Your feedback positive or negative will help me decide which ATV I should buy. Thanks for any and all help!

 

Bought mine last Oct. 204 miles on it, first time rider/ user. Im not a youngster, bought it to haul me and little woman through the desert prospecting. If you can hold on I believe it will climb a tree. I feel safe as it is heavy(700 lbs) I bought it to ride ,not race. It can haul heavy loads, is easy to handle and operate. It has TRUE four wheel drive. I put the winch (warn ) to help If I ever do bury it in the creek. Am told they will traverse 30 inches of water. I believe in Polaris as a product. Some folks dont like belt driven atv's , thats a matter of choice I guess as some people prefer long bed pickups and some short. The independent rear suspension ( major selling point to me when I was looking ) rides like you are sitting on a marshmallow. After a long day my butt doesnt feel like I was sitting on a board. I like mine. Like it a lot. Off to El Mirage dry lake bed tomorrow for time trials.
To watch, not participate. Heard if you are going to use it around the farm as a utility there is none better. Just my opinion, dont everyone get upset.. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

OldFarmer, what are your inteneded uses for the machine (I would assume farming[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]) Also, what qualities are you looking for, what kinda terrain do you intend on riding, and what other machines are you considering? These are just a few things to consider before purchasing.

 

well, i just bought an '04.5 sp 500 ho and it is one nice machine thats for sure...it's less likely that you will see problems with it vs the 600 and 700 twins....mine has plenty of power and runns smooth...good ride....but if you want more of the power like a snowmobile then the 600 and 700 is more for you.....

 

I will use it on the farm to tow a cart, haul deer, chainsaw ect. Not planning on racing or jumping hills, but do hae some steep hills on the farm to climb. I had a rubicon and it did well, just like the idea of 2 or 4 wheel drive. Anyone else own a 500 oh that has any good or bad please chime in!

 

I have had one for a couple of months and it seems to work really good ,I had 01 500 ho and it worked real good as well but this 04.5 seems a lot better so far ,the one thing I don"t care to much for is the tires they aren"t very good inthe mud ,but what you are going to be using it for they might work good ,my brother just traded his 02 700 in on a 500 because he didn"t have very good luck with the 700( it was in the shop a lot ) HE really likes the 500 though ,I hope it works better for him because I was the one who talked him into making the trade ,I know they have worked good for me.

 

I have a 02 500ho that I've had since new and have not had one problem with it. My advice to you is go to the dealer and ride one. Don't just take a 2 min ride but take a 10 min ride on it. Stop,start, turn at slow speed and higher speed. Use high and low range and reverse. Just get a feel for the machine and see if it feels good to you. Then do the same with all the other quads that you are looking at. I think I know what one you will pick.

 

Oldfarmer, had mine out today in the desert. There is a sand hill the other bikes like to get a head start on so they can make it to the top. Its not real steep and their bikes are for speed but I like to go about half way up,stop,hit the 4wheel drive switch and pull up the hill at my leisure. They just smile at the old guy and his utility atv as they speed away sounding like a bumblebee.....

 

The sportsman 500 is an awsome machine. You will love it.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I've had a bunch of sportsmans,.. now i have an 04,..
98,99,02 & 04,... never had one that ever let me down,.. you will love the machine.