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By Mike Batchelor
Polaris Hawkeye - Long Term Wrap Up
When I hear the word Hawkeye I think of the wise-cracking surgeon played
by Alan Alda in the hit TV show M*A*S*H in the 70’s and early
80’s. If you are old enough to remember that show then you are
probably old enough to remember a time when features like power windows,
multi-valve engines and even air-conditioning were considered high-tech
options and rarely available on entry level cars. These days it is hard
to find a car without power windows, air conditioning and even multi-valve
heads are offered in some of the cheapest cars on the market.
In the auto industry technology trickles down from expensive models
to not-so-expensive models over time and the ATV industry is no different.
Features we used to see only on expensive big-bore ATV’s like
digital instrumentation, storage and accessory systems, disc brakes
and independent rear suspensions are now finding their way onto mid-sized
and even entry-level machines.
 Take
the Polaris Hawkeye, for example. In designing the Hawkeye Polaris started
with a clean sheet of paper. With more than three and a half years on
the drawing board the engineers at Polaris figured out how to endow
the Hawkeye with many of the features you will find on bigger and more
expensive machines like the Lock and Ride system, digital instrumentation
and most notably, a fully independent rear suspension. The Hawkeye is
more than just a pile of features that look great on a brochure, however.
We found that these features are all put together in a way that makes
the littlest Polaris the best machine in its class.
Let’s start with ergonomics. In our initial article on the Hawkeye
we mentioned that the Hawkeye had a number of controls that worked well
but took a little getting used to. The more we rode the Hawkeye the
more we liked its very  simple
interface. As evidence of this simply count the number of controls on
the handlebar. Our Hawkeye only had 8 controls, which included the brake,
throttle, choke, AWD switch, headlight switch, kill switch, starter
button and a multi-function button. Compare this to the Honda Rancher
AT that has more than 20 controls. Fewer controls mean fewer things
to break and less to think about when you are stuck axle deep in mud.
This isn’t to say that there weren’t a couple of things
missing. A clock would be a very nice addition to the display and a
second brake handle to separately control the front from the rear breaks
would also be nice. These are minor annoyances that didn’t significantly
detract from the overall riding experience. 
While we are on the subject of the handlebars lets discuss the steering
on the Hawkeye. Simply put, this is the finest steering ATV it has been
our pleasure to ride. The steering was remarkably light and direct making
it perfect for smaller and newer riders (of appropriate age, of course).
We found that we could ride the Hawkeye all day and never grow tired
of it.
Polaris also did a fantastic job in designing the suspension for the
Hawkeye. Eric Nault, a Lead Engineer with Polaris said the design team
had a simple goal; design an independent rear suspension that was comfortable
and compliant while maintaining the predictability of a live axle, oh
and by the way, keep the cost down. We are happy to say that they nailed
it. At speed the Hawkeye is nearly as stable and predictable as any
live axle ATV I have ever ridden and the ride quality is light years
beyond. The well designed steering combines with a perfectly tuned suspension
to make the Hawkeye an exceptionally nimble ATV.
 Nimble
it may be but fast it ain’t. Off the line acceleration was the
Hawkeye’s weak spot. The Hawkeye was certainly not dangerously
slow by any stretch of the imagination and we didn’t have any
trouble climbing hills or getting where we needed to go but off the
line and in the mud the Polaris simply didn’t have the oomph to
motivate itself with authority. In our humble opinion it just needs
another 50 ccs to be a perfect ATV. We didn’t have an opportunity
to test its towing capacity but we are told that it is significant.
We heard a story from a reliable source where a salesman locked the
brakes of a Yamaha Rhino then tried unsuccessfully to pull it with two
different entry level ATV’s. They then strapped those ATVs to
the Rhino and pulled all three vehicles with a Hawkeye.
The Hawkeye may not be much off the line but when it comes time to
stop, look out! The triple disc brakes can bring the 550 lb machine
from top speed to a dead stop in a big hurry. They were also exceptionally
controllable and provided excellent feel.
The Hawkeye was a very comfortable machine. It had a rather well cushioned
seat, plenty of legroom for 6 footers and outstanding foot wells. At
certain engine speeds under hard acceleration the Polaris got a little
buzzy through the seat and handlebars but at most cruising speeds it
was as smooth as any other machine it its class.
One of the reasons we like to do long term tests is so we can gauge
reliability. The Polaris handled everything we put it through and passed
our reliability test with flying colors. After three months of tortuous
treatment the Polaris felt as solid and rattle free as the day we picked
it up. We did manage to yank out a few of the trim fasteners but otherwise
everything held up very well.
After our initial evaluation of the
Hawkeye we had a number of readers write in asking whether or not they
should consider purchasing a Hawkeye. The answer is this – if
you are a speed junkie or a mud bogger then the Hawkeye is not for you.
It simply doesn’t have the power to kick you in the butt when
you crack open the throttle nor will it charge through the sticky stuff
with authority. On the other hand, if you are looking for a nimble,
good looking and well put together machine that is an absolute delight
to ride all day long then look no further. You simply aren’t going
to find an ATV of this caliber and with this many features for $4700
so don't even try.
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| The Hawkeye may
look mean but underneath is a very user-friendly machine |
The steering was
light and controllable even in tricky situations |
Mud was not the
Hawkeye's favorite terrain. The sticky goo in Eastern Indiana
quickly overwhelmed the little machine |
The Hawkeye may
look small but it is actually very roomy. |
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| The light and direct steering
combined with the well controlled suspension make the Hawkeye
a blast to ride on tight trails. |
The Hawkeye is one of the best
looking entry level machines on the market. |
From the back the look is purposeful |
Simplicity was a the order of
the day for the instrument panel. The controls are easy to
use and well laid out. |
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