Originally published August 13, 2016. This archive covers the 2017 Polaris ACE 900 XC and its factory equipment.
The 2017 Polaris ACE 900 XC took the brand’s single-seat, sit-in off-road vehicle in a more performance-focused direction. Its 78-horsepower ProStar twin, 59-inch-wide chassis and long-travel dual A-arm suspension set it apart from the narrower ACE models. It paired a centered driving position and automotive-style controls with the compact footprint that made the ACE lineup distinctive. See our 2017 Polaris media event report for the broader model-year introduction.
ProStar 900 Power and AWD
The ACE 900 XC’s liquid-cooled 875cc DOHC twin was rated at 78 horsepower. Electronic fuel injection and electronic throttle control managed power delivery, while an automatic PVT transmission provided high and low ranges, reverse, neutral and park. Polaris’s high-performance True On-Demand AWD system offered selectable 2WD and AWD.
Electronic power steering was standard. The factory tire package used 27-inch GBC Dirt Commanders on 12-inch cast-aluminum wheels, with 27 × 9-12 fronts and 27 × 11-12 rears. Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes handled stopping.
Wider Chassis and Walker Evans Suspension
At 59 inches wide, the XC was 11 inches wider than the earlier 48-inch ACE configuration. Its 67.5-inch wheelbase was six inches longer. Up front, Polaris replaced the earlier strut arrangement with long-travel dual A-arms. Front suspension travel measured 12.3 inches; the rear dual A-arm suspension offered 12.6 inches. Front and rear stabilizer bars helped manage body roll.
Walker Evans Racing 1.75-inch position-sensitive needle shocks were fitted at all four corners. The original launch description specified piggyback reservoirs in front, remote reservoirs in back, adjustable preload and 16-position compression adjustment. Their needle design increased damping near the end of the stroke to resist bottoming.
Single-Seat Cockpit and Trail Equipment
The centered, adjustable bucket seat placed the driver between the wheels. A protective cab frame, factory doors and familiar steering wheel and pedals distinguished the ACE from a conventional ATV. Polaris listed 13 inches of ground clearance, a 5.25-gallon fuel tank, 1,075-pound estimated dry weight and 575-pound payload capacity.
The 2017 ACE 900 XC was introduced in Matte Silver Pearl. Factory equipment included LED taillights and a digital gauge; Polaris also offered accessories for storage, weather protection and trail use. For what the XC felt like on the trail, read Seth Fargher’s Polaris ACE 900 XC first-drive review.
2017 Polaris ACE 900 XC Specifications
| Engine | 875cc liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC twin; electronic fuel injection |
|---|---|
| Claimed horsepower | 78 hp |
| Drive system | High Performance True On-Demand AWD/2WD |
| Transmission / final drive | Automatic PVT P/R/N/L/H; shaft |
| Active Descent Control / engine braking | Not equipped / not equipped |
| Front suspension | Long-travel dual A-arm with stabilizer bar and Walker Evans clicker needle shocks; 12.3 in. travel |
| Rear suspension | Long-travel dual A-arm with stabilizer bar and Walker Evans clicker needle shocks; 12.6 in. travel |
| Brakes / parking brake | Four-wheel hydraulic disc / park in transmission |
| Front tires | 27 × 9-12 GBC Dirt Commander |
| Rear tires | 27 × 11-12 GBC Dirt Commander |
| Wheels | Cast aluminum |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 94 × 59 × 72 in. |
| Wheelbase / ground clearance | 67.5 in. / 13 in. |
| Estimated dry weight / payload | 1,075 lb / 575 lb |
| Fuel capacity | 5.25 gal. |
| Bed box dimensions | 17 × 35 × 4 in. |
| Front rack / rear box capacity | 120 lb / 240 lb |
| Seat height / person capacity | 28.75 in. / one |
Factory specifications: Polaris’s archived 2017 ACE 900 XC listing.
Original Photo Gallery
