This is my first post here, as I have lurked the past 2-3 months.
Last week I bought a 2017 Sportsman XP 1000 LE in the Matte Copper color. I haven’t purchased an ATV since my last 2001 Kawasaki Prairie 300 2×4, so to say this is a beast isn’t even cutting it. I have driven Raptor 700’s, Grizzly 700’s, and a few can ams, but HOLY smokes this thing is unreal.
A little back info, I saw the 17’s come out a bit ago and knew I wanted the 17′ vs the 16 due to all the changes. I liked the RZR’s that I had driven, but it wasn’t as free as an experience compared to an ATV. I had never even driven a Sportsman 1000, so I wanted to test drive one before buying. No one around me had a 17′, so I decided to drive a 2016 Sportsman XP 1000 and a 16′ RZR 1000 Turbo.
My initial smile factor was about a 5/10 with the RZR and an 10/10 with the 2016 Sportsman, so it was an easy decision. I called up Zane at Jones Offoad in Jones, OK and he made me one hell of a deal. I was going to travel from Austin to Abernathy’s in TN, but the price Zane made was really close to Abernathy’s. The drive was only 5 hours compared to a 12 hour drive to TN. Here in Texas they want to get you for so many fees + taxes, it was an easy decision to drive up there to get it.
Here are what I would consider better from 16′ to 2017.
1. 3 mode settings w the Work, Standard, & Performance Mode. That performance mode is awesome! I was going to do a Re-Flash from RVS, but I need to speak with them if this flash will effect the 3 modes.
2. New Exhaust. Haven’t experienced any issue with glowing red heat. Am still considering a GSE Exhaust, but it’s not my top priority now w the fixed heat issue the 16’s experienced.
3. The Seat is about 2-3X more comfortable than the 2016.
4. Digital Dash
5. Sportier look with wider foot rests.
6. The complete LED tailights (On the LE only, odd bc the black/red pre-model shows the full 3 LED tailight in Polaris’ video.
7. The low beams stay on with the high beam. I am not sure if this worked on the 2016, but I see a lot of people talk about doing the 3 way mod where low beams will stay on.
8. Arched A-arms are killer, really helped me out on the hard rock that I was riding this past Sunday. I like to mud, and the Highlifter is pretty cool. However, they didn’t change anything up from the 2016, so I would bet 2018 the new high lifter will have all the new cool stuff the regular 17′ just upgraded to. The 17′ is that much closer to the highlifter, so w new gearing, new clutching, and snorkles you would basically have the highlifter.
9.The cup holder, sounds lame, but it holds my 30oz Yeti Rambler perfectly. You can also put your cell in there which is cool for quick/relaxed rides.
Here is what they still could fix:
1. PINION COVER: How Polaris would change a good amount of stuff from 16′ to 17′ and NOT change that is unreal, it is identical to the short cover on the 16′. Before buying the machine, I had Jones Offroad install Rick Cecco’s Billet Pinion Cover. His new design is so awesome, that it only takes 30 minutes to install. I think the other one that people go with take 2-3 hours, so something to keep in mind with anyone else needing to buy this part (https://cecco-racing.myshopify.com/p…5-16-sportsman). I put it on for the peace of mind, it’s great the factory MAY fix it if it’s under warranty, but the downtime of having the machine in the shop is what I want to avoid at all costs.
2. I think they could have sealed certain items better. I already have water in my left headlight, which is interesting bc I haven’t taken the thing through any dang water. The right one is fully sealed w no water signs, however.
3. I know there are more, I am just so new to the machine that I will update this when I can find more issues or negatives.
This post got a little longer than I was expecting, so I am sorry about that. Feel free to ask me any questions or if you would like to see any pics of the machine.
Thanks, y’all!
