Honestly, has any of you guys riding Sportsman 500 HOs ever been beat at anything by another utility 4x4?

 

I beat a Sportsman 500 HO with my...well, it's my dad's....X-plorer 300 4x4 in a drag race, i even let the Sportsman say go, it was like a good 400 Yard race, i had him by like 3 or so bike legnths at the finish. Both bikes are all stock

 

The Sportsman 500 H.O. is a good quad and still probably has the best ride quality of all when it is not loaded down too much, but other than that, it will have to take a back seat to the Kawasaki Prairie 650. With it's power and speed, low center of gravity, locking front differential, light weight and fantastic brakes, it will be hard to beat. Kawasaki specifically designed the 650 to be better than the Sportsman because it was the best performing 4X4. They didn't just slap this thing together. It was 3 years in the making. It looks like they have succeeded in most categories (I read that they didn't use independant rear suspension because it would have been well over the 606 lb. weight limit they were aiming for). Now the other OEM's will be specifically aiming at the 650. Thats great for all of us. The quads just keep getting better!

 

I believe Kawasaki made a mistake by not putting the IRS on there new 650.I think the rear axle will hang it up in the rutted out stuff.Unless it just has so much power that the front tires will pull it through.

 

I want to see a real life comparison of these two bikes and see for my self.I think the loss of irs will hurt the 650 to those of us that like a good ride in the ruff stuff.I just wish it wasn't so dang heavy.

 

I owned a 99 Sportman 500cc,it was a nice ATV,however,I personally beleive that except for the comfort of the ride and the complete shaft drive,the new 00 Xplorer 400cc 4x4 whips it in most other catagories.The Xplorer is far faster,especially now with my mods,is the better mudder,is also the better hill climber,and weighs conciderable less [588lbs] than the Sportsman[697lbs].I really like the ride to.
Bill

00 400cc 4x4 Xplorer
Modified PSI pipe w/Scrambler silencer
Delta V-Force reeds w/spacer kit
Heel Clickers clutch kit [real soon]
RcR airbox mods
KN Filter and Uni-fiter
26 inch Mudrunners

 

my cousin just drag raced his 500 sp ho against a praire 650 saturday in a 300ft course he got beat by about 2quads not too bad for a 150cc difference. i bet that kawi wouldnt feeo up in a rutted field though!

 

I really cant wait to drag the new Praire 650,that is as soon as I can find one.Im thinking maybe I can whip him in any length drag race?
Bill

 

MUDDY4LIFE,I've heard the 400 explorer was pretty fast. I have never ridden with one but I would think with the sprocket and rear axle it would hang up easy in the rutted out stuff.

 

that kawi teally seemed to pull in the midrange does anyone have the torque specs on that motor?