New Polaris Hawkeye

We get a chance to check out the New Polaris Hawkeye.
Will it stand up to expectations?

Polaris Hawkeye

When I was invited to check out the new model by Polaris, I was a little skeptical. After all, look at the specs. 300cc class machine that is supposed to have the features of the big bore machines. How feasible was this really going to be?

Polaris was going to have some pretty big shoes to fill. After all they did raise the bar with the Sportsman 500 when they first came out. Were they going to do it again or was this going to be another watered down ATV that did a couple of things ok, but none of them well?

I show up at the test site and started looking around. I noticed the row of ATVs and they struck me as being a good looking quad. The styling was refreshing and new. It has its own appeal. Polaris did not depend on the styling from the 800 Sportsman. They gave the Hawkeye a personality all of its own. Well we all know that looks is not everything. Was this going to be a gutless cream puff?

The frame looked to be sturdy enough. 1” Square tubing was a surprise to see. Long-Travel MacPherson front suspension showed that they were serious about the comfort and handling of the Hawkeye. As I walked around the quad I noticed that something was missing. It is on all of the other 300 class ATV’s. Polaris surely couldn’t have forgotten such an important part. There was no rear axle!! At least not one like we are used to seeing. That’s right this ATV has Independent Rear Suspension!

I was unaware of this fact when I was asked to look at this quad. IRS on a 300 class ATV was going to be interesting. I kept asking myself. What about body roll? Will it be too stiff or too soft? Will it be plagued by the ill handling found on a lot of IRS ATV’s? These questions and more would soon be answered. Enough about what I was thinking and lets get down to some hard facts about this ATV.

The Features are as follows:

HAWKEYE 4X4 FEATURES

Powerful air-cooled/oil-assisted, carbureted, single-cylinder Polaris 300 engine
Selectable 2WD/AWD with on-demand AWD
IRS with 8"/20.3 cm of wheel travel and 8"/20.3 cm of ground clearance
Towing capacity: 750 lb./340.2 kg
170 lb./77.1 kg rack capacity (70 lb./31.8 kg front, 100 lb./45.4 kg rear)
Industry-leading Polaris Variable Transmission with lifetime limited belt warranty
Standard digital speedometer/odometer/tripmeter/hourmeter
Integrated front storage compartment
Steel front bumper
Long-Travel MacPherson front suspension
Maxxis tires
Tough composite body components
Hydraulic disc front & rear brakes
Receiver hitch
Brake lights
Lock & Ride accessory compatible
Comfortable ergonomics for easy riding
Colors: Black/Silver, Green/Black

HAWKEYE 2X4 FEATURES

Powerful air-cooled/oil-assisted, carbureted, single-cylinder Polaris 300 engine
IRS with 8"/20.3 cm of wheel travel and 8"/20.3 cm of ground clearance
Towing capacity: 750 lb./340.2 kg
170 lb./77.1 kg rack capacity (70 lb./31.8 kg front, 100 lb./45.4 kg rear)
Industry-leading Polaris Variable Transmission with lifetime limited belt warranty
Standard digital speedometer/odometer/tripmeter/hourmeter
Integrated front storage compartment
Steel front bumper
Long-Travel MacPherson front suspension
Maxxis tires
Tough composite body components
Hydraulic disc front & rear brakes
Receiver hitch
Brake lights
Lock & Ride accessory compatible
Comfortable ergonomics for easy riding
Colors: Red/Black

The feature list reads like a Big Bore flagship ATV from most manufacturers. But this was on an entry level ATV.

Since the list of features and Specs were in order I started inquiring about the maintenance of the quad. Oil changes are made easy by the use of a spin on filter that can be accessed by removing one front panel. This panel just pops off and you are there. Air filter is kept under the seat and easily accessed. As for Fuel? Well the Digital readout will keep you well informed on when that will need to be toped off. My over all impression of the ATV was VERY GOOD. It seemed that they had really done their homework on this quad and listened to what the consumer was asking for.

Now was time for the test rides. We would actually get a chance to see if this paper queen could stand up on the trail. A turn of the key fired up the engine. Nice sound. The engine noise was low and the exhaust note was quiet. We shifted into drive and were off.

The new clutch system that was developed for this ATV was a pleasant surprise also. There was no noticeable “Belt lag” that you get with the traditional belt drive machines. Polaris developed a “Tight Belt” system that works a lot like a chainsaw clutch. When you give it the gas it goes. It is not overly powerful or snappy from the start. Do not think that you will be pulling wheelies on this machine. But do not think it is under powered either. The power comes on smooth and dependable. At first I was thinking it might be a little under powered, but riding the Hawkeye was very enjoyable. I couldn’t help but smile as we would hit the rougher sections of the trail and the independent suspension soaked up the rocks and washes with ease. The body roll wasn’t there. The handling was predictable and precise. When we hit a couple of hills I just knew that the 300 cc machine would struggle or bog down. Not the case. The engine turned out a good amount of torque and handled the hills with ease. When we got to one section we stopped and watched an impressive display of the new clutch system. The guide for our ride proceeded to take the Hawkeye up a hill that was VERY steep and about 30 feet high. The guide then proceeded to climb the hill with ease. He then came back down and did it AGAIN! Only this time he stopped in the middle of the hill and then starts again. The 4wd worked flawlessly and the Hawkeye never batted an eye. This showcased the torque and power that the engine really had.

We proceeded back to the parking lot and we reluctantly surrendered the keys. Out of all the riders I couldn’t find a single complaint. We were all just standing there admiring the quad and shaking our head. Polaris has a hit on their hands with this ATV.

The only negative point I can find is the personal preference of the single hand brake. While I like independent front and rear hand brakes, Polaris has had great success with this set up. So it is purely a personal preference.
I must admit I could not help but feel like this would be a GREAT ATV for a beginner or smaller riders.

Thumbs up Polaris on the Hawkeye!

Mike Poteete

Quelle: www.ATVNation.com