The long haul: this Polaris Predator kept going.(performance project)

Publication: ATV Sport

Publication Date: 01-MAY-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Ehlert Publishing Group

Polaris is known world-wide for its tough, hard-working utility machines. The 4X4s love to haul, plow and climb. The Predator, however, is the black sheep of the family. It just wants to play all day.

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Daryl Rath, of Rath Racing, took a Predator and tested its stamina to see if it really could play all day ... or at least half a day. Rath suited up the Polaris speed demon for the 12 Hours Of ATV America, held annually in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The race is long, the course is narrow, and some machines simply can't survive the test.

The last two years of the 12-hour race has seen its share of the race-bred 450s. The Predator is 50 pounds heavier than the 450s. "We gave up 50 pounds to the other guys," Rath said. "The bike worked fine, though. We had no problems."

"One of our concerns when building this bike was to keep...

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