Carb
#2
97 Polaris 500.. You might try first by pulling the black wire from the terminal board on reverse limiter module and see if it helps.Item#32 in the parts break down. If no change it could be that the jetting is different or may have trash if it's one of those Chinese knock off carbs. Also this was the first year that cams were a problem and even though an exhaust lobe may look ok,it could be worn down enough causing this problem.Most after they ran them down until they would just idle and wouldn't take throttle looked like this one on the right.
#4
That's good.. I'd still go for the reverse limiter black wire as it can cause limiting in forward range also if it begins to fail. If pulling the black wire doesn't help and you're sure on the carb jetting(142.5 main jet,42.5 pilot jet) than I'd check the cam and valve clearance. .006 intake and exhaust clearance.Plus it might be stupid to say,but air box and filter has to be on or it will bog also. The early boxes with the wing nuts and studs that would break allowed air to seep under the air box lid and could cause a lean condition,causing it to bog also at higher rpms.