Hello everyone. I’ve been in search for a big bore sportsman XP model for awhile, not wanting to buy new yet not wanting somebody’s beaten machine. Search paid off and finally found one. A lot of flipping back and forth on a used 850 or new 570. A semi-local deal arrived and the machine checked out maintenance wise and runs great, isn’t beat. Its a 2011 850 Touring. It was priced right with 150hrs and 1311 miles, 2500lb winch, and a Glacier 60" steel blade plow. I wanted the XP LE or Touring LE model specifically, well known of the timing gear issue, frame issues, and ball joints/bushings. I specifically wanted a 2012+ for the 78 horsepower, but I can easily live with the 7 horsepower loss. Seems to be less timing gear issues with ’09/’11 also, at least reported online.

It rides great and is comfortable. So far so good. It is not an LE model, but since it has the dual A arms, 850 engine, and 14" wheels I assume it is the XP chassis, can I call it an ‘XP’? Or do I refer to this as an ‘850 Touring’? It has the regular plastics, not the nice glossy automotive type.

Plans are to get hand warmers, a reverse purpose LED bar, and probably a forward bar. Also the Cree frame braces, and the aluminum diff. cover. After that probably some aesthetics. I do like the ITP SS312 wheels. Would like to put Kenda Bearclaw HTPs on it also, just factory size. Perhaps a QTP clutch kit.

It also has black panels along side the seat. I really don’t like that. Is there blue replacements I could put in without having the current ones painted? The only regret with this machine is it isn’t the LE shiny model. They don’t seem to have the side panels in black like this one does.

Some photos!