I have done a lot of research and have narrowed my next atv purchase down to the 500 4x4 auto. I am a little concerned about my size and how well this particular model will perform with me on it. I am 6'6" and I weigh 315 lbs. I am not looking to race the 500. I will use mainly for riding in the woods, trails, and mud. I will also use it for towing. From what I have read, this model has the Suzuki engine. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

Personally I think the 500 is sufficient but I test drove the 500 and then the 650V2 and there is a remarkable difference in power. I think you would be happier with the V2.






2006 AC 650V2 stock

 

The 500 is quite adequate but the H1 is all over top of it in sheer power, but the 500 has enough to do anything you want it to do. I would stay away from the v-twin as the kawi belt is just not in the same league as the duramatic is.

 

I'm old and go 285# plus at least 40# of gear (sometime as much as 200# if overnight and hunting trips) when I ride my 2005 400 manual and it just isn't a problem. I'm a trail rider too, I haven't been on sand in 30 years and don't plan to either. I have a buddy who rides a 400 auto and he makes both of us look small, 6'6" and 365 pounds, he also has no problems. If you are not into go fast, either the 400 or 500 will be fine. I know my 2005 400 tops out at 54mph on the speedo and 52 on the GPS because I wanted to know. But I hit 50+ mph about once ever couple a months on some logging roads into where we ride once in awhile. Otherwise third gear is as high as I get in High range (30mph) and 5th in Low range (22mph) an usually only on roads, trails much slower. A big engine is not the way to fun, just higher fuel costs. Never had a bigger engine machine go somewhere I couldn't on trails. Yes, the 400 and 500 have Suzuki's tried and tested engines and they have a lot less problem than the stump pullers. Oh yeah, the bigger engines don't up the towing capacity any either, 1050 lbs for the 400 on up.

 

the 500 has more than enough power to haul you on it. I have the 500 manual ands it has more pulling power than i will ever need and the 500's are more reliable than either of the 650's. Thats important to me. They use the 500 engine for the TRV (two up model) and it hauls two people just fine. I rode with a guy with the trv and he had his wife on the back, both were bigger people. problably 500lbs total and the 500 trv had no problems going anywhere.

 

im 205 and i haul my miller gen/welder [about 325 w/gas,20# more in rod and misc on my 400 tbx, not even close to making it sweat..... so a 500 will be swell

 

I will say one thing about the Cat. I was out with 5 polaris, and 1 grizzly, we were on plowed fields with about 6 in of snow and Everyone of the atvs got stuck at least once. Everyone except the AC. I changed the mind of one grizzly rider to consider a 650V2 like mine!







2006 AC 650V2

 

I have a 2005 500 4x4 Auto and use it for the woods, mud, and now snow, with a little towing, winching, and plowing. I'm about 200 pounds, but with the 60" Moose plow raised (made of 11 gauge steel), the total is about 320 pounds. The Suzuki 500 has no problem with the weight. The 650's don't seem to have a terribly good reputation (frames, belts,...), so you might as well save the money.

But... if you're going to have 300+ pounds and be playing in the mud, you really need to replace the stock tires with something like ITP 589's, Mudlite's, or equivalent, and probably consider 27" size. You won't come close to realizing the potential of the machine without better tires. The stock steel rims are fine (it's actually amazing how light they really are), but if you want to keep throwing money at it, get fancier rims.

On the 500 Auto, there is a modification to clutch weights and a spring that can give you more low end oomph. I haven't done it, but the instructions are buried in here somewhere.

 

Oversized tires (larger than stock diameters) equal less reliablity and preformance. Every time and forever with the limited horsepower available with a quad engine. These do not have the excess power like cars and trucks do (just how often have you ever driven your car at WOT to it's max available speed? I have, but then I've had a lot of hours in the 120 to 160mph zone) and bigger tires change your final drive ratio for the worse and stress the drive train. Go wider and more aggressive tread pattern if you will, but don't go bigger than stock diameter.

 

No matter what replace the stock tires. I put on mudlight xtr's with itp type 7 rims at 26in. I dont see any good reason to go bigger than a 26 inch tire. replacing the tires seriously made the vehicle twice as good as what it is stock with the itp radials mudlights xtr's