Polaris predator 500?

[crd00]

I am going to look at a polaris predator in about 2 hours and I dont know much about them. Its a 2003, piped, jetted, and has razors all around. What should I look for? Any specific places I should look?

Thanks

[crd00]

no one knows about there bikes?

[smokinwrench]

I own an 05 TLD pred, but it seems to me I am about 3 hours to late to help you out on buying an 03 model.

[devildog_0431]

Those are the 4x4 quads right ? or is that the scrambler ? not too familiar w/ polaris but give it a good look over man, common sense. ;)

[smokinwrench]

Those are the 4x4 quads right ? or is that the scrambler ? not too familiar w/ polaris but give it a good look over man, common sense. ;)

Predator is the one that I use to whipp on 700 raptors, yfz's and other sport quads in harescrambles.

[devildog_0431]

Lol :) Okay !!!!!

[crd00]

i bought the predator! its the sickest bike ive ever driven. has an mbrp pipe, jetted, razors on rear, and fox shocks all around. heres a few pics. its a bit dirty, but what do you expect :lol:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4609/predvk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6923/predana0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1710/predatorxw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[smokinwrench]

Looks good if you really want it to come to life install an open intake system. It will hold its own against any quad out there in drags.

[crd00]

The bike has plenty of life for me right now. I am in the process of getting used to it everyday and hopefully i'll be getting a set of pro taper bars and a set of razors for the front

[TexFest]

How fast are those predators? Seems like no one here has one.

[crd00]

It is VERY torquey, it was actually scary when I first drove it. Ive had it doing 136km/h and it wasnt totally topped out. Its pretty nuts and I would definetly reccomend anyone to buy one!

[TexFest]

Damn that's pretty fast, I converted the km/h to mph and it came out to 84.51.

Does your predator have any other mods besides the ones you have listed?

[smokinwrench]

I think stock they are about 75 topend.

I am racing mine Sunday the 22nd in a harescramble. I will run iron man again, damn tough to stay in the lead when other guys are runnign teams.

[TravEX]

Yes, stock is 74-75 mph.

[crd00]

mines not stock, it has a mbrp pipe, jets and a k&n air filter. I was beside a car when we were seeing the top speed. Its AROUND 136km/h

[TravEX]

If you have not changed the gearing, the top speed is still close to stock. The car's speedo may have been off. If you changed the gearing, you might could pull 81mph, but not with stock gearing. Count the teeth front and back and let us know. I think stock is 14/38? I'll have to check.

Get a GPS for an accurate speed, not a car.

Good luck,

Travis

[Preddy05]

Predators are about as good as the name thats on them...POLARIS...But if thats not enough...They are junk in my book. I would stick with honda,yamaha, even a kaw before i would buy another polaris. They just arn't reliable My predator was in the shop around 7 times the first 6 months i got it and it still don't run right.

For the money they cost and the money you put into them trying to keep them running its not worth it. Want any more info feel free to ask! :welcome:

[TravEX]

Also, if it has 22" tires on the rear, that would sound right.

My buddy has a 04 Dale Jr Pred, his will do 74.7 with stock gearing (same as yours) 77.? with a 37 tooth on back. It wouldn't push the 37T or 22" tires very well on top end, but with your pipe and jetting stuff it would probably pull it better.

[TravEX]

Atc 250, you're the first one I thought of when he asked for feedback on the Pred. You have had terrible luck with yours, and every right to be pissed! I sure would! Do you still have it? Is it rideable and dependable?

[crd00]

well your predator must be a lemon atc_250, because mine hasnt given me any trouble since I bought it only for the bushings on the a-arm is a bit slack and thats normal anyways. I love my pred and I doubt I'll ever sell it:w00t:

[Preddy05]

Atc 250, you're the first one I thought of when he asked for feedback on the Pred. You have had terrible luck with yours, and every right to be pissed! I sure would! Do you still have it? Is it rideable and dependable?

Yeah i still have it :( . The last problem i had with it was the breather hose from the bottom end runs into my airbox and kept filling my airbox with oil. Now i have to hold the start button in for like 10 seconds and give it gas to start it...we all know thats always a good sign. Its still rideable But right now im thinkin about
1. Redoin the bike(powdercoat everything) tearin down the motor puttin in a bigbore kit
2. Finding a more reliable motor and putting in it.
3.Trading it off on a new quad (yam 450 or maybe the new kaw 450 i been hearing about)

Buddy of mine has an 06 troy lee edition and hes had his prob six or seven months now and he had to take it to the shop because it was smokin like a 2 stroke. From what he said they repalced the cylinder, piston and rings.

[crd00]

my buddy has a troylee edition tooand hasnt had any problems with except beating it up himself by flipping and rolling. I think its just where yours in a U.S bike and mines Canadian:lol:

[smokinwrench]

I have ran the dog crap out of my 05 troy lee. Only failure I have had is the seat grommets got mushroomed, but heck I ride like an idiot. I have ran it WOT for miles on end and treat it like crap when riding but I do give it proper maintenance.

[crd00]

mine is treating me good so far, i havent had any troubles with it yet. I'm getting familiar with ramping now too! Ive hit a few little jumps on it, i'll soon get some pics:w00t:

[Danimal11]

Maybe the reason people have so many problems with their motor is cuz they don't break them in properly. They just get excited the first ride and start beatin the crap outta it. Just a thought. My friend bought a predator brand new and wasnt broken in properly and has had alot of problems with it, man it fun as hell though, i would love to get one. No other quad powerslides like that one.

[smokinwrench]

Maybe the reason people have so many problems with their motor is cuz they don't break them in properly.

Thats NOT it!

My dealer told me to break mine it how I was gonna ride it, so mine has been hammered hard since the first time I ever rode it.

[TravEX]

I had read hours of stuff online related to break in and maintenance. I have had 3 new quads that I broke in, and seen many other new ones broken in by friends/family. I agree with smokinwrench, I break em in like I ride em. I (and the others) have never had any problems whatsoever. The first ride on my 400EX was easy for 15 minutes, then WOT 2-5th. I believe atc250 just had a lemon, and from his report, poor dealership too. He shoulda got a new quad for his problems. It happens, sucks, but it happens. Anything mechanical can break at any time, no matter the brand or origin of production. I am a FIRM believer in routine maintenance and care. The oil companies LOVE me! I may be to routine on oil changes!

My .02

Travis

[Preddy05]

Maybe the reason people have so many problems with their motor is cuz they don't break them in properly. They just get excited the first ride and start beatin the crap outta it. Just a thought. My friend bought a predator brand new and wasnt broken in properly and has had alot of problems with it, man it fun as hell though, i would love to get one. No other quad powerslides like that one.

I broke mine in properly after they replaced the topend with a nice 06 topend :) and i still have problems...I have to do a compresion test on mine....think compresion is gettin past the rings and is makin it blow oil up through the breather.

[Groundworx]

That sucks you are having that kind of problems with basically a new bike. I had heard the Predators were pretty decent bikes. I bet you got a lemon. I can't imagine them being that popular and have that kind of problems with all of them.

[youngbansheeman]

I dont think Predators are good bikes just think about it Polaris first racing bike that is not automatic.I had 2 friends that had some and 1 broke the frame had to reweld it.the other 1 is just messing up in the gears.ANd All the predators I have used sound like 5hit to much piston slap!I would not pay for a bike like that!Thats why there aint nothing better than building your own bike!:naughty: :naughty:

[Groundworx]

I don't really ride with anyone that has one. Most of the people I ride with ride the Honda 400EX. I have met some people out at riding areas that ride the Predators. I haven't heard anything like from them, but since I don't really know them very well, they probably wouldn't mention any kind of problems or regrets they had. I remember a lot of magazines named the Predator "ATV of the Year" when they were first realeased. I guess that really doesn't mean much though. I think a lot of the magazines favor certain brands and get some sort of kickbacks for it....

[Rm250RF900R]

My friends 03 pred troy lee is just fine. I love that quad. Sounds great and has lots of grunt.

[crd00]

I dont think Predators are good bikes just think about it Polaris first racing bike that is not automatic.I had 2 friends that had some and 1 broke the frame had to reweld it.the other 1 is just messing up in the gears.ANd All the predators I have used sound like 5hit to much piston slap!I would not pay for a bike like that!Thats why there aint nothing better than building your own bike!:naughty: :naughty:

It all depends on how the bike is driven and if its taken care of, the guy I bought my predator off never drove it much because he was always away working, but when he did drive it, he drove it hard and it never gave him any troubles, every bike has problems so you can say predators are junk just because a few of your buddies had trouble with them. Go to www.predatorowners.com and they'll give you the low down on them:twisted:

[crd00]

Look above at the pictures and see the difference, I have added a DG bumper, pro taper bars, 50mm risers, new front tires, shock covers, painted the a arms and Ive cleaned it up A LOT since Ive first bought it, it has been scrapped down and cleaned. And for preddy05, its been 7 months since Ive bought the bike and it hasnt given me any trouble, so we can all say your predator must be junk:beer

http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/1630/dscf0041em4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/3185/dscf0043sm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[TravEX]

Looking good!