The Polaris ACE

The Polaris ACE has created a whole new market, providing it’s own unique off-road experience. Polaris’s ACE combines the nimble handling of an ATV with the security and non-intimidating, automotive like driving approach of a UTV. The first ACE featured a 32HP, 335cc power plant. Its design was based on a Sportsman ATV chassis with sit in and step out accessibility, which is very easy to get in and out of. The other major ACE difference is automotive-like controls and a ROPS cage. The UTV-like controls feature a steering wheel, brake/gas pedal, and an automatic PVT transmission.

The entry level Polaris ACE opened the doors to a new breed of ATV’er. While not overly impressive in the power department, it quickly found it’s calling with the older generation as well as many in the first time crowd. After creating an entire new market, and less than a year into it’s public existence, ACE answered to the calls for more power. The Polaris ACE 570 offered an identical chassis with Polaris’s proven 570 power plant from the RZR, Ranger, and Sportsman 570. The 44HP power plant brought an impressive 35% power increase with virtually no increase in overall weight.

The Polaris ACE 570’s power increase was well received by the masses, and its next focus was luxuries. The SP package and ACE 570 SP brought a whole load of premium performance features. The biggest SP benefit was it’s Variable Assist EPS, but it also featured a new high-performance close ratio on-demand AWD system, dual rate rear springs, front and rear stabilizer bars, and a sport tuned exhaust system. The more aesthetically noticeable upgrades included were Factory Installed quarter-doors, a high-performance steering wheel, Automotive style paint with custom graphics and a custom cut and sew seat cover.

Just like the ever-growing UTV market, consumers claimed to want more and more HP. Instead of increasing the HP a little at a time, it appears that Polaris has just gone for it with the 875cc ProStar powered 2016 Polaris ACE 900 SP. The 2016 Polaris ACE 900 SP is the double throw me down, EPS equipped deluxe model ACE with an in incredibly over the top 60HP.

THE RIDE

Right off the bat you realize that the ACE 900 SP is the basically the same ACE we are all familiar with, only with a whole lot more motor. Overall weight is increased by about 85lbs., mostly because the larger twin cylinder ProStar 900 is heavier than the previous single cylinder models. As the 900 fires to life, the deep growl of a big twin lets you know that you’ve graduated from the entry level to something a little more serious.

The 2016 Polaris ACE 900 SP motor is eye opening. Shifting the transmission into gear and stepping on the gas will almost lift the front wheels on it’s own. If you have any sort of bump, and proper throttle control you can actually ride a pretty decent wheelie. The 900’s acceleration is pretty exhilarating as well. Bombing down a dirt road, you can see 60+ in a hurry. One thing to keep in mind, at these types of speeds is that you’re still driving a 48-inch wide, short wheelbase 4x4. Locking up the brakes at 60-65 mph can find the ACE’s rear end coming around you in a hurry.
In most situations, we found the extra HP and Torque was appreciated but maybe not really needed. Longer, steeper hill climbs were the one spot where we felt the power was really necessary. Brimstone trails feature a lot of elevation changes with extremely steep hill climbs, the 900’s over the top power took the hesitation right out of you. We didn’t find a single climb in Brimstone that our ACE 900 SP couldn’t conquer.

Brimstone is also full of super technical, shorter, rocky climbs. While the new ACE is a 900, it still has minimal ground clearance and relatively small (25”) tires. Climbing some of these rutted and obstacle filled climbs required a little finesse and a lot of commitment. On more than one occasion, the excessive HP and slightly jumpy throttle brought the front-end way off the ground. Letting off the throttle, or getting on the brakes brings the wheels back to the dirt, and the ACE still had plenty of power to conquer the trail. These super steep, obstacle filled trail situations might be a spot where a less experienced driver would be better off with the more mild mannered ACE 570.
Cruising around the faster, more open trails on the big bore ACE are a blast. The 900 ACE has tons of midrange torque and it’s always available. You could get that thrown back in the seat, light front end feeling at any speed, by just matting the pedal to the floor. When approaching a water bar, g-out, or other trail obstacle, we found you could set the front with a little brake and then a throttle tap would lighten the frond end for impact.

One thing about an ACE type vehicle compared to an ATV is that once buckled in, you are pretty much along for the ride. With an ATV you can use your legs and arms as additional suspension, where as in an ACE you are strapped in a seat and going to feel everything that isn’t soaked up by the suspension. Power left on tap, can be an asset to making the most of the suspension, but other times the 900’s 60HP might also be a little excessive for a MacPherson strut front end with 8.2” of wheel travel.

THE FUTURE OF ACE

The Polaris ACE is proving to be a really cool new off-road platform, and with models ranging from 32HP to 60HP there is an ACE to suit just about every customer. The one market we expect the ACE to expand into is extreme performance. The 60HP motor in a sub 1000 lb. machine is more than powerful enough for any type of off-road racing situation. The one hold up we see is the limited suspension travel of the MacPherson Strut front end. At 32 or even 44 HP the 8.2” of travel is more than sufficient, but you will be looking for more if your pushing a 60HP machine to it’s limits.
We expect the Polaris ACE platform to evolve into a dual front a-arm offering. If and when Polaris brings us an ACE with a dual an arm front end, the possibilities will be endless. It’s a great machine in a wide variety of elements, and more front travel might just make it the most versatile platform in our industry.

Pete’s Cycle – One stop shop for all types of motorcycles, watercraft, ATVs, and generators from leading brands. Our trained repair technicians can cater all your needs flawlessly. Our knowledgeable sales reps will help you to opt the right type of vehicle you are looking for at prices to suit your budget. Visit us today!

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Winter ATV/UTV Maintenance Tips

Just because the temperature dips below short sleeve shirt weather doesn’t mean you have to stop riding your ATV/UTV. Using normal preventative maintenance and a few extra cold-weather maintenance checks, riding in cold weather, even in the snow, can be very enjoyable.
You might be doing this already, but just in case you aren’t, remember with the onset of colder temperatures, you need to replace the fluids in your ATV/UTV with coolants and lubricants designed for cold weather. Your vehicle will start easier and run smoother if you remember to do this. In fact, this might be the most important aspect of cold-weather maintenance you need to remember. But there are others that are also important.
My ATV mechanic always reminds me to lubricate the control cables with temperature-appropriate lubricants to make sure they function properly in the cold. This includes brake cables, the choke cable, and any others your particular model vehicle might have.
While you are lubricating the cables, it’s a good idea to go ahead and grease the lube points on your ATV’s frame. Check with your ATV mechanic to get the right grease for the temperatures you are likely to encounter.
My mechanic always reminds me to be sure and test the brakes frequently to make sure they are working. Nothing’s worse than not being able to stop. The same goes with the other cables on your ATV. Test them frequently while riding to make sure they haven’t frozen up on you.

I never leave the shop where I get my ATV serviced without the mechanics there going over my vehicle’s frame and checking for any areas that might show stress or cracks or abnormal wear. Better to know it before you head out in cold weather than to find out the hard way 10 miles from the trailer.
Something I never thought of until my mechanic did it for me is greasing the electrical connections on my ATV. He checked the connections and greased them to make sure everything worked properly and winter’s worst wouldn’t cause a problem while I was out riding. It’s not too farfetched to say that small action alone probably got me home in time for supper on more than one occasion.
These tips are common sense, but it is easy to forget them when you’d rather be riding than working on your ATV. But by following these simple tips, you’ll get more enjoyment from your ATV/UTV and enjoy more of the outdoors — even in the dead of winter.

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2016 Suzuki V Strom 650 Adventure, XT, Review

2016 Suzuki V Strom 650 Adventure, XT, Review

Good news coming from Suzuki motorbike. If you are one of the fans of Suzuki motorbike then you ought to know this, because in 2016 Suzuki motorbike is going to launch some series and one of them are Suzuki v strom 650. As you already know, Suzuki always show some good performance and also appearance on every product that its produce. So, having one of the series would of course be the wonderful and would make you proud as well. In order to have this kind of series of Suzuki motorbike then you better prepare yourself, this means you prepare some money or saving some money to have one. As we all know, the price would not that cheap, right. Well related to the detail information related to this series of Suzuki motorbike then you should read the article to the end.

2016 Suzuki V Strom 650 Price

Well, the first things that you need to know is about the price that you need to prepare when you decide to buy this series of Suzuki motorbike. As we all know, this is the first thing that people would consider about when they are going to buy something. So if you are going to buy this kind of series – Suzuki v-strom 650 which will be launched at 2016, then you need to prepare same amount because the price of this motorbike is $10,399.00*. Yes, that is the price of this series. So make sure to prepare with that amount in order to be able to have the series of Suzuki motorbike. Next thing that you are going to consider beside the price when you buy something is about the color. It also goes to the consideration that you are going to have when you want to buy this series – 2016 Suzuki v strom 650. Well, this series of Suzuki motorbike is only have one color which is Metallic Matte Fibroin Gray. However as we all know this kind of color is elegance and also suit to be watch with almost every color. So you do not have to worry about it.
In this part, you are not going to miss it because, at this part of the article you will learn about the more detail information related to the specification of this series of Suzuki v-strom 650 which will be launched in the 2016. For those who are already know the features must already figure this out but for those who are not now yet then you better read this carefully. Here are some specifications from this series of Suzuki motorbike. The manufacture name is Suzuki, the model year is 2016, the model is v-strom 650 XT ABS and the price is $10,399.00*. The next is about the dimensions of this motorbike; the length of this motorbike is 90.2 in. or 2,290 mm, the width is 32.9 in or 835 mm. The weight is 215 kg or 473.9 lbs. the ground clearance 69 in. or 175 mm. The wheelbase is 61.4 in or 1.560 mm. the seat height is 32.9 in or 835 mm.

2016 Suzuki V Strom 650 Specs

Here you will also not going to miss it. It is because here in this part you will also learn the additional part of the specifications of having the Suzuki series motorbike. Well, in this part you will learn about the engine of the motorbike. The engine of this Suzuki v-strom 650 is 4-stroke, DOHC, 90^o V-twin. The displacement is 645 cc. The fuel system is Suzuki fuel injection. The fuel tank capacity is 5.3 gal or equals to 20 Liter. The ignition is Electronic, transistorized. Starting is using Electric, and the cooling is Liquid. Next is related to the drive train; the transmission is 6-speed constant mesh. And final drive is Chain, DID525V8, 118links. You will not also going to miss this parts it is about the brakes or wheels and tires. The brakes; for the front it is using Disc, twin, while at the rear it is using disc. The tires: for the front it is using 110/80R19 M/C 59H tubeless while the read is using 150/70R17 M/C 69H tubeless. Well know that you already know that specification and other detail information about this new series of Suzuki motorbike so if you are interested then you better prepare yourself to buy one of these kinds of motorbikes.

Visit Pete’s Cycle, the No. 1 Suzuki motorcycle dealers in Baltimore, MD to shop the best motorcycle at the best prices.

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