10 Frequently Asked Questions About the Polaris General

Question 1: What does a Polaris General weigh?

Answer 1: The weight of a Polaris General will vary based on the model year / edition you get. They can be as light as 1,400 lbs, but get up to over 2,000 Lbs. The dry weight of a Polaris General XP 1000 Sport is 1,654 lbs, while the dry weight of a Polaris General 4 XP 1000 Sport is 1,951 Lbs. The dry weight of a Polaris General 1000 EPS is 1,430 lbs, and the Deluxe edition of the General 1000 EPS weighs 1,544 lbs. The top trim package (a Polaris General XP 1000 Ultimate) weighs in at 1,705 lbs in the 2-door version, and 1,998 lbs in the 4-door version. It should be noted, though, that the running weight (wet weight) of a Polaris General is heavier due to the mass of fluids, fuel, gear, passengers, etc.

Question 2: Where’s the best place to mount a license plate on a Polaris General?

Answer 2: There are several good spots on the Polaris General where license plates can be mounted. Most riders use Polaris General license plate mounts that attach to either the roll cage / roll bars or the bumper. The position of your license plate will also depend on whether or not you’re running a lighted license plate bracket, in which case you’ll want to position it near a power source.

Question 3: What is the wheel offset on a Polaris General?

Answer 3: The crude backspacing measurement of the stock Polaris General wheels is 6+1, with an offset of around 55mm. Not all Generals come with the same wheels, though, so this measurement will vary. The 2022 General Deluxe RC, for example, comes with 4+2 wheels that have an offset of around 22mm in the front, and 6+2 wheels that have an offset of around 50mm in the rear.

Question 4: How do you make a Polaris General ride better?

Answer 4: There are a couple ways to make your Polaris General ride better, including adjusting the preload / damping of your shocks, installing softer springs by companies like ZBroz Racing, or running tires with more flexible sidewalls. Aftermarket shocks / long travel suspension kits are also an option to improve the ride quality of your buggy, but they’re a bit more pricey than the former options.

Question 5: What is the difference between a Polaris General and a Polaris General XP?

Answer 5: With the General XP, Polaris made some major improvements over the standard General, and the difference is stark. The suspension is better in the Polaris General XP and so too are the clutches. The Polaris General XP also comes with arched / high-clearance a-arms, XL fender flares, 30” tires, and a Stage 1 Rockford Fosgate audio setup. The shocks alone that come stock on the Polaris General XP make it a cost effective option over the non-XP General, and all that extra stuff is just a bonus!

Question 6: When did the Polaris General come out?

Answer 6: Polaris broke the news about the Polaris General in 2015, and the first models were shipped out in 2016.

Question 7: What size battery should I put in a Polaris General?

Answer 7: The Polaris General comes with a 575 CCA Flooded Lead Acid Battery that measures 7.1” high, 6.55” wide, and 7.73” long. But aside from OEM Polaris General batteries, there are better – as well as cheaper – options available. Optima and Odyssey batteries are popular, and so too are Yusa batteries. They’re all upgrades over the stock lead acid battery (being AGM batteries), and can be installed as is or used in conjunction with a brand-specific battery hold down kit.

Question 8: How much is a new Polaris General?

Answer 8: The price of a new Polaris General ranges from $17,499 to $31,999, with the 2023 base model Polaris General 1000 Sport being the cheapest, and the 2022 Polaris General XP 4 1000 Deluxe Ride Command Edition being the most expensive.

Question 9: Is the Polaris General street legal?

Answer 9: The Polaris General does not come road-ready, but you can make it so with the requisite Polaris General street legal parts, kits, and accessories!

Question 10: What are the must-have accessories to get for a Polaris General?

Answer 10: The accessories you may or may not need for your Polaris General will depend on which trim package you went with. The Polaris General XP, for example, comes with a winch – as well as other upgrades – while any Ride Command General will not require a GPS or audio head unit. Some General models come with roofs and windshields, but if yours didn’t, those are usually the first two accessories that riders get. Aside from that, they sky's the limit, and it mostly depends on the type of riding you do. Bigger tires will give you more traction and ground clearance for trail riding, and doors / cab enclosures will bring added comfort to your rides. If you encounter mud, a snorkel kit is highly advised, and if you plan to work with your rig, a hitch receiver will increase its functionality by leaps and bounds!