Comparison test: Bombardier DS 250, Bombardier Rally 200, Kymco KXR 250, Kymco MXU 250, Polaris Scrambler 200 E
Content
The idea of comparing mid-range four-wheelers came about on its own for two reasons. Firstly, this is one of the most interesting segments in our country, if you look at the money they offer for their price. The cheapest costs a little more than a million, the most expensive - a little less than 1 million tolars. In particular: for 4 1 SIT you get a Polaris Phoenix 005.480E, the second priced Kymco KXR 200 at 250 1 190.000 SIT, the third Kymco MXU 250 - 1 249.000 200 SIT, Bombardier Rally 1 - SIT in fourth place and 295.000 250 SIT in fifth. place as the most expensive among all Bombardier DS 1 – 395.000 SIT.
The latter is the second reason for our decision, as it is the hottest novelty in this class for the 2006 season.
A time when there was still some snow on most of the crushed stone and cart paths seemed ideal for our enterprise.
The test group of the Autoshop on this occasion consisted of five people. Two motorcyclists (Peter Kavcic and Tomaž Kerin), two race drivers (Alosha Mrak and Sasha Kapetanovich) and our photographer Ales Pavletić, who is an athlete at heart and loves to spend his free time in nature. The colorful group, of which only Peter and Sasha already had a little more to do with ATVs, formed the ideal target audience.
These five four-wheelers are designed for less experienced drivers looking for a new, more fun way to spend their free time. Perhaps not only for him, but also for his wife and growing children. For very demanding drivers, the Kymec, Bombardier and Polaris pack much more power and even more adrenaline. But as said, even 200 or 250 cubic centimeters may be enough for a beginner.
All five are homologated and licensed to drive on the road, and can be driven by anyone who has passed the car test, i.e. category B. Both Kymcs are registered to carry two people, while the other three are registered for one person. This means that they are not only narrowly useful toys for riding on forest paths or around cabbages, but you can also take them with you on business, to the store, to visit friends or even to work.
We were able to try how a good toy cheers you up despite the bad weather. Believe me, when it was snowing outside and the temperature was below zero, no one wanted to freeze and suffer from the cold. Therefore, we pulled our long "collars", woolen socks, more than sour faces, and, as far as possible, adhered to the principle that if you are dressed like a bow (in layers), these cold and dampness will not come. alive.
At the start, we dealt with the throttle in all five, but did not find any particular problems in any of them. They all have a similar system: you press the brake lever and press the electric start button.
Well, when switching to one of the three positions of the automatic transmission gear lever, the first difference is already noticeable. Most of the comments were related to the Bombardier Rally 200. Its gear lever is hidden under the right side of the seat so it is difficult to reach and has long strokes. The rest was no problem, the choice between forward, neutral and reverse is simple, quick and precise, and the gear levers are located on the right-hand side under the steering wheel and are at your fingertips.
All five share a similar mechanical design. The load capacity is taken care of by the chassis, on which the front pair of wheels are individually suspended, they have a rigid axle at the rear, and the drive is transmitted from the single-cylinder unit to the rear axle via the rear axle. chain. All engines except the air-cooled Polaris are water-cooled.
Thanks to the rear-wheel drive, everyone can enjoy driving, especially if the ground is as slippery as in our case. The previously mentioned bad mood and sour faces disappeared after the first kilometer, when we drove more than straight along the snow-covered track of the cart. Both rally drivers were impressed. One way or another, for such pleasures it is necessary to have an animal for 200 horses, but here everything happens a little slower and safer. They all have disc brakes, which means reliable stopping. Note that the brake levers on both Kyms are the most comfortable.
Otherwise, we experienced the most adrenaline on the largest and most expensive Bombardier DS 250. Compared to its older brother, the DS 650, the Baja is much friendlier, but shows the most seriousness towards this group. It gets the most out of the turn during acceleration and also boasts the highest final speed. It is followed by the Kymco KXR in terms of performance. The difference in weight between the two is only a kilo (the DS weighs 197kg dry and the KXR 196kg), the difference is due to the better tires, better suspension and overall better cornering position of the Bombardier DS 250.
We also drove surprisingly fast with the Polaris, which has a smaller engine, but the design itself allows for a sporty ride. The Kymco MXU 250 and Bombardier Rally 200 are a little less sporty, but therefore more suited to quieter riders who would even use such an ATV in the forest or in the field. Both offer better protection against water and mud, and are fitted with a nose and rear rack. Speaking of usability, the Kymco MXU and Polaris Phoenix also have a hook for towing a lighter trailer.
Conclusion and determination of the winner. The decision was not easy, because each of the four-wheelers stands out positively on at least one point: we had a lot of fun with all of them and returned from every ride smiling from ear to ear. From this point of view, no one is in a subordinate position.
However, the order is as follows, starting with the latter: The Bombardier Rally 200 has the word rally more for decoration, more like a race car, it is a friendly ATV that boasts quality workmanship (Bombardier usually stands out from the competition), exceptional reliability. and ease of use. It is ideal for beginners, women and anyone who is not ambitious in the sport. In fourth place is the Kymco MXU, which is actually very good but lacks sportiness. For those looking for a more functional than a sports car, this is undoubtedly the perfect choice and the price is very competitive as well. However, it gets harder from here to the top of the scale.
The Kymco KXR 250 offers a lot, almost as much as the Bombardier DS250. But it can almost become a big obstacle to such a close outcome. In fact, he had a major opponent in Polaris. This one is better in terms of driving performance as it is incredibly (most of the five) stable, reliable and quiet while driving, and above all, extremely cheap. At the same time, it compensates for a small power deficit. The second place is shared by Kymco KXR 250 and Polaris Phoenix 200E.
So, it is clear who will be the main winner: the Bombardier DS 250. The novelty surpasses the competition in its class in terms of build quality, fit, comfort and performance. Even the fact that it is the most expensive (from Polaris for 390.000 tolar) did not throw it off from the first place. At the moment, this is the best ATV in the lower middle class.
1st place - Bombardier DS 250
Test car price: 1, SIT 395.000
Technical information
engine: 4-stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 249 cm4, Keihin PTG 3 carburetor, electric starter
Energy transfer: continuously variable automatic transmission, chain drive to the rear wheels
Suspension: front struts with single springs, travel 140 mm, rear single hydraulic shock absorber, swing arm, travel 170 mm.
Tires: before 22-7-10, back 20 x 11-9
brakes: disc brakes
Wheelbase: 1.187 mm
Seat height from ground: 800 mm
Fuel tank: 12, 5 l
Dry weight: 197 kg
Representative: Ski & sea, doo, Mariborska 200a, 3000 Celje, tel: 03 / 492-00-40
We praise
sportiness
appearance
workmanship and components
best headlights
upper seating position
powerful and lively engine
We scold
price compared to competitors
2nd place – Kymco KXR 250
Test car price: 1.190.000 seats
Technical information
engine: 4 stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 249 cc, carburetor, electric / manual start
Energy transfer: continuously variable automatic transmission, chain drive to the rear wheels
Suspension: front single spring mounts, rear single hydraulic shock absorber, swing arm
Tires: before 21-7-10, back 20 x 11-9
brakes: disc brakes
Wheelbase: for example mm
Seat height from ground: 820 mm
Fuel tank: np l
Dry weight: 196 kg
Representative: Scooter and four wheels, LLC, Shmartinska gr. 152R, 1000 Ljubljana, tel: 01 / 585-20-16
We praise
utility
sports character
price
registered for the carriage of two people
We scold
rare meters
opaque mirrors
tires are designed for asphalt and gravel only, not for mud and snow
2nd place - Polaris Phoenix 200
Test car price: 1, SIT 005.480
Technical information
engine: 4 Stroke, Single Cylinder, Air Cooled, 196cc, Keihin 3 Carburetor, Electric / Manual Start
Energy transfer: continuously variable automatic transmission, chain drive to the rear wheels
Suspension: front single spring feet, 178mm travel, rear single hydraulic shock, swing arm, 165mm travel
Tires: before 21-7-10, back 20 x 10-9
brakes: disc brakes
Wheelbase: 1.143 mm
Seat height from ground: 813 mm
Fuel tank: 9, 5 l
Dry weight: 179 kg
Representative: Ski & sea, doo, Mariborska 200a, 3000 Celje, tel: 03 / 492-00-40
We praise
utility
sports character
price
outstanding stability and precise control
We scold
rare meters
short shock absorber movement
air cooled engine
4-wheeler – Kymco MXU 250
Test car price: 1, SIT 249.000
Technical information
engine: 4 stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 249 cc, carburetor, electric / manual start
Energy transfer: continuously variable automatic transmission, chain drive to the rear wheels
Suspension: front single spring mounts, rear single hydraulic shock absorber, swing arm
Tires: before 21-7-10, back 20 x 10-10
brakes: disc brakes
Wheelbase: for example mm
Seat height from ground: 820 mm
Fuel tank: np l
Dry weight: 226 kg
Representative: Scooter and four wheels, LLC, Shmartinska gr. 152R, 1000 Ljubljana, tel: 01 / 585-20-16
We praise
also useful as a work machine
price
meters
registered for the carriage of two people
We scold
final speed
opaque mirrors
5th place - Bombardier Rally 200
Test car price: 1, SIT 295.000
Technical information
engine: 4-stroke, single cylinder, liquid cooled, 176 cm3, Mikuni BSR 42 carburetor, electric starter
Energy transfer: continuously variable automatic transmission, chain drive to the rear wheels
Suspension: front single spring feet, 305mm travel, rear single hydraulic shock, swing arm, 279mm travel
Tires: before 22-7-10, back 20 x 10-9
brakes: disc brakes
Wheelbase: 1.244 mm
Seat height from ground: 857 mm
Fuel tank: 12
Dry weight : 225 kg
Representative: Ski & sea, doo, Mariborska 200a, 3000 Celje, tel: 03 / 492-00-40
We praise
utility
ease and usability
workmanship and materials
large fuel tank and therefore long range
let's play
weak engine
price compared to competitors
installation of the gear lever
text: Petr Kavchich
photo: Алеш Павлетич
