Why does everyone always say the 500sp is the best? Isnt the 500mag equipped with the same engine and doesnt the 'straight' axle actually put more power on the ground than does the fully independent suspension? Just curious?

 

The difference in the two bikes is just he independent suspension. The solid swing axle of the magnum by having a larger towing capacity, cuts about 50lbs, less service needed, gets more power to the rear wheels with one less turn in direction, and price. I read an artical about the Magnum 500 and they said that Polaris aimed the bike towards the Griz in price range and standards. If you look at the stats of the two bikes they're almost the same, except the cc's and weight.

 

mags are nice!!!! shave off about 100 more pounds and i may consider tradin my rancher

 

I felt the same way as you when I was looking at the Mag, and figured they were the same except the IRS. I bought the Mag in November, and it was stolen 3 weeks later. I replaced it with the Sportsman for 2 reasons. 1)After riding it up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, I definately wanted the Engine Braking, which is no longer an option on 00 Mag 500's. Here in Nebraska, brakes are hardly needed since we have no hills, but if you have real hills, no EBS can be scarry. And 2) the dealer put me in a 00 SP500 for what I paid for the Mag 500.
Would I have paid extra for the SP500 if I had to? Only if I could afford it, and if I couldn't I would probably regret it every time I rode in South Dakota or Colorado. To be honest with you, I don't really notice a difference with the IRS, but then again the terrain I ride on mostly is dirt. The Mag is a great machine, and if you don't ride on steep, long hills very much, you'll be happy either way.
Unfortunately, I was only able to put about 100 miles on the Mag before it was stolen, but that was enough for me to know that in the hills, EBS was for me. So far I have thankfully been able to get probably 300 on the Sportsman, and I certainly hope to get a few hundred more next week, when I will be in Moab, Utah for a full week of vacation!!!!!!! Man, I can't wait.......
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy trails.

Scott

 

Oh, and another thing. The difference in pulling power between solid axle and IRS is purely academic. I pulled my 2000 F250 crew cab out of a ditch with my Sportsman. It is not a light truck. Obviously the truck was helping as well, but the engine on the SP never even struggled. I dug four holes in the ground about 6" deep though in the effort. The traction will give out long before the power does on either machine. I've also pulled a 4'x8' trailer loaded 3' high with firewood through the woods, and again no major struggle of the engine. Going up hills, the traction gave out again before the engine did, and that is with a considerable tongue weight on the back end. I wonder, with a really heavy tongue weight, such as this was, wouldnt you be at risk of bending the axle?? It is my understanding that the towing capacity of the machines are based on the braking abilities of the machine, not structural abilities of the hitch.

Scott

 

The biggest difference is the Sportsmans has a plusher ride over rough terrain that no other bike comes close to, due to its independent rear suspension system and the extra ground clearance is also nice.

 

hey guys don,t forget about the gas tank size 5.25 compared to 3.25 there is lot of difference in the range you can go with the two

 

The magnum500 has EBS standard on the late 2000's and rides smoother then any other atv accept for the sportsman. It has better cornering ability then the sportsman, less power loss through the drive line and a little better acceleration. In all the magnum is more for work and Sportman is more for play but they do a great good at both. The Magnum was my choice because of the price and it seems tougher then the Sportsman. The magnum has a 50 mile range and the sportsman has a 70 mile range on one tank of gas. The tires, weight, rear suspension and the gas tank are the differences.

 

Thanks for all the info.[*]if the wheels aint spinning, you cant be winning[*]

 

If I recall correctly, the Sportsman has like 28 grease fittings? Does the Magnum have a pile of grease fittings too? Are the extra grease fitting due to the Independant Rear Suspension?