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By Brit Mansell

Wicked body lines, aggressive black color, imposing – all words used to describe the American B2 Stealth Bomber. Upon first seeing the first leaked photos of Polaris’ new Scrambler 850, the Stealth Bomber is immediately what came to mind, but all of that “stealth” talk vanished as soon as I heard this massive twin-cylinder animal come to life. Thanks to the near-perfect sound coming from the factory-tuned exhaust, the look is where the similarities between it and the Stealth Bomber come to an end.

While sport utility machines such as the Can-Am Renegade have been around for quite a while, that market has been somewhat unproven. Polaris has been in this market for a few years, but for 2013, they have completely redesigned the aesthetics of the popular Scrambler 850 to be more sporty, comfortable, and usable. With the growth of the Sport Utility market, Polaris has now jumped in with both feet for 2013.

Enter the new 2013 Scrambler 850 H.O. Hitting the dyno at 77 H.P., this machine packs a serious punch to the rear wheels. Thanks to the efficiency of the Polaris drivetrain most of that power is applied to the ground, where you need it most. Thanks to the well-tuned PVT clutch/transmission and electronic fuel injection system (E.F.I.) the high output, true 850cc engine is immediately available from zero RPM’s making this the perfect machine to rip through any trail. The on-demand true 4WD/2WD system is there to make sure you can use all of this power.

The suspension remains largely untouched. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” (hey I live in Alabama – I can say that). Polaris is known for building a well-engineered machine. The Scrambler 850 lives up to that reputation. The front and rear suspension is made up of dual, tubular A-arms with the front having 9” of travel with the rear coming in at 10.5”. Both the base model and the LE utilize 14” wheels to keep the corner roll to a minimum and bling factor to a maximum.

Polaris listened to the rider feedback, and on the 2013 Scrambler H.O. they have included, what I think is, the best looking cargo rack ever put on an ATV. The Lock & Ride™ system ensures the exact fit for many of the Polaris PURE accessories, making sure you have the option to customize your vehicle during the time of purchase.

As if this new Scrambler wasn’t enough, Polaris has gone one step further and repackaged this new model into an even more visually aggressive vehicle. This same vehicle is available in a “Stealth Black Limited Edition”. If you really want to turn heads on the trail, this is the machine for you. However, this isn’t just a visual package. With the Stealth Black L.E., you get the obvious black plastic (true automotive paint), but you also get some performance enhancers:

-14” Cast Aluminum Wheels
-Carlisle AT 489 II Tires
-Electronic Power Steering (EPS)
-Fox Podium® X Compression Adjustable Front and Rear Shocks
-LED Headlights – these are the same headlights from the RZR line, so if you’re familiar with those, you know how they are definitely the best OEM headlights on the market. These lights are a huge asset on this ATV, making sure you can continue your performance late into the evening.
-Digital Instrumentation
-Handguards