has any one used a lighter frame for these machines? where can you get them ? are they worth it?

 

Currently HPD is the only place I know of offering frames. http://www.hpd-inc.com

 

Currently offering? Not quite. They say they MAY have one out by the end of the year, but I'm not holding my breath. even if they do it wil not be a simple replacement for the stock. From what I hear about the only thing you will use of your stock ATv is the motor and gearbox, other than that it will all be aftermarket with a cost near $8000 for everything needed.

Actually I've noticed that LRD has more and more Polaris 400 products listed in their ads. I would'nt be suprised if they tried to pop out a few frames.

You can actually lose close to 75lbs off the stock machine, but its not easy.

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Jerry Goodman '99 400L, '98 TBlazer

 

I would like to lose 75lbs... I have seen all that Jim M. has done, looks good. Wouldn't mind dropping the electric start. The pull-strart is effortless, and doesn't clang around like the electric (sounds like your motor is full of rocks), starts nice and peacefully. I better wait to try it during winter first... :-)

 

Who is LRD and is there a URL ?

Jerry is right after talking with Darrel Olson ( HPD ) it will be while till we see some frames that are acually available. He also said that it would be cheaper to just build the bike from scratch with an aftermarket frame than totaly massacre your current machine.

Chris Picciotto
99 Scrambler ( Fat Albert ) 500

 

Just a few weight losing tips I've used or seen others do...

Removing the electric start is the first that comes to mind. Cost is about $30, and weight lost I think is close to 45 (although DW stated it was 65), I find that hard to believe.

Removing you electric fan, almost 8lbs. With proper jetting and such, you will probably never use it. I took mine off 6 months ago.

Nerfs cost about $150, but is a very difficult mod to do (I'm speaking for myself) I'd really like to do it, just too much involved. I'd say you'd lose another 10lbs.

HPD oil injection elimination kit. Cost around $40, plus a 500 nose peice for another $20 (of course no light) weight loss is probably 5-6lbs.

Going to an aftermarket carb and removing the airbox. A good carb and new K&N is close to $225, and you'd lose maybe 2-3lbs.

On '99's or newer remove the foot pedal completly, another 2lbs gone. I've got split brakes so it was of no use to me.

Pipe and silencer are not to be forgotten. A Ritter or HPD will probably shave 5-10lbs.

Lose the sprocket guard! If I had another one I'd use them on my weight bench as 5lb. plates!

If your really into it go with a Hot Seat chromoly +swingarm, Durablue axle and Hot Seat hubs. That will shave nearly 10lbs. off your ****, but would cost close to $1000!

New tires and wheels might help a little.

My DG bumper was considerably lighter than the stock one, but then I put on DG A-arm guards so I probably broke even there.

Hot Seat chromally steering stem, maybe 1-2lbs.

Now I'm really curious what my quad would weigh in at? As you can see there's some weight to be lost here.




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Jerry Goodman '99 400L, '98 TBlazer

 

Whoa there Jerry,

Of course you won't get the stock lighting with the 500 Scrambler nose piece, but you can do better. I picked up some clear projection lights for my Sport. I mounted them near where the top part of the bumper bolts on to the frame. They are covered a little by the fenders but they work great! plus they are 55 watts each! They really light up the night! Check them out on my page!

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Mike Chero 97 Polaris Sport 400L/ 97 Polaris Trailblazer 250ES

http://users.penn.com/~hal9000/mikeetta.html

 

A400L: If I remember correctly, these are the weights of parts I measured as I took them off of my quad: Go to HPD pipe & Aaen muffler 9lb savings, floor boards to pegs 9 lbs savings, battery to small aftermarket to only run 4WD 7lb savings, headlight & brkt full oil tank starter & brkt oil pump shift linkage & brkt tail light & unused wires/cable battery holder 20lb savings, tires 2 lbs. My total is about 47lbs so far. I plan a total of about 62 lbs off. So I think DW is full of it NO WAY 65lbs & they didn't take off the floor boards or shift linkage or use light swingarm, no way 65lbs!!! Future weight savings include Hot seat swing arm 7lbs handle bars 1 lb rims 2lbs. Hope this helps.
Jim Maloney 98 400 Scrambler