My Friend is thinking about buying a 97 500 sportsman and I was wondering If any one could tell me any thing to watch out for. are there any problems with that model

 

don't the 400 is better

 

You are going back aways, but the Polaris Corporation updates their machines quarterly. Buy the newest machine that you can afford.
The 2004 500 HOs are bulletproof. The same could not be said of the original 1996 Polaris 500.

 

I have that same year sportsman (500). the problems i have faced, is the electronic selector for the 4x4 failed about 2 years ago...i got a replacement for it, havent had a problem sinced i installed the new one. another problem ive had was the shifter rods, wouldnt let me shift from forward to reverse, or vise-versa. but i found out that the rods just needed to be adjusted. this kind of stuff happens to an 8 year old atv, for its age i think its in great shape. ......and thats the only problems ive ever had. the machine is still running as strong as it ever did, and i can still pull about 2x the rated towing weight with no problem at all....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

however i did keep it maintained and in good shape all its life. so if your friend goes to check out that quad, look over and make sure the 4x4 system works properly, and the electronics work, as well as shifting from low, to reverse, to high, and back to reverse...........