Named for a bright star that’s current celestial location makes it our North Star, Minnesota-based Polaris and its sport quads have always been a bit outside the rest of the ATV solar system. The original Outlaws and Predators were capable, but weren’t the supernovas the company was hoping for. Both models did, however, put a stake in the ground for the Polaris race effort and poured a solid foundation for notable improvements coming for 2009.
At this summer’s Polaris 2009 model year press introduction, us dirt-digging journalists expected something big on
the utility side from Polaris. Sure enough, company officials unveiled two totally new Sportsman 4x4 ATVs that are a quantum leap for the company and the well-worn name. What we didn’t see coming were across-the-board tweaks to the 450 and 525 Outlaws. Aside from streamlined looks, the new Outlaws are lighter, have better ergonomics for a smaller, more agile feel and, good for any race team, are easier to wrench on. Nobody has more to gain from the changes than Polaris/Rath Racing and its leader, ATV icon Daryl Rath
The full ’09 roster isn’t finalized, but last year’s team included Frankie Batista, Jay Corey, Landon Hurst, Cody Anderson, Mitch Reynolds and, of course, Mr. Rath himself. With Anderson and Reynolds going down with injury, it was a building year for the team. Jason Dunkelberger and Reynolds will be racing the pro class for next year. With new bikes and promising riders, Rath sees 2009 as a breakout year for the crew. We recently spent the day at his shop in western Minnesota to get the scoop on the still-developing race bikes and a peek behind the scenes at Rath Racing.
White Elephant No More
With a scant three weeks of build time before last August’s Steel City AMA Pro ATV Open in Pennsylvania, Rath, his riders and team mechanic Kyle Thorpe had their work cut out for them.
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ATV Sport
“I wanted the public and enthusiasts to see an ’09 Outlaw ready to go, because this is the time of the year between now and February and March of next year when people make decisions about what they’re going to race next year,” Rath said. “I really wanted people to see what a Polaris ’09 could look like and be like, and I think we proved it’s definitely got a lot of potential.”
So what’s new? Rath says the biggest change lies in the ATV’s feel, with the ’09 model sporting a more comfortable ride and revised steering geometry. Polaris lowered the fuel tank, improved the seat-to-tank relationship and lowered the front plastic as much as three to four inches in places. The lower center of gravity allows more control over stem heights, which last year’s riders said were too tall. Even better, the steering and reduced fastener changes shaved 7 pounds off of the ’09s.
Tom Kaiser/
ATV Sport
“The bike actually corners a whole lot better,” Rath said. “They’ve got a whole new steering system…went back to a more traditional style of steering stem up front.”
After shooting some photos at Rath Racing’s company store and headquarters, we loaded up Mitch Reynolds’ No. 137 bike and hit the road to a track Rath maintains at his parents’ house.?Here, the new quad was put to work.
Sure enough, Rath still knows how to blast his way around berms, over jumps and through the air — no surprise there. From this guy’s perspective, the front-end changes give the new Outlaw a much more traditional, aerodynamic appearance that’s a clear improvement over 2008. It seems that formerly oddball Polaris is going mainstream in looks and design, and Rath agreed.
“We had so many compliments at Steel City, I wish I could have them documented for you guys, because it was good,” Rath said. “The riders feel a lot better about it, because they’re not riding the white elephant and it’s definitely going to be a threat next year.”
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ATV Sport
Company Cohort
Rath better be happy with the new Outlaw — he was part of the Polaris development team.
“I worked with them from a clay model on the body work,” he said. “I didn’t have a say in what it would look like, but the actual fit, what is important to a racer, I was involved in.”
Aside from the company’s tweaks, Rath’s race bikes are fully modified to team and individual racer preferences. At 368 pounds, he says their standard race machines are a game-changing 20 pounds lighter than last year.
Tom and Frank Batista were the engine builders on the project. Rath handled the chassis work, powder coating the frame gloss black, and bolting on A-arms that put the machine at 49.5 inches wide, with an ideal 7-inch ride height. Suspension is provided by the popular Fox EVOLs, with an experimental rear shock that’s still under development. “The goal out back,” Rath said, “is better control over the last inch of the shock’s travel, allowing the team to run lower ride heights without an overly harsh feel.”
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ATV Sport
Other notable tweaks include swapping in Rath’s ultra-light carbon fiber tierods, FMF’s 4.1 exhaust, removing the radiator fan and battery, switching to a kick start with off-the-shelf KTM dirt bike components, grooved Dunlop tires, a Quad Tech seat cover and RPM’s Dominator axle. The stock skid plate was also trimmed in the back and they’re running the ’08 rear brake setup that has a smaller rotor than the ‘09s, with less risk of bending the rotor on rocks.
All Eyes On 2009
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ATV Sport
With a few months until the start of next spring’s race season, Rath figures they can shave an additional 10 pounds from the race bikes, and spend time customizing each machine for its pilot — pegs, steering heights, lever lengths, improving the kick starter design and anything else that can be tweaked. Rath may also build a new subframe over the winter offseason to change the height of the seating and rear fenders.
“Confidence, that’s what we’re after,” Rath said about the coming season. “2008 wasn’t an easy year for us, we had a lot of struggles and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”
With healed or healing riders, promising new bikes and a booming business at Rath Racing, the owner feels good about their chances.
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ATV Sport
“That monkey’s off our back, that first year to prove ourselves and to be accepted is gone,” he said. “Landon proved himself very well at Red Bud, and that gave me inspiration. I think what other riders needed to see that the bike has got potential. Everybody watched and it needed to be proven, and it will be proven.”
