Is Polaris discontinuing the high lifter?

I was at the local dealership talking with a salesman and he mentioned the 2023 lineup will not have any HighLifter models. I checked the Polaris website and sure enough, there isn’t a single HighLifter model available. I purchased my ‘22 Sportsman HighLifter 1000 earlier this summer and my wife’s ‘22 Sportsman HighLifter 850 was delivered a week ago. I guess we lucked out with a couple of the very last models to come off the assembly line. If you have a HighLifter, what are your thoughts on them?

With all that, is anyone else disappointed with the limited amount of options in the Polaris lineup? Don’t get me wrong, I love my 1000, but I wish there had been a way to get the snorkel and rad relocation on a plain Jane Sportsman 1000. I do not like the gearing and the speed limiter is annoying. My old 850 is almost 30 mph faster, so I feel like I’m being cheated out of some of the power I paid for (I know, I know… the gearing is built for mud and not speed). Plus, those outlaw 2 tires are overkill. I’d be happy with stock suspension and tires. Worst of all, my wife’s 850 didn’t even come with power steering!! So we had to order an aftermarket power steering kit.

I’m really not trying to complain, but these are aspects I’m having a hard time overlooking. Maybe it’s just a little buyers remorse. We can finally afford the nicer things in life, but that sticker shock is real!! We haven’t taken them out on any real rides yet. So, I’m hoping after our first long weekend excursion we’ll fall more in love with them. I think we’ll be swapping out those tires for something with a bit more all around versatility. We love playing in the mud, but that’s a small percentage of the style of riding we do. Either way they’re the last year of the HighLifter family, so thats kind of cool.

You are correct, it applies to all HLer (mud addition) for ATV and UTVs.

Also, FWIW 850 HLrs never came with factory PS nor winch bumpers which allowed for a price break between the two considering they are the same bikes.
Personally I think the HLrs are WAY overdue for a refresh.

I'm hoping this is a chance for them to re-tool the HLer options on the new platform.
If not there is a great opportunity for the aftermarket industry.

There are shockingly few models available for 2023, and those that are there have essentially 0 change from the 2022 model (aside from some color mods in the 450/570/850 lineups).

I was sorely disappointed since I essentially waited an entire year for a chance to order a '23 ride command xp 1000. Once these new models came out, and that wasn't an option, I jumped on a '22 XP1000 Hunter Edition that I'm still waiting to be shipped from a dealership the next state over.

My assumption here is that the HLer models and some special editions will be made available in the mid-year cycle (Jan/Feb 2023) but it's anyone's guess at this point. Seems like more and more of Polaris's resources are dedicated to the side by side market, which is sad.

I had also been keeping an eye on the touring models to see if they'd finally upgrade them from the 2010 sportsman body. Nope... same exact thing for years.

You are correct, it applies to all HLer (mud addition) for ATV and UTVs.

Also, FWIW 850 HLrs never came with factory PS nor winch bumpers which allowed for a price break between the two considering they are the same bikes.
Personally I think the HLrs are WAY overdue for a refresh.

I'm hoping this is a chance for them to re-tool the HLer options on the new platform.
If not there is a great opportunity for the aftermarket industry.

I hope you’re right. The sales guy seemed pretty adamant that Polaris will no longer be producing HighLifter edition products. He was saying to just hang onto it until next spring if we weren’t going to have the PS installed. His bet was that we’d probably end up making money on it given the limited availability and then just buy a ‘23 Sportsman 850. Only time will tell how accurate that claim is.

I was really upset to see that my wife’s machine didn’t come with PS. I ordered it with a winch and after market rims. With the PS being installed it was practically the same price as my 1000, which came with this beefy bumpers. She loves it, so oh well. It’ll be that much better once we get it back from the dealership with PS installed!!

I have a couple of 850s with the aftermarket PS, you will be plenty happy with it.
I think the turning radius is a bit tighter on the 1k, but that could just be me.

I'm not gonna lie, Can Am is smoking Polaris in model options for ATVs. Unless you want a 570 it seems like Polaris just kinda thinks you should buy a side by side

I wonder how HL sales were?

I wonder how HL sales were?

In my opinion, the CanAm XMR put a hurting on the Polaris HL’s sales.

I wonder how HL sales were?

Where I live my dealer is selling the crap out of them and have a Highlifer 1000 on the floor right now but back before you know what happened they would have Highlifer 850 and 1000 lined up and didn't even have standard Sportsman 1000 in stock because they said they couldn't sell them the 2018 Sportsman xp 1000 I got for them they said they had it for 6 months before I got it.

There is no question that Can-Am has run away with the ATV market.
The writing was on the wall when they didnt upfit the new generation with HLer parts.

I have been brand loyal for no other reason than consistency in parts/repairs.
This change in line up will likely shift me back to Can-Am

There is no question that Can-Am has run away with the ATV market.
The writing was on the wall when they didnt upfit the new generation with HLer parts.

I have been brand loyal for no other reason than consistency in parts/repairs.
This change in line up will likely shift me back to Can-Am

No doubt. I have ridden Polaris all my life, never even thought I'd ride something else. But I was looking just as much at an Outlander as a Sportsman with my recent purchase, only went with Sportsman because it was (somewhat) available and I didn't want to wait 4 months.

No doubt. I have ridden Polaris all my life, never even thought I'd ride something else. But I was looking just as much at an Outlander as a Sportsman with my recent purchase, only went with Sportsman because it was (somewhat) available and I didn't want to wait 4 months.

I have said this before that the can am Outlander XMR 1000 long wheelbase, and low gearing was my first choice but 2018 Sportsman xp 1000 was $5000 cheaper and kinda fell in my lap than I was coming home from a job and went out of my way to swing by a Power Sports dealer and was thinking about just getting a Sportsman 850 but they didn't have one and was just looking around and I'm shocked to see a Sportsman xp 1000 all the way back against the wall .
Long story short they had it for 6 months and I got it for $10,000 out the door.
Now I have modified it in exactly what I was looking for and it even better than the can am now.

Contract with highlifter ran out or highlifter was bought out and didn't renew contract with polaris. Had nothing to do with sales. I'm assuming a new contract will be drawn up eventually and polaris will have time to come out with something new for highlift models but in my opinion if they don't come out with a new motor it would be worth the money.

Contract with highlifter ran out or highlifter was bought out and didn't renew contract with polaris. Had nothing to do with sales. I'm assuming a new contract will be drawn up eventually and polaris will have time to come out with something new for highlift models but in my opinion if they don't come out with a new motor it would be worth the money.

Do you mean if it doesn't have a new motor has a Electric motor?
Or you mean if it doesn't have a new Engine it (wouldn't ) be worth the money?
I know that it's not worth it because my dealer has a Sportsman 1000 Highlifer right now that they have had for weeks and last time I asked them about the price I was told it was close to $20,000 Out The Door.

Contract with highlifter ran out or highlifter was bought out and didn't renew contract with polaris. Had nothing to do with sales. I'm assuming a new contract will be drawn up eventually and polaris will have time to come out with something new for highlift models but in my opinion if they don't come out with a new motor it would be worth the money.

tot he forum

I had also been keeping an eye on the touring models to see if they'd finally upgrade them from the 2010 sportsman body. Nope... same exact thing for years.

I have a 21 touring. I see no benefit to updating the plastics really. The touring front storage is miles better than the newer ones in space, durarability, and quality.
I would like to see a proper box available. The dual side boxes available are silly design at best.

My only change would be clearance. For a 2-up, once two are on it, the clearance is just ok.

But really, there is no reason to change the plastics to a lesser functional design. Asside from the plastics, it's a modern machine.

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I've spoken to Polaris and they've said they have shortages in the plastics supply. Being one who comes from automotive plastics with a global company, I offered to provide some great manufacturers. They declined lol

At the end of the day though, for years Polaris has dwindled their accessories options. At the same time, and I'm not a Can-Am fan, Can-Am has expanded their accessories line and they are typically universal. Plus, if you're like me who doesn't "mud" but enjoys snorkels for protection, at least with Can-Am you can buy any machine and add on the XMR snorkelling for far less than any aftermarket ones cost.

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There is no question that Can-Am has run away with the ATV market.
The writing was on the wall when they didnt upfit the new generation with HLer parts.

I have been brand loyal for no other reason than consistency in parts/repairs.
This change in line up will likely shift me back to Can-Am

where exactly you get your FACTS from?

All Terrain Vehicles - Market Data 2022 | MotorCyclesData.com

All Terrain Vehicles industry has lost the steam. Following the record hit in 2020 with 874.000 sales globally, in the 2021 has lost steam and sales declined moderately ending the year just below the 850.000 units. Polaris is market leader.

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Whats your argument here?
Its obv you get your "FACTS" from a paid website just like the rest of the uninformed world.

I'll help you with your own article until you add something of value to the convo that I can respond to other than capitalized words.

in the largest ATV/RUV market in the World, the USA, in 18 states these vehicles are not registered and consequently the data available represents around 80% of total US sales.

Those aren't facts, those are estimates. 😘 and incase you aren't tracking, you cannot represent 80% of the sales with 18 of 50 states.