Sportsman 500 HO or 700?

[BHaner]

Well it's about that time of year again when I start wanting to be outside more and more. I have wanted to get a quad to play and work with for the last two years or so. I have decited to go for the Polaris Sportsman and I just need to decide what size to get. I have tried the regular 500 (without HO) and I felt it was a little gutless compaired to my budies 98 grizzly. So here is the question... . How much noticeable power is there between the 500, the 500 HO, and the 700 V-Twin? Is it worth the extra $ to go with the 700? Tell me whatcha got, and whatcha like and dont like about it. Too big, too small, too fast, too slow, too much turbo lag... .....



Thanks!



Byron

 

[jlccc]

The 500HO is a big improvement over the 500. I'm a fairly big guy and the 500HO hauls my 240lb rear end around just fine. I think the 700 is overkill. If you want a race bike, get a Honda 400 two-stroke. If you want a big reliable machine for hauling two people around quietly on a hunting trip, go with the sportsman.

 

[wyosteve]

I've been having the same debate with myself as well. The dealer here sells the 700 for about 300 more than the 500HO. I think for that little money I'm going to go with the 700. It's probably not that much more powerful, but I think it is a smoother running engine being a twin. I think most people can't/don't/won't use even the power of a 500, so it just boils down to personal preference and $$$. I suspect resale values will be good on both. fwiw

 

[Rob Thomas]

It ain't a Polaris, but I'm gonna tell ya what I have anyway



'01 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 manual, with a warn 2500# winch,heated grips and thumb warmer. I looked at all the 4x4's on the market, over and over again, didn't like any of them. Either they were full time 4x4 or only available in auto or or push button 4x4 or independent rear axle or somthin' I didn't like.



Then a freind told me to check out the Artic Cat, it turned out to be exactly what I wanted,manual shifter, a real 4x4 lever,solid rear axle, most cargo weight capacity,most towing capacity,(of course this was before the 700, don't know how it fairs now)most suspension travel, and MADE IN THE USA!,and with the winch installed it was still over $1000 less than anything comparable to it.



This thing is AWESOME!! It pulls like a big-dog, if you can hang on, it'll climb it! Has great power,4. 75 gallon fuel tank,eletric fan,plenty of storage and on and on and on!! I put a 5' snow plow on it, I was very impressed on how much snow it'll push, also used it to spread dirt around the driveway. I have 800 +/- miles on it, mostly in the UP of Michigan, miles from anywhere and it never lets me down.



It may not be what you want,but I'd at least check 'em out! I absolutly love it!!



I'm not afilliated with anyone, just really dig this machine!



Later ,Rob



P. S. I hear there a NO2 kit fer it.

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Originally posted by RAMTHIS1

It ain't a Polaris, but I'm gonna tell ya what I have anyway



'01 Arctic Cat 500 4x4 manual, with a warn 2500# winch,heated grips and thumb warmer. I looked at all the 4x4's on the market, over and over again, didn't like any of them. Either they were full time 4x4 or only available in auto or or push button 4x4 or independent rear axle or somthin' I didn't like.



Then a freind told me to check out the Artic Cat, it turned out to be exactly what I wanted,manual shifter, a real 4x4 lever,solid rear axle, most cargo weight capacity,most towing capacity,(of course this was before the 700, don't know how it fairs now)most suspension travel, and MADE IN THE USA!,and with the winch installed it was still over $1000 less than anything comparable to it.



This thing is AWESOME!! It pulls like a big-dog, if you can hang on, it'll climb it! Has great power,4. 75 gallon fuel tank,eletric fan,plenty of storage and on and on and on!! I put a 5' snow plow on it, I was very impressed on how much snow it'll push, also used it to spread dirt around the driveway. I have 800 +/- miles on it, mostly in the UP of Michigan, miles from anywhere and it never lets me down.



It may not be what you want,but I'd at least check 'em out! I absolutly love it!!



I'm not afilliated with anyone, just really dig this machine!



Later ,Rob



P. S. I hear there a NO2 kit fer it.

Rob, you're goofy enough without laughing gas

 

[BHaner]

I did look at the artic cat....

They just happen to be the nearest to my house... . so I looked at them first. I do remember them telling me they had the highest cargo cap. (they used them to move around Bay Liners) The two things that changed my mind:



1. They seemed to be the hardest to steer of all the brands. I was afraid of wearing myself out on the tight turn trails around here.



2. I decided to look for something with an independent rear axle. The first quad I used for any amount of time was the 98 grizzly with the straight rear axle. It seemed like I was spending most of my time on two wheels going through 4x4 ruts and such.



So... back in about 2000 when I started looking for a quad (before the grizzly had independent rear axle) I found the Polaris Sportsman 500. After riding around with the stiff ride of the grizzly I really liked the nice soft ride and always having all the wheels on the ground.

 

[Rob Thomas]

BH, the '02 AC's are available with independent rear susp. if you weren't aware, they're also 2" taller if you go that route.



Didn't realize the harder steering, but it'll help keep me in shape I guess.



Later, Rob

 

[BHaner]

Thanks RAMTHIS1 I didn't know they had changed the rear axle... . I might need to stop by again. The hard steering may have just been the pavement it was on, or that it was so new... or just me being . . well you know.



Thanks to everyone for the info so far!

 

[DarrellB]

Polaris

I have owned 3 Polaris Quads. The first was a 1996 425 4x4 Magnum, I really liked it, it was a great quad exccept for the chain drive. After the Magnum I bought a 99 500 4x4 Magnum, this quad was far better than the 96. the fit and finish was better and the new shaft drive was great. This January I bought an 2002 Sportsman X 500 HO, this quad will run all over my 500 Magnum, and the fit and finish of it is even better than the 99 Magnum. The independent rear suspension is great on the Sportsman. wasn't a believer until I actally took mine out and pounded it through the trails, the thing will literally just soak up the narlliest bumps you can find, and it's great on off camber stuff. We went riding about a month ago and my Magnum had to be helped down this one hill with a bad off camber section but I drove the Sportsman right down it with no problems.



I rode both the 700 and the 500 HO before I bought a new one and just thought the 700 was too big. When you sit on the 700 your legs are spread a little wider than on the 500 HO and the machine just feels heavier when operating it. I now have 2 quads my 99 500 Magnum, this one I use more for working around the house and farm, and my 2002 Sportsman X which is just my trailriding quad. Both are excellent 4weelers and will go anywere you are brave enough to ride them, and some places your not. I have had no problems to speak of out of my Polaris quads (at least nothing that I didn't cause) they have all been great machines and have done everything that I've asked.



If you have any more questions you can Pm me or send me an email www.blanks@epowerc.net I will be happy to help with any questions you have.



Happy trails

Darrell

 

[Idaho CTD]

Yamaha Grizzly 660

I haven't seen the grizzly mentioned yet so I thought I would stir the pot. I bought one about 2 months ago and these things are bada$$. I have a couple of buddies with 500 HO's, one of them rode my 660 and said "damn this thing is fast". I really liked the option to lock the diff's too. The polaris quads dont have this option and they AREN'T locked in the front. We found this out the hard way in Alaska (read... got high centered and had to winch out).



Nathan

 

[Wiz]

I have a Polaris 2001 Sportsman 400. At the time, I also looked at the 500HO, and decided for the money, I didn't need all the power of the 500. The 400 is the identical machine, except for the engine. I have only looked at the 700, and they look HEAVY !. Guess it all depends on what you want,how fast you wanna go, and how much you want to spend. My 400 has been problem free, and I truly enjoy the independant suspension, along with the true 4WD.

 

[JLinder]

I have to agree with Darrell,

It's pretty hard to beat the quality of the Polaris bikes. We bought a 300 4x4 new for the farm in about 1994 and I rode the snot out of that thing (I was 14 at the time). I took the bike places you couldn't believe, and other than the chain drive (bad idea to start with) never gave us a lick of problems. One other thing that is nice is the recoil start back-up. Not all the bikes on the market have that in case you have an electrical problem in the middle of no place.



The replacement for the Polaris is a Artic Cat 500 4x4 auto. Total POS compared to the Polaris. My dad bought it because the Deere dealer he buys all of his equipment from made him a good deal. It's kind of like the Cummins engine in the Dodge wrapper. Well, instead you have a Artic Cat bike with a Suzuki inside. That's right, Suzuki engine. Least the 500 at the farm is. Other thing I really don't like is the suspension (straight axle rear), it has a turning radius of about 1/4 of a mile and when making sharp turns in the woods it can get unstable. The biggest disappointment was the lack of power. The 300 Polaris only had about a 100lb weight advantage over the Artic Cat and the small motor, but the Polaris felt like twice the motor compared to the AC.



The Sportman HO's are hard to beat, I think the perfect mix of speed, power and handling. In my own opinion, most people won't need the 700 for just putting around. I would love to have one on the farm, our bikes have been known to pull out stuck pickups and skid downed trees after a storm. For that type of work the 700 is the ticket, but for most the 500 or the 500 HO is plenty. Of course some people would say their stock CTD has plenty of power also...



Sorry this is so long, just wanted to share my own experiences.

 

[Rob Thomas]

The replacement for the Polaris is a Artic Cat 500 4x4 auto. Total POS compared to the Polaris

Whatever dude, I'll put my AC up against any Polaris.



One of the biggest reasons I didn't get a Polaris is, a good freind of mine is the service mgr at a major quad dealer, and he told me, "yea, buy a Polaris if you wanna keep bringing back here,thats 90% of my work". The other reason simplicity, or lack of,it looks like the inside of the space shuttle, WAAAAY to many things to go wrong.



I do know alot of people who have Polaris quads, then again I know alot of people who have Pherds too.



As far as the straight axle, thats yer own fault, AC makes independent also. I just preferred the solid axle.



My AC may not be the fastest one,but I didn't buy a 745# 4x4 with a winch,fer speed,I have a CR 250 fer that.



I understand,to each his own,but I didn't start ragin' on yer Polaris, just backin' up my ARTIC CAT.



Not affiliated with anyone.



Later, Rob

 

[nfox]

500 H.O.

I had a 99 sportsman 500 and traded for a 2001 500 H. O. , there's a big power difference between the 2 machines. I have a 130 miles on mine and was purchased dec of 2000. I am interested in selling it no one to ride with anymore. I have a 1500 pound warn winch, and a 5ft polaris snow plow also, will sell for $5400. 00.

 

[DarrellB]

Look out

Rob,



Don't go saying Polaris are nothing but crap. I've had 3 of them and they have all been great machines. I've had no problems out of all of them. They are like any thing else you have to keep up the maintenance on them but other than that they are great well built machines. As far as the Cats go I think they're pretty good machines too, couple of my neighbors bought them and they've had really good luck out of them so far. They are a little slow for my taste but really look like well built quads.



Nathan



I hate to tell you but every time you ingauge the 4wd on a Polaris all 4 tires get the same amount of power. The way the system works is when the 4wd is ingauged, the front end doesn't pull till the rear end looses traction, once the back tires loose traction the front tires will ingauge and both of them pull. This has been voted the best 4wd set up on the market buy several top magazines becasue the quad remains easy to steer in 4wd. I've driven a 650 Kawisaki with a difflock and that thing was a bear to steer with the difflock ingauged. The difflock is great for pulling stumps,trees, or stuck ATVs, just not for trailriding.



Not flaming any of you just trying to make sure that Byron gets the truth about all the quads. I myself think all the major manufacturers make really good machines now. It all just comes down to personal prefrence.



One other thing to think about is what kind of work are you wanting out of the quad. If you will be doing a lot of work with bigger trailers and heavy loads you don't want a independent rear suspension because heavy loads crush the suspension. (that is why I kept my 500 Magnum) If you're mostly trailriding and doing light work then the IRS is great it will soak up all the ruff stuff. This is just something else to think about.



Later

Darrell (AKA Mr. Polaris)

 

[JLinder]

One of the biggest reasons I didn't get a Polaris is, a good freind of mine is the service mgr at a major quad dealer, and he told me, "yea, buy a Polaris if you wanna keep bringing back here,thats 90% of my work". The other reason simplicity, or lack of,it looks like the inside of the space shuttle, WAAAAY to many things to go wrong

I'm sure that many Ford fans would say the same about our trucks, but having owned both bikes I thought I'd offer my opinion... I realize that a 300 4x4 isn't comparable to a 500 4x4, but that is what I have experience with.

As far as the straight axle, thats yer own fault, AC makes independent also. I just preferred the solid axle.

You are right, it's my fault. The IRS would last about 10 seconds before it was totally destroyed. We work the crap out of the bikes on our farm. They are a tool, like a tractor or an implement.



I've had first hand experience with both units, and not a lot of people have. Not trying to start a urinating contest, just trying to offer my own experiences to someone who asked for advise.

 

[ddesau]

ATV's

I got the bug for an ATV and looked at a lot of machines- finally went with a Suzuki Eiger (400) automatic with 4WD. It has plenty of power and the fact that I don't have to shift makes it even nicer. It has plenty of pulling power. . I went with the extended warranty so for 4 years everything' that can break or blowup is covered. The cost for the waranty was very reasonable and can be negotiated as to price. Check em out !



Bought a Suzuki 250 for the wife as she enjoyed mine so much but it was too big for her.

 

[Johnny5]

solid or independent...

The different models all have their respective markets. Solid axle was geared more for hauling and independents are definitely for rugged trail usage. Hot rod sport ATVs are not much usage on "real" backwoods trails, but they shine on motorcross type trails. Try jumping one of the heavier machines on a 2-3 ft bump, definitely will be a handful.



At the shop the solids shined for moving stuff around, a few times tried using the independent the suspension went right to the ground and was tough to unhook the trailer. At the track, you should have seen the sportsman with a water tank on it, the rear wheels looked like they were on a 30 angle.



So figure what your usage is go with the one that fits your needs the best.



Johnny5