Hi,

I have a question to ask you owners of the new 550 engine. I have an 08 500 efi Touring that runs very quiet, espically at idle or trail speeds around 15 mph or so. My cousin has just purchased a new 2011 550 XP X2 and this is my first exposure to the new engine running.

I found it very noisey at both idle and trail speeds when comparing the two bikes side by side after riding one and then the other. My friend who has a 2010 old style 800 Sportsman is under the same impression as me, that the engine makes a ton of noise.

I asked the dealer and he said it should be at least as quiet as my 500 Touring.

I am wondering if the valves may not have been set right from the factory and that is the rattle/noise that I am hearing or are they just a bit noisier than the old reliable 500's.

Anybody have an opinion on this?

Also, the bike is a lot faster then the older 500 and the EPS is nice but I am not convinced that it pulls like the old 800's as it is supposed to have the same or close to the same horse power as the old 800's am I not correct?

Thanx for your time.

 

My 09 550XP is noisy as all get out and any speed but works just fine with no problems.
All kinds of klicks, ticks, & clunks. Very high geared though. Hardly ever use H range as L will do approx. 40 mph.

Still a great machine.

 

it will quiet down and not vibrate so much when you get 500 or so miles onit

 

So I take it that they come with some valve train noise as well as exhaust and the engine quiets down after everything starts to wear in about the 500 mile or 100 hour mark?

These days you just cannot take the dealer's word for everthing as he si selling and you are buying so there is additional incentive to tell you what you want to hear. I just know that they make more engine noise than the older Sportsman do. Mine doesn't sound any different than an old 300 Honda it is so quiet. I hope I will not get kicked off the forum for the reference, Lol.

 

I will trade you an 05 SP 500

 

275 hrs & approx. 3000 miles and mine is still noisy as day one. Still runs great and no repairs required.