For When she says… “Size Matters”
By Jason Kawczynski
Monster Jam here we come, and ridiculous oversized ATV lovers get ready because a good one is back again for 2022! Polaris is known to always find a way to set the bar higher and think outside the box with new ideas, and in model year 2021 they delivered again when they launched the S-Model Scrambler and Sportsman lineup. These machines have a staggering 55” wide stance, and uprooted everything we previously thought defined an ATV.
After a long winter season of other distractions, we are finally getting back to some of our favorite summertime passions. It didn’t take too long for mine and other people’s excitement surrounding this machine to return. Reflecting on its launch in 2021 and the fun that we had riding it really got my testosterone pumping… it’s possible my computer got pregnant while writing this!
The New Limited
Not a whole lot has changed in its return in 2022, but why should it have? This machine is still holding the crown of the “King of the Crossover ATV’s” in our opinion. Polaris has added the “Limited Edition” on the 2022 Scrambler too and they mean Limited this time! These machines have been long sold out by the time you are reading this. So, if you want to join the exclusive club of owning a monster sized ATV, start saving your pennies for the 2023 pre-orders because we don’t expect to see many of these on dealers showrooms this summer.
For 2022, your option again is only in one color choice, but she definitely got an upgrade in the good looks department over last year’s rather boring black/red! It now features the popular color combination of Radar Blue with Chartreuse accents. The new suit really turns heads on any Polaris machine they offer it on across their entire powersports spectrum, and certainly no different here on the Scrambler.
Spec the tech!
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the magnitude of how big and capable this machine is, the 55-inch wide stance is by comparison 7-inches wider than a standard trail width ATV. Its massive 14.5-inch ground clearance dwarfs the 11.5 on the standard, but still very capable, Scrambler 850. Lastly add a 57.4-inch long wheelbase, adding over 4-inches from the standard scrambler, and almost 7-inches longer than some competitive ATV’s (like the Can-Am Renegade). Being this large, Polaris was able to use some existing components from the RZR XP lineup such as front differential and half shafts, so they are certainly building it with abuse in mind! All this stretching does come at a cost, being quite a bit of added weight. Polaris claims the dry weight at 881 pounds but reports of real world weights over 950lb with all needed fluids and a full tank of fuel seem to be pretty accurate.
Under the hood, the Scrambler is still powered by the veteran and very proven 952cc ProStar twin that makes around 89HP. The power is disbursed via four identical sized 27 x 9-inch Duro Powergrip II Tires on 12-inch aluminum wheels, which gives you the option to rotate the tires from front to back and extend the life of your tire set. Two power modes are available and easily controlled via the dash controls. Standard mode is more for cruising, with easy-to-handle moderate acceleration. For those days that you are feeling reckless and power hungry, switch it over to “Performance” mode for maximum acceleration, where you can spin all four tires on demand.
Electric Power Steering is standard, of course, and it is a necessity when you are wrestling with a large machine like this at slower speeds, but the Multi Select EPS takes it a step further. For those riders that prefer more of a classic responsive feel to a manual steer machine, this is a perfect compromise. You can select from three different modes, Low, Medium and High. The differences between modes are relatively subtle and we found that for our riding style Low or Medium is just about right for most situations. But if you are setting out on a very slow and technical trail, clicking it up to high will take the last little bit of effort out of navigating through those bottomless mud spots.
Riding on top of a set of four Walker Evans remote reservoir three-way adjustable shocks it delivers 12.5-inches of up front and 14-inches of rear bump destroying travel. These come with tons of adjustability with tool-less quick change compression knobs up top – giving separate high and low adjustability and rebound adjustment on the bottom of the shock. All are changed easily with a screwdriver. Dual rate springs give even further adjustability where you can modify the crossover point between springs easily with the supplied tool. Overall, the standard factory settings do seem rather stiff in comparison to some other Polaris models. However, out of the box riding the factory setup offers very little body roll and adds to its superior stability in all different conditions.
If you like to stay clean when riding I wouldn’t suggest this ATV for you. The extra width mounted on the standard plastics designed for 48” width really throw the mud around back at you. Polaris did design this with a smaller fender addition which does catch a lot of debris, but it certainly could be bigger.
Included Accessories Galore!
Night riders get a Pro Armor 11-inch LED light bar which is a much-appreciated standard option for an abundance of clear white light when needed. The primary headlights are still antiquated halogen bulbs that really need a boost!
The standard adjustable 3-inch handlebar riser makes for a perfect transition from sitting to stand up riding for those average height riders. The standard hand guards are a welcome addition when gloves alone are not enough to protect your knuckles while following your buddy a bit too close!
One neat feature that Polaris added was the security lock. This is an optional enabled feature that allows you to create a PIN (Passcode) that will prevent the engine from turning over. Sure, you can always take the key out at pit stops and accomplish the same but, in my house, where I have two young kids that are always trying to sneak a ride on dad’s ATV, it certainly is a welcome feature for us keeping them where they belong on their Sportsman 110cc wheelers.
With an MSRP $17,799 USD / $20,999 CAD this isn’t just priced as an ATV that the average consumer would purchase to use on a few hunting trips or plowing the driveway. Buyers are more tailored to be all-in as this to be their primary summer vehicle. Nothing is cheap anymore these days by anyone’s standards but what you get in comparison still does deliver a lot of value.
BOX OUT- Be Legal When Riding
One thing to note about this oversized machine is to be sure to check your riding area local regulations for maximum width. Many trails across north America are segmented by width and the vast majority of standard ATV’s are a maximum width of 48-50-inches, so this would not come close to qualifying. These trails are so common it was one of the defining factors for Polaris to develop the RZR trail UTV which sits at only 50-inches wide, almost a half-foot narrower than this Scrambler.
