Since it has become obvious that the wifey has confiscated my Hawkeye 300, I am now in the initial stages of finding a new ride...just got back from my Polaris dealer and a couple options have peaked my interest.

I actually went with the idea of picking up an '08 Sportsman 400, he has several on hand and the 3.9% financing w/ free winch and a roughly $5000 price tag sounds like a deal I can live with. I like the mid-size, plenty of power, no ECM issues, and the generally simple nature of this little beast!

Then my mechanic buddy pulled me aside and told me I have to see this "immaculate used bike", and lead me out to the used machines where a newly traded in '07 Sportsman 450 was waiting, this machine has only 316 miles on it and looks brand new, it belonged to a customer that trades bikes every year. It was used only to plow his driveway and spray lawns, its had complete service on 50 mile intervals, and the tires are brand new since they put on his turf tires when he trades and the new tires go on the traded in machine.

The SP 450 does have some real advantages of a full size quad, ground clearance, bigger tires, low gear, towing/rack capacity, and a much bigger aftermarket with the same power plant as the SP 400 HO and roughly the same price tag! It is 100 lbs heavier which is both a good thing and a bad thing depending on its use, and as far as I can tell pretty much the same performance as the 500 HO

So now I'm a bit torn on which way to go, great size/price/financing of the '08 SP 400 HO or the bigger size/good deal/towing/weight of the '07 SP 450?

I do have some ideas on the pros and cons of each machine but any opinions on this comparison will be a great help!

 

Now that I have been riding my SP 450, anything I get on seems like a little toy and rides like one also. I wld go with the full size. I have not driven the new 400, but I can tell you that you will enjoy the 450 a ton.

 

The smaller Hawkeye frame is nice and sporty, but since you already have one (sans the larger engine) I'd say go for the regular SP450 if the used one you're talking about it the primo example you say it is. The full size Sportsman has a much more comfortable ride.

My wife had the Hawkeye 300 when I had the Sportsman 500, and one day we switched for about 10 miles of trail. When we were done, my wife wanted the 500, and my back was killing me. So she got the 500 and I got my new 800.

Tough decision you have in front of you. Ever ridden a full-size Sportsman? See if they will let you ride the used one, that should help you decide.

Good luck.

 

well jokout you probably want my .02 right lol. well it all depends on you and what type of riding you do in what you want. if i had my choice i would have kept the 06' 450 i had but it was to stiff steering for the wife and it is 117 lbs heavier then the 400 is. you can do alot more w/ the 450 and it rides way better then the sp 400 will ever ride in my eyes. in all honestly go w/ the sportsman 450 w/ the low range better supension and better features all together. and the emc thing is under waranty anyways just check to make sure it has the updated one.

 

After 600 trouble free mi on 400HO, you couldn't pay me to get a full sized quad. I've ridden most of them and they all have + and - features. I've proved to my self that the PVT without H/L is bullet proof. No ECM to me is a major +. We all have different opinions on the features, none right, none wrong. Just different usage. If you liked the Hawkeye's manouevorability, you'll love the 400.

Good luck choosing.

 

Well I like the bigger full size frame!!!!..NO QUESTION in my mind.............If I had to buy a new 2008 Sportsman ..It would have to be the Sp 500 it's the only one now that starts with the full frame!!!
The engine are the same so your question is lighter more "FEEL" I guess(never rode the smaller frame)
Or Larger weight, and distance off the ground!!!........It's your choice now ..........Have fun!!
Hey let us know when you decide.............Shopping is always fun, At least it was for me!!!!.......Caper.......

 

I say buy em both! LOL!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: firehog

I say buy em both! LOL!</end quote></div>

LoL!

 

Well Sheep, I did get to ride the SP 450 and was VERY impressed! Yes, I have to agree that the added weight of the full size 450 smoothes out the ride quite a bit and the 455cc engine has no problem wiping all that weight around with ease. I didn't have time to ride the SP 400 yesterday so I'm really looking forward to seeing how the 455cc engine motivates the much lighter SP 400 and if it rides differently then 50# lighter Hawkeye
The 3.9% financing of the new SP 400 is also a consideration.

 

You have a real delimma.
I went through this same deal a couple of month's ago.
I think the new small 400 would be a blast to ride on tight trails or when I ride with the guys, although I didn't have any trouble keeping up on my 450 with them on their Raptors and EX's because they always put me in front so they can chase me. Sometimes I think they are afraid they will get too exuberant if I am not there to set the pace. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
I like the size and weight of the 400 HO for the fun factor part, but the standard SP 450/500 is more comfortable, is lots of fun too, and handles great, and is more stable on (short) jumps than my 400 sport was, and will fly on the more open trails. All I have to do is hold that right thumb down.
My wife got spoiled when she rode my '06 450 so I ended up getting an '08 500 HO too. She won't let me buy the smaller 400 HO because she says it "looks too small for me". LOL... Bottom line is, I am an old guy and she won't let me ride anything very fast any more.
Which ever you get you will have a blast riding it.

You might check around for a deal. '08 500 HO's are going OTD for less than $5000 locally.