Great site-been lurking for close to a couple of weeks and in that time I've absorbed a lot. I'm leaning towards the Sportsman 500, used, or euphemistically put, "pre-owned."

I'm looking for a history of sorts that explains some of the changes made to this machine. I've got a 2004 with low miles lined up in my sights, but wanted to know if there is virtually no difference between the 2004, and say for example, a '99 model. In my market, it's about a $1500 difference. I've heard the points about maintenance and I understand that, but wondering about the mechanical differences.

My primary use will be plowing and dubbing in the yard/deer camp.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

I can't answer your question but would say you are looking at a good model/size quad. I would get the Newest one I could with the least miles that hasn't been abused.
I'm still trying to figure out how you posted this at 11:26pm on 12/31/08 and didn't join until 1/1/09!?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Any way------Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome to the forum anodyne. For '01 there was a change to the steering geometry that makes it feel like powersteering on '01 and up compared to how bad the '00 and earlier ones were. I always felt like I'd been wrestling a bear after a day riding my '97. Between '01 and '08 the biggest change was the body style 4(?) years ago, and they gave it a 1.5" longer front suspension like the Scrambler already had. There were other little things over the years like the emergency rear brake being hydraulic instead of mechanical.

 

In o1 they also came out with the 500 HO, 25% more power than the earlier model, has a different cam shaft and a 40 mm carb instead of a 34, the efi;s are the HO version , with the bigger cam and 40 mm throttle body.

 

i had an 02' and loved it. zero issies w/ it. i would think about an 02 and up.

 

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

In o1 they also came out with the 500 HO, 25% more power than the earlier model, has a different cam shaft and a 40 mm carb instead of a 34, the efi;s are the HO version , with the bigger cam and 40 mm throttle body.</end quote></div>

Duh! <u>That was the biggest change ever</u>. It slipped my mind. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] My only excuse is that it's been a really long night. I've been up since last year. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] I think it was 15% more power, and my gas mileage was 20% less. Performance like that comes with a price. They put the Scrambler carb, cam, and clutch on it. The 8.2" front suspension travel is the same as a Scrambler, but it used to be 6.7". The EFI throttle body is 39mm instead or 40. No idea why they made it 1mm smaller than the carb. The '05 and up Sportsmans are 48" wide instead of 46". When it comes down to it, all the '01s and up are H.O.s and have the easier steering.

 

rancher, it says 1:26 not 11:26. lol

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 700 sportsman

rancher, it says 1:26 not 11:26. lol</end quote></div>

It says 2:26 for me. I guess it depends on which time zone you're in. EST for me.
Maybe anodyne is on the left coast?

 

No, East coast. I thought I actually posted at 2:26AM, and I wasn't even boozing.
OK, so major steering changes post '01...What about all of the zerk fittings? I thought they had done away with that around '04 or so?
I'm OK with the zerks-I don't mind doing the greasing on my own. It's a piece of mind, but perhaps the newer system is more waterproof?

Thanks for the help, 'appreciate it.

 

The biggest change from the 01-03s was in 04 they not only changed the body style but went to the locking differential over the hub activated 4x4.Which in some cases is a better deal but is harder to service than hubs.Also they went with the new style shifter that has to be used with the rear brake to get out of park.