Hi guys, well i'm in the market to upgrade my '05 Honda Fourtrax 350....... seriously looking at both the Can-Am Outlander XT-500 and XT-650.

I was wondering if you guys could provide some insight for me to help decide if:
a)the Outlander 500 or 650 is a "no brainer" to be buying as an upgrade from a Honda 350
b)if the 650 is worth the extra $$$ over the 500.

I don't do a lot of "mudding"...... i generally trail ride and do some mountain trails, so mainly looking for more power over the Honda 350. I also have a snow plow and the bigger bike would certainly handle that job easier as well.

I see the Outlander 500 already boasts over a 50% power gain over the Honda Rubicon 500..... so heck, it should be a huge boost over my Honda 350. The big thing is that i will be holding onto this bike for a few years, so wondering if i'd be kicking myself for not getting the 650.

So what do you guys think?

 

I have an outlander 650xt and 800 max xt but if the made the 500 in an efl when i went for mine i whould have got the 500 the 650 has a lot of power

 

Check the outlander where the air intake is for the transmission. I think it is under the front fender kinda easy to get water into. Not a problem on the honda.

 

not a problem with water in the air tank as long as you don't take it under water above the front fender.....i installed a snorkle kit to my 500xt..now above the bars....and not a problem. the 500xt is a great machine ...but if you want to plow snow go for the 650. or heck the 800.......either way the 500 is twice the machine as a honda 350.....try it and you be the judge.

 

I did end up getting the 650...... wow what a sweet bike. It's like riding a cadillac compared to the honda 350, lol. I still can't get over the wicked power and acceleration this thing has. You can leave rooster tails from a standstill..... but the impressive thing is you can leave rooster tails again if you punch it while doing 50km. I am not disappointed in the least. 5 Stars for this bad boy.

 

good for you man...nothing you could of done to the 350 would give you what that 650 has.

 

just ordered my outty 650 max xt today... Can;t wait to get in on the FUN!