I have found a 2006 Sportsman 500 for sale that does not have EBS. I have owned three Sportsmans, all with EBS. I am concerned about down hill performance.

Anyone own one of each for a comparison? I have never ridden a non-EBS Sportsman?

 

Our 97 500 Sportsman has no EBS,hard to beleive a 06 also has none. You have to use your brakes more and buying a set of EBC HD pads makes the brakes last alot longer. Low range also slows the ATV down on long steep down hills.

 

you will hate it. once you have had ebs, you dont want to go back. my wifes sp 450 we had didnt have it and it was alot harder to handle on the down sloaps using strickly brakes. my wife loves her sp 400 w/ the ebs and said she wouldnt ever want to go back. alot harder on brake pads as well. imo.

 

I have two 2006 Sportsmans one with EBS and 1 without. Depends on the riding you do. I actually like the one without EBS better. It runs freer and you don't get thrown forward every time you let off the throttle.

 

EBS first came out as an option on 2-stroke Sportsman 400,especially for more control down hills since at the time the way to slow em down was to give it throttle going down,which helped,BUT most brains including mine are not used to throttling down hills,against what brain thinks! This would actually put pressure on clutch and helps slow down the quicker revving engines,then EBS trickeled down to the newly introduced 4-strokes.

 

I have an 06 500 non ebs. It was fine and nice in some ways when you don't want the ebs. I did put the ebs on it a few months later. I used the 800 clutches so the take off would not be effected as much. The non ebs have a faster holeshot than the ebs models. The 800 primary is nearly the same as not having it at all. (I think all the ebs models have the new style "800" primary now) The newer model polaris brakes are way better than say model year 2000 and back. The rotors and pads are different and last a long time. On older models some people would go through brake pads within 500 miles or less. Now this all depends on the rider and conditions but I'm seeing 1500 to 2000 miles on non ebs models and still have pad life left. You should be fine with it but the ultimate decision is yours. You can always add it if you want. It may cost you 500-600 bucks so if the deal is sweet enough, go for it

 

Two Sp 450's both 2006 no EBS as most know the 450 models was not standard ........I have over 2400 miles and still lots of brake pad left............Caper.....

Never owned a EBS........So I guess I will not miss it..........Caper............

 

if you've never had it, you wont miss it for sure but imo once you've owened one you would like it better for the hills. now on slow going it really sets you forward sometimes when you let off the throttle quick and some dont like it,but im used to it. its all in your perfrence i think.

 

After going down some seriously steep hills on my '97 Sportsman I had EBS installed and it made a huge difference. If you get a good deal you can buy it and put EBS on it later it if you don't like it.