Which one is better suited for trail riding? Does the 400 have a tendacy to load up under slow riding? Any issues with belt slippage at slower speeds and getting up and over obstacles?

 

Stock to stock they are both equal but to me the 500 is better suited for trails but the 400 can be modded for more hp but with that it gets a little scary on trails.

 

Since I have one of each, I can give you my opinion. I think my 400 is faster, the powerband is very nice to ride when you are hitting it. The 400 is better suited to racing, (two strokes engine). The 500 (bone stock) is very reliable so I trust it on a long ride, like a trail ride. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong, they are pretty versatile and I think that's why I like them so much.

If I were spending a day where I was riding a lot of straight parts, I would take the 400. If I am going on a trail with a bunch of short strips and turns, I'd probably take the 500.

Hope this helps....

 

Only thing that steers me from the 400 is how long between rebuilds and having low end torque or lack thereof. I already have an 06' 500 SP. Just wanting a little more zip with the added traction of 4x4 if needed

 

2 stroke have plenty of low end torque. atleast mine does.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote> I already have an 06' 500 SP. Just wanting a little more zip with the added traction of 4x4 if needed </end quote></div>



I ride with a 500 Scambler and it accelerates just a little quicker and has a little

more top end like 58mph vs 60mph. Better handling,rougher ride but do not expect a awesome power surge over your SP500.

 

for trail riding go with the 500HO, they are a great trail machine with good power
at all rpm ranges & long engine life. the only down side over the 400 is if u want
to mod the motor it will cost u more $$$ also the 500HO is a little heavier.

 

I have both a 2002 500 and a 1998 400 sport i love the 400 runs great tones of power never neaded more always broke the tires loose never had it die on the trail

my 500 died on me over 8 times the 400 starts up alot easier to.

 

I own a 03 scrambler 400 and a 04 SP 500 the 400 is great in the dunes and just plane hauling, great power band and 500 good trail ridding, and hauling out that deer, starts and runs every time.

 

I can only speak of my 97 400 2 stroke sportsman 4x4 and like previous statement, I have great low end. Low gear helps even more. I have not had any problems loading up when working the rock gardens. The 400 is pushing 40 HP stock running a machine that is only 580# compared to the same year Sportsman 500 at 650# and probably around 30 hp. When I need the extra oomph, I just hit the throttle and it jumps over anything in the way althouhg I think my belt may be in need of replacment. The faint at heart probably wouldn't be comfortable powering up a steep rock garden on one wheel but sometimes you gotta get aggressive if you want to get through the technical stuff regardless of the machine. I have riden with folks with 800 twin Sportsman and comments have been made about what the "little 400 can do". Been riding at 12K ft rock climbing and it just climbs anything I need it to. It also has plenty of poop up in mid range but tops out at 50 MPH. It has no problem starting in the cold either. Just choke it, fire it, then open up the choke and it goes. The wife's 325 4 stroke hates the cold and takes a few minutes of idling with choke closed to get it to run well. Modding a 2 stroke isn't too bad. Some of the things you can do for a 2 stroke is pipe it ($200), reed box and reeds ($200), and air filter/mod ($50). Then it is just a matter of adjusting the clutch to handle the improvement. Don't let the rebuild issue bother you unless you are completely incompetant with basic tools. It is just a matter of pulling the head and cylinder then replacing the wrist pin and piston but not until the engine starts asking for it. I don't know how long that is on the Polaris 400 but I am sure if you compare the oil change expenses and time with a 2 stroke rebuild, it is all a wash and if the oiler is set up right, they don't smoke much at all when they are running. Hope this helped.