Howdy everyone.....Off the showroom floor......which would have the best overall ride, the X2 500 or the Sportsman 500? Softness of ride, roll, stability....

 

I tried to test this exact thing out out a couple weeks ago. My son rented a 500 X2 and I rented a 500, we switched machines numerous times. There was not a huge difference but I thought the X2 rode a little smoother and the 500 turned a little tighter. My son did scrape the bottom of the X2 crossing a deep irrigation ditch that I cleared with the 500 but he was riding 2 up at the time.

 

i would think w/ the x2 it would have a little stiffer rear spring set up for the extra rider there for would ride rougher over hard stuff. maybe they have progresive springs that get stiffer w/ more weight put on it.

 

The X2 has a nice ride because of the longer wheelbase. It is like the difference between a short cab and a crew cab. It's more stable on hills because of the extra length but also does bottom on obstructions a little more than a regular Sportsman. I put some 3/8ths aluminum on my quad's footwells to fix up a spot where the plastic got gouged out by a tight squeeze in rocks. The front end on both quads is a little soft to me. The X2 does not squat as much as a Sportsman because the rear springs are heavier. If you do a lot of slow technical stuff over big obstacles go with the regular Sportsman. The X2 will scrape a little more, as said. For everything else, I personally think the X2 is better. More stable, less squat, better up and down hills, stiffer rear suspension, less front to back motion, etc. Just my two copper coins worth.

 

I can't image a rear suspension stiffer than the single seat Sportsman. If the X2 springs are stiffer, I don't want anything to do with that....LOL!!!

 

Maybe my weight (about 350) has something to do with it. But, the Sportsman's I've been on had a lot of squat at launch. The X2 squats but it handles bumps a little differently because of how they angled the rear suspension.