance, and we gave it
a test in very rocky terrain; we rare-
ly heard the skid plates make solid
contact.

STILL UNIQUE

By sheer sales volume, Polaris has taken some really unique control set-ups and made them mainstream. The CVT transmission adapted to ATVs from the snowmobile world is now close to standard in the industry for utility machines—no matter how sporty they are. And since your right hand is busy with the thumb throttle, Polaris mounts the hand-brake lever to the left side of the bar and linked it with all four wheels. There is a foot brake as well for those who prefer that.