Although the Polaris does provide a balanced in-flight feel, corrections at altitude resemble that of a 747 rather than a nimble F-16. On a typical cross-country course, the hang time is kept to a minimum, leaving me feeling confident that the machine is capable of soaking up any harsh landings that may occur.
Chain adjustment was one of the rather unique features of the Outlaw. While most swingarms incorporate Honda's tried-and-true round housing that allows the chain to be adjusted simply, Polaris was confronted with achieving the same results with a chain-driven independent rear suspension. The Outlaw's engineers designed a system that allows the rider to simply loosen two nuts on the rear end and rotate a protruding adjustment bolt to tighten the chain. Other features included an emergency brake that operates the front tires via a locking mechanism in the front brake lever, thus eliminating the added complexity of long lines and brake assembly extras that are needed for rear E-brake applications.
Eight hours in race conditions, and the Outlaw has suffered only minimal casualties (the seat and the rear sway bar). The seat is a problem, due to inadequate fastening (there's only one hook at the nose and a latch on the seat rear). This leaves the center loose and flexing, which can cause the seat to unlatch. Another hook/L-bracket in the middle would add the support needed to keep the saddle firmly in position and prevent accidental ejection while riding. The rear sway bar broke at some point while we were testing the unit. I am unsure of what caused this component to break because I didn't immediately notice the failure. It may have simply suffered in an impact, which caused a fracture that went unnoticed, leaving the bar weak and susceptible to failure during a later outing.
WEST
Overall, my experience with the Outlaw in a Western setting mirrored Newsom's East Coast discoveries. I rode it on a variety of terrains-from narrow, rock-strewn hillside pathways that were barely wider than the wheels to wide, fast, whooped-infested trails. The suspension was, without a doubt, the best part of this package. It worked so well that I found myself constantly seeking out rock gardens and uneven trail conditions that I would normally avoid on a straight-axle quad. I did get the rear to buck in the whoops when I pushed the speed envelope, but I think that might be curable with more time spent dialing in the shocks.