Hi Group,

I am getting ready to buy my first ATV and have it narrowed down to the Sportsman 400 or 500. The spec sheets look identical except for the displacement of course.

At 6-2 and 260 lbs is the 400 enough machine for me or do I need to spend the extra money for the 500?

I don't see myself becoming too agressive in terms of jumping, mud or extreme hill climbing.

I also remember reading about a difference in engine braking between the two but I can't find it now.

Thanks in advance, Rich

 

Go with the 500!

Huge power / acceleration difference.
500 has EBS...400 does not (add EBS to a 400 and it is the same price as a 500)
Better resale on the 500.

We have four Sportsman 500s in the family and they all have been great machines.

 

The 500 definitely has more power and has added engine braking, but if you never are going to do anything extreme than it doesn't do you any good. If all you are going to do is enjoy trails and rarely pull anything heavy, the 400 will be just fine. A 500 does have a great resale, but it also costs more. I say buy what only what you need, unless money is no object and you plan to grow into a machine and make it do more and more.

 

The basic engine is the same, but the 500 is the H.O. from the scrambler with a better cam, bigger carb, more displacement, and EBS. The 400 is the 425 cc from the Expedition, now discontinued. We put the H.O. cam and carb on our old EXP with good results. Just get the 500, you will be glad you did. Quite frankly, the Sportsman is a tad heavy for only a 425cc, especially since it is substantially detuned from the 500. Bang for the buck, you gotta go with the 500. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

THey are both great machines and the 425 has a good track record for dependabilaty.If money is a concern go with the 400 you will like it.If you want to up grade later sell it and go bigger.Just remember bigger is not always better.As long as you like it it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks.

 

i have a 2002 400 and just sold my 2001 500 two weeks ago, both are great machines! the 400 seems to steer a little easier on the trails and i have had no problems with it at all, the 500 was giving me a few problems but it was ridden more and harder. 6'2 won't matter cuz both machines are the same size but carrying 260 lbs plus anything you load on it like extra gas or a cooler full of your favorite beverage, i would consider the 500. you can't go wrong with either one! good luck and enjoy whichever one you get. yoopermike.

 

oh yea, i forgot to mention. the 500 has ebs (engine braking) and it's really nice to have but the machine clunks when you first start off from a dead stop, this annoys some people. i just got used to it, no big deal. the 400, without having ebs, does not do this. yoopermike

 

I have the 500 and my girlfriend has the 400 and I much prefer the 500 over the 400. The 4 feels weak after riding the 5, which would be expected of course. I really do not see much use for the ebs for what I do, as a matter of fact I find it a hinderance when going slow through TIGHT woods.

 

If you happen to be talking about a 400 2-stroke Sportsman (I think they had them before '99?) then there isn't much difference in power between that and a similar vintage SP500, or even later years. In a lot of situations the 2-stroke will romp on a SP500!!!

 

Get the 500 for sure!!!!!!! Dont look back..