I AM getting a Sportsman. Problem is, I can't decide if I want the HO, or save a thousand bucks, with a 2000.

There is a dealer here selling the 2000 for $5999 plus tax. But the same dealer wont come off the price of an HO even a dollar. Best price I've found on a 2001 is $6500 plus tax. And what I can't stand is, the damned thing depreciates a thousand bucks as soon as your *** hits the seat. And that's retail. Don't even mention trade in depreciation.

So you guys that are on Ho's......Is it worth the extra grand ? I read in one of the rags recently, that the 20% gain was mostly on the top. If true, I really don't use the top. Did it lose anything on the bottom end ?

The thing that really interests me about the 2001 is the supposed improvement in waterproofing. Can anybody tell me if it truly is better ?

Any help you can give will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

 

If you are comparing it to a late model 2000, the waterproofing improvements are on it. I ride with a guy that has a 2001HO and he chooses to ride his 2000 SP500. Says it runs better. Even in the mud races, he left his HO on the trailer. I know that this is not the case for all HOs, but I do think that they are so close, I would not spend the extra dough. I have raced a 2000SP500 with all the HO mods and more and beat it with my stock SP500. So, anytime you buy a bike, you take the chance of getting a lemon or cherry. If you happen to get a good running 2000SP500, you will not be disappointed. Or, you can take the chance of paying the extra $ for the HO and not really getting the increased performance you were looking for.

If the price difference is $500, it is well worth it in my opinion. Just having the newer model will make it worht about that much more at resale.

Greg

 

Short and to the point. My inlaw traded his 3 month old 2000 Sportsman on a 2001 the day after he rode mine. There is a heck of a lot more changed then water protection. Go to a dealer and drive one. The (more) power is across the board.

2000 Scrambler
2001 SP HO

 

I would think you could get a 2000 sp even a late one with the new clutch cover and ventilated brakes for $5500. There's a bunch out there and the HO is so HOT! There are many more improvements, like steel brake lines and a new one inch steering column with ball bearings instead of plastic. I love my late 2000 SP, but I'd love to have an HO. Polaris really did it right with this new improved model. Makes me wonder if they'll ever bring out the V-twin 700.
A cam and carb to bring your SP up to HO is
$450 plus $100 labor. Add in the other improvements and an HO is always going to be worth $1000 more than a regular. LOL
Silly Later,,,,,Fourlix

SP500,425EXP,325Mag

 

In the November issue of either Dirt Wheels Or 4 wheel ATV action there was an article on the HO. Basically they magazine said the HO lacked a little on the low end of the RPM band (torque) but a little better high end. Not much info here.

Our Polaris dealer he is discounting his 2000 models SP500 ($5999) on the new 2001 he quoting full price. He told me until they move out the remainging 2000's he could (More likely wouldn't) deal on the 2001's.

Next spring I will be in the market for a new 4x4 & will be looking at the SP500HO & Kawasaki 650.

 

The HO honks from the minute you squeeze the loud handle. However, we did test drive one at the dealership early in the negotiation process that seemed sluggish. We didn't buy that one.

PS: The more you weigh the more you will appreciate the HO

 

Thor,

Refer to page 37 of the November 4 wheel ATV action. They didn't say the power loss was huge but it was noticable compared to a regular sportsman.

We all know the accuracy of some of the information in the magazines.

 

Thor,

Refer to page 37 of the November 4 wheel ATV action. They didn't say the power loss was huge but it was noticable compared to a regular sportsman.

We all know the accuracy of some of the information in the magazines.


This was confirming some of the information that Greg Sims said.

 

Up here all the 2000s comes with a free winch and are still $600 less.The H.Os only differance is the cam,carb and the easy steerring set up.The 2000 has the heat treated disks,steel coved brake lines and everything else the H.o has.I never found power was a SP's problem and that the streering is that hard ,but if you get a 2000 with a winch and $600 cheaper you should sit down and think about it.Down the road you could always put the scambler carb and cam on the 2000 to make it a H.O I hear some shops do the job for $500.

 

I see a lot of good intention, well meant, “misinformation” here about the differences in the 2000 and 2001 HO Sportsman. Have the Polaris dealer show you side by side the two machines. Go to the Polaris home page and read the available Magazine reviews on the HO. RIDE THEM BOTH. …Hard! My brother in-law bought a 2000 manufactured 6-2000 and it had NONE of the changes my 9-2000 HO has. I had my machine 20 hours and 120 miles before I ran it hard. I am telling you point blank it out runs the 1998 and 2000 I ride with at any speed. Again, my in-law took the loss and traded for the HO 24 hours after riding mine and he is not the only one. Call any Polaris dealer and ask them how happy the people are that bought 2000 SP’s in the last 6 months for just about what you now will pay for a 2001!

Go ride one,