Polaris Xplorer 300 Specs
by John LondonPolaris Industries, a U.S.-based firm that manufactures all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and golf carts, produced the Polaris Xplorer 300. As an ATV, also known as a quad, the four-wheel Xplorer 300 in many ways resemble a motorcycle: The operator straddles the driver's seat, and the handlebars serve as the steering control.
Engine and Transmission
The Polaris Xplorer 300 has a 283cc, two-stroke engine, which differs from the more common four-stroke engine in the way the piston moves inside the cylinder. High-performance and small-capacity motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, karting and motorized garden appliances, such as chainsaws and lawnmowers, contain this kind of engine. The Xplorer 300, with its air-cooled engine, operates in either two- or four-wheel-drive mode, controlled by a button located on the handlebar. It has an 850-pound towing capacity, and features an automatic Polaris Variable Transmission.
Suspension, Brakes and Wheels
The Polaris Xplorer 300 contains a MacPherson strut suspension, invented in the 1940s by Earl S. MacPherson of Ford. First used in the 1950 English Ford, explains AutoZine, it remains popular due to its compact size and low cost. The Xplorer 300 features single-lever hydraulic disc brakes -- which stop the rotation of the wheel while in motion by applying hydraulic pressure on the pistons of the engine's cylinders -- with mechanical auxiliary foot brakes. It also has 23 by 7 by 10 (4 psi) front tires and 24 by 11 by 10 (3 psi) rear tires.
Physical Features
The Polaris Xplorer 300 measures 81 inches long, 46 inches wide and 45.5 inches high. It has a turning radius of 57 inches while the wheelbase, which measures the distance between the centers of the rear and front wheels, is 49.75 inches long. The vehicle weighs 567 pounds, and can take up to 90 pounds of weight on its front part and 180 pounds on its rear. It comes equipped with a speedometer and odometer.
