Just thought I'd start a thread for us 500 owners to unite. Hope I didn't miss one that was already here. We seem to be outnumbered by the 800 owners.

I bought my Popo new in Dec. '08, non-current model special. Came with 2500# winch, rear rack extender, and 8 spoke aluminum wheels. I added front and rear brushgaurds (I'll call them bumpers when I hit something more substantial than a bush), front rack extender and handgaurds. I had the first service done at the dealership at 25 hours. Now just past the 50 hour mark. Planning on getting the 4 year extended warranty...anyone else have this?

Haven't joined a club yet ( I live in Southern Ontario, Canada) simply because my atv is my only vehicle right now...live very close to work so I'm saving on insurance (when ur under 25 it's killer). I'll be getting a trailer for the quad and joining a club this summer. Can't wait to explore all the trails we have in Ontario, and now we can use the trails in Quebec with our OFATV membership.

I hope anyone with a similar quad will let me know anything to look out for, troublesome or tricks these bikes will do? lol

 

us 800 owners dont hold anything agaist you 500 owners at all lol.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] enjoy all the good riding w/ your 500 and ride safe.

 

I'm not trying to start a rivalry. Are the 800s pretty much the same parts, except the engine??

 

lol i wasnt thinking you was starting a rivalr just kidding with you friend it doesnt matter what you ride im my eyes as long as you enjoy it. yes thery pretty much are the same sportsman as the rest w/ differnt engine sizes. besides you 500 owners get way better gas milage. thats one on the biggest things i miss about my 500 i had.

 

Just making sure we're all on the same page lol.

How big is the tank on an 800 vs. running time? In the manual for my 500 it said to break in for first 2 tanks of fuel or 10 hours...

I want to get some of those cool Rotopax things for when I get out on some longer trips.

I think it's the guys on other brands that want a rivalry, while I was researching atvs (wasting time on Youtube) Every video with a Polaris had some guy saying how they sucked...but I still bought one and am very happy so far.

 

Has anyone figured out the MPG on a 500??

Edit/Add: Is there a reserve tank on these machines? I know it's bad, but I haven't tried finding the fuel switch...is there one? Nothing in the manual about it...

 

Have two 500's setting in my garage..1999 Sportsman 500 and a 2007 500EFI Deluxe..The 99 has 5800 miles on it and the 2007 has 3450 miles.Just sold a 2007 500 EFI Deluxe with 6400 miles..Moved up to a Sportsman 550 XP..The 500's are great atv's and get good gas milage.Just do your regular maintance and they will hold up very well..P.S. the gas milage varies according to the kind of riding you do.Rough terrain with up and down speeds hurt the milage..When we ride trails where we can hold steady speeds (20-25 mph) we get great gas milage.25-27 mpg..The EFI'S are the best for gas milage..

 

Anyone with a 500 have any videos to share? Just wondering how other bikes sound, look, and what they'll go through (most atv vids on Youtube are in a mudhole)...I'm working on getting some more vids of mine, with engine sound, not just the exhaust. PMs welcomed if you're shy like me and don't post vids on the public net.

 

Rivalries are fine here. We battle with the best of them. JK We have a 500 HO carb. ATP and a 500 EFI Sportsman X2. Love them both. I did a couple videos. Here's the link. Videos Click on more videos from Moosehenden to see the waterfording capabities of these machines. We've gone deeper than these videos and had zero problems to speak of. I get about 18-20 mpg. with the EFI and 16-18 with the ATP.