Adam Campbell
Polaris is the first manufacturer to integrate a fully Independent Rear Suspension on a somewhat-sport ATV. The first thing a rider might notice is that it has a small amount of body roll, which will make the rider feel as if it's going to tip over-not the case. After putting a little time in the seat, I was able to quickly get used to the characteristics of a fully independent ATV. The Polaris felt plush at a medium pace along the trails, but fast riding made it a little unpredictable. I also enjoyed creeping along rocky roads; I rarely heard the bottom of the frame scrape, due to its ground clearance.
One thing I didn't like was the mismatched bolts (i.e., standard, metric, Allen and torx) that mean an expensive trip to the Sears tool department. The motor felt somewhat sluggish to me, and I had a hard time going up large hills without constantly feathering the clutch and/or downshifting. Also, I didn't like the clicking in the front end (A-arms and suspension) that I heard when jumping the Outlaw.
Thad "Genius" Josey
I've been lucky enough to test the Polaris Outlaw on both coasts, and I can say without a doubt that this machine is a top runner for experienced recreational trail riders. Starting off with the positive features, I was extremely impressed with the effectiveness of the Independent Rear Suspension system paired with Fox shocks. Soaking up the roughest terrain that we threw at it with a great deal of ease, the Outlaw's suspension has the most performance-oriented impact absorption of any stock sport ATV I have ever ridden. This machine eats up rocks, logs, whoops and even the gnarliest obstacles while begging to be challenged further. Flicking the Outlaw around tight, technical East Coast trails becomes a slight challenge as the rear tires tend to hook up too well, resulting in much unwanted two-wheeled riding. Unfortunately, it loses big votes in the motor department. The lack of low-end power made me wish I was back on my YFZ, but the Polaris does redeem itself as a beast to be reckoned with in high rpm. I'm not quite sure that the Outlaw is ready for pro-level competition, due to its heftiness and grueling handling characteristics. But, hey, it's marketed to be an extreme trail rider's ATV, and that's exactly the area that it shines in.