Hey all -

On Friday I'm picking up my 2011 Sportsman 500 HO. Keeping it stock except for some hand warmers, a winch & the front brush guard.

I'll be using it mainly on our private 40 for running trails and hauling logs. In the winter it'll be the ice fishing vehicle of choice.

Overall I'm pretty excited. Got the machine, the accessories (installed) and with taxes I'm at $6013 out the door.

Any fellow Cheese Heads on this board?

 

congrats on your purchase. heated grips are worth their weight in gold imo

but no cheese head here I am in steeler country

 

Yep, grip heaters are great in the winter. Congratulations.

 

congrads on a nice bike and decent price to boot. make sure you use low range when hauling those logs.

 

Congratulations! If my old bones would have allowed me to take one home when I retired it would have been the 500 HO! Said it several times,MY favorite machine. Good luck and take care of it! OPT

 

Howdy anmut......Congats on the new one. Hand guards would help along with your heated grips. If it gets that cold where your'e at, what about a low or a mid profile windshield.... Is it Friday yet?.......

 

Congrats on the machine. Great bike and can't find a better value. Another cheddar head here.

 

Thanks for the replies all - I pick it up tomorrow afternoon and I'm pretty pumped. I've already downloaded and read the owners manual and got a list of must-haves.

Today I went through my trailer and repacked the bearings and got the spare tire mounted on the trailer frame.

Regarding the hand guards - from what I've read the OEM ones are so-so but can be kind of flimsy to put on. I'm wondering about any recommended after-market brands that aren't too expensive?

I was also thinking of just skipping the hand guards for the summer and just buying a nice windshield for the winter when we run the rivers.

Thoughts?

 

I have a tall windshield on my 500 which is probably the best accessory I have spent money on. I do a lot of road miles and it keeps the bugs off your face in the summer and your ears warmer in the winter. I can ride flat out at 56 without losing my baseball cap.

However, if I am doing some rough riding where I'm standing up a lot I take the shield off (which only takes a few seconds). Too many times it's hit me across the throat or on the chin.

All the best

James

 

I just put on some new PowerMadd handguards and they're awesome. They have a universal mount kit and come in like 100 colors.