Polaris Rzr 800 4 Seater Top Speed

Product Review

Polaris RZR 800

Long Travel Polaris RZR
Polaris RZR 800 EFI with aftermarket long travel kit from Fireball Racing

2011 Polaris RZR Changes:

For 2011, The RANGER RZR family receives aggressive front-end styling that increases cooling airflow area by 29 percent, new side protection for easier ingress and egress, a new in-cab accessible glove box, High/Low headlights for increased night visibility, and a new fuel management system coupled with a new tank that offers 30 percent improvement in range with better slow speed drive-ability. Quality improvements include better clutch/belt cooling, improved front and rear drive durability and sealed dash switches. The units also will feature new easier-to-use side nets.

The RANGER RZR 800 will offer more razor sharp trail performance with six percent more power in 2011 with the addition of an 800 H.O. engine giving the RANGER RZR 800 55hp and quicker acceleration corner-to-corner. Built for the trail, the RANGER RZR 800 also will include new trail-friendly rear rack extenders to make it easier and more convenient to carry more gear. For hunters, Polaris also will offer the vehicle in the new Polaris Pursuit Camouflage pattern.

2010 Polaris RZR Changes:

New 60 mph/96.6 km top speed, 52 horsepower and ROPS Certified Cab.

Limited Edition models include Tequila Gold and Turbo Silver. Additional Limited Edition Models include: RZR S LE-Purple Thunder, RZR LE-Pearl White, RZR LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering and RZR LE-Walker Evans.

2009 Polaris RZR Changes:

New for 2009, RANGER RZR and RANGER RZR S have improved, low-speed drivability due to the inclusion of a heel pocket which allows more controlled operation of the gas pedal. Operators also will find improved transmission shifting, a more durable shoulder bolster, reduced exhaust noise and covered, under-seat storage.
Air Intake Fix - Looks like the throttle body now has a lip to help keep the boot on. The boot that connects the filter housing to the throttle body has a few bellows that help with flex, and the filter is much larger. More details.

It has been rumored for months as the Ranger's "Evil Twin", but now it is the real deal. The RZR stands for "Razor".... As in Razor sharp side-by-side.

The all new Polaris Ranger RZR. It is smaller, lighter, and faster than any side-by-side currently on the market. It is incredibly responsive with lots of power provided by a twin cylinder 800 EFI engine, low center of gravity and front/rear anti-sway bars.

Looking at the RZR head-on, it looks very tippy, but from the side you can see the lowered seat placement and a longer wheelbase which will help keep it on four wheels.

KMS Performance was kind enough to let us take their brand new Polaris RZR out for a test drive while at the UTV Rally in Moab, UT. The power was smooth and would spin the back tires on loose soil. The throttle was a bit twitchy. A heavier throttle spring may help there. The RZR did not feel narrow or small with two of us in it. Climbed up some decent rock areas with ease. And it accelerated up to top speed real quick.

Polaris Ranger RZR 800 Polaris RZR 800 Polaris Razor

Polaris RZR 800 - Instrument Panel - Dash Polaris RZR 800 - Passenger Grab Bar

Electronic fuel injection

The RZR is powered by an 760cc EFI even-firing, twin cylinder engine that is mounted sideways behind the seats. The electronic fuel injection system constantly and automatically compensates for changes in altitude, pressure and temperature, making the RZR extremely reliable no matter where the rider chooses to go. In addition, the need for re-jetting after upgrades like high flow intake and exhaust systems should be eliminated (may need a EFI fuel controller to take full advantage). There are some reports that this engine puts out 40+ horsepower!

RZR's 760cc EFI twin cylinder engine

The good news is the 760cc EFI engine is not new to Polaris (also used in the Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI) so reliability in early models should be better.

Power delivery is a bit twitchy. Since the RZR is fuel injected, the throttle isn't really moving anything in a carburetor like the Rhino. A stiffer feel to the pedal would be nice.

Power-to-weight

The dry weight of the Polaris RZR is 100 lbs. less than the Rhino. With a larger engine (800cc delivers 30% more horsepower than the Rhino) and EFI, the RZR's power-to-weight ratio is reportedly 44% better than a Rhino. It also reaches 35 mph 26% faster than a Yamaha Rhino.

The RZR also has the highest top speed of any currently available side-by-side.

A stock RZR can make it to the top of Sand Mountain, NV. Stock Rhinos can make it about one-half way up the hill. Big difference in power.

UTV Guide - Your source for everything about Side-by-Side vehicles

Size

At 102" long, it is almost a foot shorter than the Yamaha Rhino (113.6�). Not enough room for people to turn it into a four seat UTV. At 50" wide, the RZR is narrow enough to be used on most ATV trails. Although the RZR is shorter, it actually has a longer wheelbase by almost two inches.

The RZR is 4 1/2 inches narrower than the Rhino.

Rhino vs. RZR vs. Prowler

The RZR is smaller than the Rhino in every dimension except wheelbase.

Polaris Ranger RZR is 50" wide so it can fit on ATV trails.

Another nice part about the length of the RZR at 102 inches is you can load it sideways on a trailer and still be legal on the road. The Rhino and Prowler are too long to sit sideways and still be within the maximum width of 102 inches. The RZR will also fit in the back of a truck much easier than a Rhino.

Center of gravity

With the traversally mounted engine placed behind the seats, Polaris was able to lower the seats by at least 7 inches to that the Rhino & Arctic Cat. The lower center of gravity will help stability and responsiveness. Polaris thinks this is such an advantage they have a patent pending.

Seat position helps lower center of gravity.

Weight bias is about 45 percent to the front and 55 percent to the rear.

Suspension features - More travel out of the box

The Rhino sports 7.3� travel front and rear. The Polaris RZR has 9" of front wheel travel & 9.5" of rear wheel travel.

The RZR independent rear suspension
has 9.5" of wheel travel.

The rear suspension is an "Rolled" Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) System that is canted backwards so as the wheels travel up, they also travel backwards to help absorb some of the shock. Polaris calls this feature "recessional wheel travel.�

The RZR is also the only side-by-side that is available with a front anti-sway bar. Front and rear anti-sway bars make the RZR more stable in hard cornering. We need to take a look at how easy it is to disable the anti-sway bar for rock crawling type use where the bars limit off-camber wheel travel. The front sway bar is pretty weak in the dunes. If you want to jump at all, I would recommend removing the front sway bar.

All Wheel Drive

Polaris equipped the RZR with an all-wheel drive (AWD) traction system. The AWD is enabled or disabled via a dash-mounted switch. When enabled, the RZR senses wheel slippage and automatically engages the AWD. Then when traction is no longer needed, the system automatically reverts back to 2WD. In the dunes, I find it is more fun to run in 2 wheel drive. But I did find that the RZR would climb steep hills farther in AWD.

Leg minders

And it looks like Polaris did their homework and learned from Yamaha's mistake. They include nets and deep foot wells to keep your legs in the vehicle during a roll-over.

The RZR comes with nets to keep legs inside the UTV. This is a pre-production version.

This is the production version. The leg nets are there, plus another net that overlaps and goes higher. Not overly user-friendly. And doesn't help with the RZR's overall appearance either.

Exhaust

Since the engine sits sideways, the exhaust exits right near the passenger fender. Not the greatest location. Aftermarket exhaust manufacturers will have to make a similar bend, so don't expect this to be fixed with a new pipe.

And the exhaust "heat shield" will touch your plastic and melt it.

This problem is fixed with the 2011 Polaris RZR. All RZR models now use the RZR S headers and there is heat shielding on the plastic.

Radiator Plumbing

The radiator hose routing seems a bit sketchy. This hose runs right next to the passenger side front shock. It can easily touch the coil spring.

Seats

The RZR seats are much improved over Yamaha Rhino, but are a bit stiff. They are pretty thin so aftermarket seats will be tough to fit without losing leg room.

Seat Belts

The Seat belts can be a bit sensitive when trying to retract the belt on un-level ground. Moving to level ground seems to help. Best solution is to swap to an aftermarket four-point harness.

Air Filter

There have been problems with the air filter letting debris into the engine. New aftermarket air filter setups will help cure this, but hopefully Polaris will come out with a fix for this problem. There is a TSB on all units made before August 2007. Check with your local Polaris dealer to see if the TSB applies to your RZR. Newer units have had some adjustments to help seal the intake.

Tilt Steering Wheel

Tilt steering from the factory is a nice addition, but the wheel does feel a bit flimsy.

"Roll" Cage

The factory "roll" cage definitely has a case of the uglies. The roll cage material sounded real thin when you tap on it with your fingernail. I would quickly invest in an aftermarket cage to increase safety and appearance.

Leg Room

I am 6' 1" and the RZR it was a bit tight for me. I would be more comfortable with a bit more space.

Bed

The bed on the RZR is very small, but setup to use Polaris lock and load type tie downs.

2011 RZR has new cargo box

Ground Clearance

Ground clearance of the RZR is advertised at 10" vs. 12" for the Rhino. In reality, it is lower than 10" and hangs up on lots of trail obstacles. Also a bit low in the dunes when crossing ridges.

I think that the low ground clearance is probably the biggest negative to the Polaris RZR.

Emergency Brake

The RZR does not have a separate emergency brake or parking brake. The gear selector has a "Park" selection which puts the transmission in Park. A separate e-brake would be nice to have.

Hitch

The RZR has a Hitch Towing Capacity or 1500 lbs, but don't expect to tow that much. The receiver cannot handle any tongue weight. I towed a wood splitter (very little tongue weight) a short distance and bent the receiver mount.

Whip Flag

The RZR roll cage does not have any provision for a whip flag. Plan to add a whip flag mount if you are headed to the dunes.

Rear View Mirror

The RZR does not come with a rear-view mirror.

Production Polaris RZR Photos:

Available colors are green and red. The Polaris RZR is now available at Polaris dealerships, with an MSRP of $10,299.

2008 Polaris Ranger RZR 800 Specifications:

Liquid-cooled, even-firing Polaris Big Bore 800 Twin EFI engine (760cc)
Selectable 2WD/AWD with on-demand AWD
Gear range: Dual range (high / low) forward, neutral, reverse, park
IRS w/ 9" of front wheel travel & 9.5" of rear wheel travel
Suspension: Rolled Independent w/Anti-Sway Bar - rear; Double A-Arm w/Anti-Sway Bar - front
10" of ground clearance
Weighs in at 945 lbs.
Towing capability:1500 lbs. with 1 1/4" receiver
Cargo bed rated for 300 lbs with lock & ride storage
Variable Transmission
7.25 gallon fuel tank (under passenger seat)
Length: 102"
Width: 50"
Height: 69"
Wheelbase: 77"
500 watt alternator
Front tire: 25 x 8 - 12 Maxxis
Rear tire: 25 x 10 - 12 Maxxis
Max speed - 55mph
Adjustable steering wheel
Adjustable driver's seat
Adjustable passenger grab bar
Full skid plates
Wheel Bolt Pattern - 4X156

Polaris Ranger RZR Accessories

14" aluminum wheels & tires
12" aluminum wheels with simulated beadlocks
Stealth front/rear bumper
Pre-runner front/rear bumper
Rock sliders
Spare tire rack
Half & full windshields
Bikini top
Poly carbonate top
3500 lb. Warn winch

Limited Edition RZRs:

Minneapolis, January 21, 2010 � Polaris Industries today announced the company�s new limited edition ATV and Side-by-Side offerings. In the past, Polaris� limited editions have been cosmetic upgrades such as paint but this offering also includes units with performance and technology upgrades. Included, is the first RANGER CREW and RANGER RZR with electronic power steering, and a 50-inch RANGER RZR with a premium Walker Evans shock package.

2010 RANGER RZR LE-Walker Evans

2010 RANGER RZR LE-Sunset Red with Electronic Power Steering

2010 RANGER RZR LE-Pearl White with Sonic Blue Graphics

2010 RANGER RZR S LE-Purple Thunder

2009 RANGER RZR LE-Sunset Red

2009 RANGER RZR LE-Stealth Black

2009 RANGER RZR Pink Power

2010 Polaris RZR 4 Robby Gordon Edition:

�Polaris saw a market for a multi-passenger Sport vehicle at a significantly lower price than an expensive Sand Car or Rail,� said Eric Nault, product manager for RANGER RZR 4. �The RANGER RZR 4 fills that need for a Sport Side-by-Side experience for multiple passengers.� The RANGER RZR 4 has all the performance and attributes of the RANGER RZR family and the ability to carry four people. With a powerful 800cc High Output Twin EFI engine, the RANGER RZR 4 has a class-leading power-to-weight ratio and strong acceleration. Its 60-inch/152.4cm width coupled with RANGER RZR�s patented design that places the engine behind the back seat for the lowest center of gravity, makes the RANGER RZR 4 more agile than most competitive two-seat Side-by-Sides. At 1,255 lbs/569.3 kg., it�s also lighter than many two-passenger vehicles.

2010 Polaris RZR 4 Robby Gordon Edition

2011 Polaris RZR XP 900:

The RANGER RZR has the only family of Sport Side x Sides with Razor Sharp Performance for all types of recreation. It all started in 2008 when Polaris introduced the only trail-capable Side x Side, the RANGER RZR 800. In 2009, came the only true-sport Side x Side, the RANGER RZR S 800. With the introduction of the RANGER RZR 4 800 in 2010, Polaris introduced the world�s only four-seat sport Side-by-Side. For 2011, the family adds the RANGER RZR XP 900, a whole new class of Side x Side that continues to offer the ultimate combination of power, suspension and agility and takes it to the extreme.

Built for razor-sharp, Xtreme performance, the RANGER RZR XP 900 has a new 88 horsepower, 900 Twin, Electronic Fuel Injected (EFI) engine, a new 3-Link Trailing Arm Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) with 13-inches of ground clearance and 14-inches of travel, and is light weight with a low center of gravity for unmatched cornering. These features make the RANGER RZR XP 900 the only extreme performance Side x Side on the market.

Aftermarket Parts & Accessories:

RZR Videos:

Polaris RZR at Spinreel - YouTube
RZR going up Banshee Hill at the Oregon Dunes - in reverse - YouTube
Polaris RZR Little Sahara, OK - YouTube
Stock RZR Pismo Bowl Run - YouTube
Rzr Duning at Silver Lake - YouTube
Rubicon Trail - Rhino, RZR, Ranger - Google Video

Contact Info:

Website: Polaris Industries

Polaris Ranger RZR - Direct link to RZR on the Polaris website

Polaris Industries, Inc.
2100 Highway 55
Medina, MN 55340
(763) 417-8650

UTV Guide - Overview and comparison of available Side x Side Vehicles

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Polaris Rzr 800 4 Seater Top Speed

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Polaris Rzr 800 4 Seater Top Speed