I'm looking to buy a 05-up Sportsman 500. How many miles is too many ? My 2001 only has 700 miles and i had to replace the complete drive clutch. Are the newer models any better? All the sportsman's I see for sale all have over 1000 miles.

 

all depends on how they have been take care of. under 2,500 is better but some dont mind high milage would be fine if they were maintained. imo.

 

I agree, it 's all about how it was taken care of. I have 650 miles on my 800 in the 4 months I had it. It still looks pretty much brand new. I've seen quads with 350 miles on them that were all rusted up and the plastic was cracked up and faded, and probably running the break in oil.. You can get a pretty good idea for how well it was cared for but just talking to the owner. If he seems like he knows what he's talking about he probably took care of it. Most guys enjoy doing their regular oil changes and what not. Big thing for me is keeping the machine in a shed or garage..the elements beat them up pretty fast.

 

Stendori is absolutely correct about the importance of maintaining an atv(or any other vehicle for that matter). I had almost 4,200 miles on our 2000 Sportsman 335 before we traded it in for a 2002 SP500 and we never had to make any major repairs to the unit. Of course, you may have been unlucky and received a defective clutch. Currently, the 500 has 3,000+ miles logged on it and I have never had a problem with the clutch.

 

10,000 is getting up there.

 

If a manufacturer couldn't build a quad that wouldn't go much farther than 1000 miles, they probably wouldn't be in business long.

I've heard of many quads going 5000 to 10000 miles with little or no trouble. I've also heard of people taking delivery of brand new quads and having problems... not just Polaris bikes either.

Care and maintenance has a lot to do with it... doesn't hurt to be lucky either.

 

My 07 has over 200 hours and over 2000 miles. Some would call it high milage but I don't see it as a problem. I change all my fluids 3 times a year and oil changes every 40 hours. Should last forever in my eyes

 

seen quads with 16,000miles on it. it was a rubicon owned by an older farmer. he did regular oil changes and that was about it. but it was still very clean. maintinance is key to longevity in a mechine

 

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

My 07 has over 200 hours and over 2000 miles. Some would call it high milage ......</end quote></div>

Whoever told you that doesn't know what they are talking about.