The 2021 Polaris RZR Trail S 1000 Ultimate is the top of the heap for Polaris’ smallest line of RZRs. With its nimble geometry, 60-inch width, and 100 hp 999cc engine, the RZR Trail S 1000 Ultimate is a formidable tight trail machine. Polaris says this little ripper offers class-leading suspension travel, measuring in at 13.2 inches. Pair that with Walker Evans suspension damping and Trailmaster A/T 27-inch tires at all four corners, and you’ve got a wicked recipe for bombing down narrow, root-filled trails.
The RZR Trail S 1000 managed to climb 26.75 inches up our 20-degree RTI ramp before lifting its opposite front tire off the ground. Given the RZR’s 79-inch wheelbase, that nets the Polaris an RTI score of 338.6.
Let’s take a moment to dissect that. At first glance, it appears that the little RZR vastly underperforms next to the other units we’ve tested. But we need to remember it’s narrower, has a small wheelbase, comes with firmer shocks, and is lighter than others out there. This side-by-side is designed for trail sport riding at a higher pace than some other units in the same market.
Driving up an RTI ramp can be a good indicator of articulated rock-crawling ability. To be fair, though, that’s not what the RZR Trail S 1000 is about. Despite its claimed suspension travel, it’s designed to handle bigger hits at speed, as opposed to slow, technical terrain. Don’t let the low RTI score scare you away from this little ripper. If you’re not normally hitting technical black trails, but instead slaying fast flowy well-groomed tight paths, the little RZR Trails S 1000 might be for you.
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