Commander 1000 vs. Ranger 800 in drag race

**Mikeyboy_esq** · 08-24-2010, 02:06 PM

I got to test drive a Commander 1000 last Saturday at the Can-Am Nationals. They offered free demo rides over 1 mile loop that contained a little bit of everything including bumpy trails, wooded trails, a pasture area where you can open it up some and a soupy mud hole to drive thru. Surprisingly, there was no line to test drive when I got there, so they let me go twice around the test track. I was most impressed with how plush the ride is! It was incredible how comfy the ride felt when going over bumpy areas, even when accelerating hard. I got it upto 45 mph in the pasture area (ran out of room to go any faster). It felt peppy on the trails, but I don't have much experience driving other SxS's and can't really tell you if its any faster than the RZR or others.

Now here the INTERESTING PART...

During the 250' sand drag races, they brought out the Commander 1000 to drag race a Polaris Ranger (800cc I think). In BOTH RACES, the Ranger pulled ahead right off the line! Then the Commander would catch it and stay side by side for at least 1/2 of the track before slowly pulling away. The Commander 1000 won, but we were all stunned that it was a CLOSE RACE! To be fair, this was a prototype Commander, but the Can-Am staffers told me its capable of running 70 to 75 mph at the top-end. Not sure if the production models will be faster or not???

Here are a few pics from the drag races...

Happy trails...

**KFXHELLRAISER** · 08-24-2010, 02:17 PM

Just another Canned Ham hype sounds like. There 450 they came out with was supposed to be meaner then the current ones. I heard they ran no better at all. More hype.

**Mikeyboy_esq** · 08-25-2010, 06:26 AM

Here is the video...

YouTube- IMG 0448
Happy trails...

stumper · 08-25-2010, 08:10 AM

That looks like a razor your racing in the last pic.

mikee · 08-25-2010, 01:04 PM

Ha ha that is funny. Rangers run good for what they are.

**Mikeyboy_esq** · 08-25-2010, 01:11 PM

Yes, the Commander also raced that RZR (with 31" mud tires I think) and the Commander won (but again, not an impressive win).

**Moby** · 08-25-2010, 01:14 PM

It looks like a nice machine...wish it had more snort after watching that video but that can always be taken care of. I'm sure the aftermarket will be supporting it.

Pkspawn · 08-25-2010, 04:36 PM

The commander is an awesome machine. Great power. It does seem to hesitate and not have a whole lot when you mash the peddle, but it picks up quick.. I'm sure the aftermarket can take care of that? I rode all the commander, I think its base, X, and Xt all weekend at Fisher's ATV Reunion.

My biggest complaint about it, is the steering is horrible and it needs power steering. I don't know why canned ham put it on their quads, but not the commander?? Just seems stupid. It takes a little more muscle to steer it around the trails and you are better off in 4wd than 2. It will easily fishtail on you and because the steering sucks, you end up over correcting and end up fishtailing all over the place until you decide to let off the gas

..

Very fun.. and VERY big.. Me and a friend rode in one together. Plenty of arm room and we weren't rubbing elbows or anything like you would in the rzr..

Suspension was nice, but would have liked to have more rocks on the trail.. but Rock Run doesn't have very many on its trails to begin with, LoL.. I think the rocks would of made the steering issue feel worse.

Great power though.. lotta torq. They had a commander with huge mud tires like 31 outlaws i think that was easily power sliding corners. You never felt like you were gonna tip either..

**bombman** · 08-26-2010, 05:13 PM

the commander may due 75 mph due to it's gearing and all but i will say polaris's are geared low which it would hold it's own in a short drag race against the HAM.