Has anyone ridden both? I am just curious how much of a difference there is between the two? Will it only be top speed or will one or the other perform better in rough terrain like hill climbing?

 

I got my wife a SP400 and she loves it. Motor is actually a 425. I think the biggest difference is the 400 does not have the Engine Brake like to 500 does. I believe they are the same frame and size.

 

I just got my wife the 400 also. We are having the EBS added. They are almost exactly the same size.

 

power difference is pretty much close to night and day.

 

The only area youll notice the Difference is in Acceleration, and if your running Large mud tires. The 500 wont do anything the 400 cant do. Top speed is the same, although the 500 Gets there a bit quicker stock. With the addition of a Heelclicker clutch kit, filter, and dynojet kit. Our 400 will accelerate right with the 500 up to 40 MPH. I saved 1000 dollars on purchase price By buying the 400, and put about 300 back into it and in my opinion its awefully close to the 500 now.

 

have u ridden with a 500... ive raced with a modded 400 and still beat him

 

Yup sure have! The 500 will still win, however with just the 3 mods listed there, that total actually more around 240.00 then 300.00, I can stay within 1/4 bike length to 40 mph, beyond 40 I gain speed a bit more slowly than the 500, and we both pull the same top speed.
At the end of a drag race, I loose by a little more than a bike length. All and all, Im 750.00 ahead, I paid 1000 less, spend about 250 on mods, and its close enough to the 500 for my liking, I use the KTM's as the go fast anyway. I think too many people just dont fiddle with anything anymore, and say thats all the faster I can go. I gained 4mph Just by adjusting my deflection and aligning my clutches which was off from the factory on both accounts, and jetting my carb. This is before any modifications. Alot of people say these lil 400s will run 50 and thats it, well with everything PERFECT, they will see 62 MPH.. Ive done it. It's still not, and never will be a 500, but for a grand less, Im happy!

 

ok sorry i was thinking you were saying that you could stay right with a 500 without engine mods i get what your saying now... what did you do to allign the clutches... i might have to try that

 

I had a Problem with My front motor mount being loose from the factory, well Not FINGER loose, but loose enough so that when I hooked to something heavey to pull around the yard, the motor would shift JUST a bit. WHen I found this out, I put the front mount back where it should be ( I could see the clean spot from the rubber bushing) . But Then I was creeping. When I took the cover off, I noticed the belt running on the inside of the pulley. The first thing I did was get a clutch alignment tool, but actually ANY straight edge will work. Sited it down across the clutches, put a shim behind the secondary and all was well. I mean you can basically do it without any tools, just by revving it up in neutral and seeing where the clutch belt settles in at at idle.

 

I have never ridden a 500, but the 400 is not a bad machine. Like said above, the 500 will accelerate faster, but top end is pretty close. If you mean performance like speed, than the 500 is noticably better. But in terms of cabability, i've never had my neighbors with their 500's get through something i couldnt on my 400. I am very impressed with its abilities. WHen on open dirt roads, i can see how more power might be desirable, but i'd just be more likely to get myself into trouble i think. I didn't get a sportsman to go fast, i got one to have fun. And like ktmguy said, getting a 400 is a great excuse to spend $1000 on other stuff. Everything I have on my 400 now cost less than what the 500 would have cost me. But like I said, I dont need speed. ANd this was my first quad, so I havent been spoiled by riding any big bores yet. I'm doing my best not to ride anything bigger than my 400 to avoid the jealosy that would likely ensue.

But definetly ride both, and see which feels better. This one is really an opinion choice.