2008 450 ATV Sport Shootout

Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR

Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR
Don't be fooled by the seemingly familiar appearance of the Outlaw 450 MXR. It does closely resemble the Predator of recent years, but everything other than the styling has been greatly refined. Polaris has had numerous factory riders competing in the GNCC, WORCS and freestyle competitions aboard a fleet of Outlaws. I would guess from Polaris' steady progress that the racers' feedback is funneled directly into the R&D department where it can be analyzed and applied to new designs. There's no better testing than that done by a pro racer chasing after a championship.

Polaris has enlisted the help of KTM to produce a powerplant to keep this wanted Outlaw one step ahead of the sheriff's posse. With a quick bump of the start button the beast fires and is instantly roaring to go. To many, this seemingly insignificant detail is often overlooked but when you're lined up at a dead-engine start against 40 other quads; a fraction of a second is all that separates a holeshot from a midpack start. Like the 450 XC the Outlaw has loads of torque that can easily lug a higher gear or hold the front end up while pounding through moguls. This eliminates the need for a constant shifting of the gears in an effort to maintain a preferred sweet spot in the rpm range. Power delivery is superb, working extremely well on the MX track and in Georgia's rugged woods.

Comfort in the saddle got mixed reviews from our testers. The seat tended to draw shorter riders forward into the tank but wasn't as noticeable to the taller ones. At 5 feet 10 inches I found myself able to sit far back enough on the seat to overcome this pull, but when shifting my weight over the front tires to quickly dart through obstacles I did occasionally get drawn in. Steering is precise, giving the Outlaw the ability to change direction on a dime. This predictable-turning ability is appreciated when dashing through a tight, winding course with mere inches separating your knobbies from the bark of a tree.

Fox Podium shocks perform a terrific job at soaking up just about anything that happens to be in the Outlaw's path. Smooth landings were remarkable after long flights off of Echeconnee's huge doubles, and flight characteristics are equally impressive. Many testers stated that the Outlaw tracked considerably well and managed to maintain a straight path when pounding through large sections of whoops. You can drop the hammer with certainty that the suspension won't hold you back.

Polaris Outlaw 450 MXR