Well now, I hate to say it, but the heavy steering effect is really starting to get on my nerves. This would be the best built bike available in my opinion if it weren't for that. Any other AC owners can probably attest to the same thing. Its becoming a repetitive cycle now. I'll look at the bike and all that it has going for it and decide not to trade, and then a day later, I'll be fighting the handlebars cursing every other breath as my mind changes back again. Any opinions are welcome on this next one. Is it the tires or the bike? I cant tell because I havent ridden a 500 with regular tires or another bike with large ones. Would a sportsman, grizzly, 450s, or even a honda 300 steer as bad with 26" tires? I'd sure like to know. I can do about anything I want on this 500, but the fun factor just decreases when you have to work out 3 hrs a day to steer it. If it steered like a Yamaha, I'd have no complaints. Big question here too- Does anyone know if there is a way to lessen the steering effect? I heard a guy say once that you could adjust the tie rods, but this was just one guy. I never tried it because I figured I would do more harm than good. I'd like to know how other quads steer with bigger tires too. There would be no sense in trading in on a Sportsman if I found that it steered just as bad after I put 27" XTs on it. Any other Ac 500 owners out here, I feel your pain(in my forearms!!).

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

I don't find the steering that bad. But I used to ride a Honda 350 and I work out 3-hours a day also.

I heard putting a lift kit makes it steer a bit lighter, but if you do put a lift kit make shore you get it alined. If you don't it will be hard to control. If that doesn't work. Go ask your dealer if you can borrow the 400's tires for a day.

I have a way to make it steer lighter and tighter but it will also make bumpsteer alot worse and it requires cutting and welding on the steering shaft. Tell me if you f you want the directions.

I don't think it will ever steer as light as a Grizzly, but it could steer lighter than your 300.


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Arctic Cat 500, Not your average Kitty, The New King Of the Jungle

 

There is no way it will ever steer as light as the 300. Its a 2wd quad without any weight on the front. Its lighter and tighter than a grizzly as well, but the trade off isn't much of a comparison. A 300 class 2wd for a 600 4x4, is like apples and rocks. I'd rather have the rocks though. I'd also rather have my 500s rear suspension over any other straight axle bike. I never thought much about the difference, until I saw a Sportsman and a Griz side by side, each with a front tire on an oil change ramp. (funny how I just jump from topic to topic huh?) Anyway, the grizzly's back tire on one side was a good five or six inches off the ground while the Sportsman had both rears planted. I tried it with my AC and it kept both rears planted as well due to the semi independant rear end. The honda was too light and it had one front on the ramp and the other front in the air about the same height as the ramp was. Just thought this was cool. Thats why if I trade the AC because of steering, I'd only consider a sportsman. Also, I probably wouldn't tamper with the steering myself. I'd mess something up and then have zero trade value if I ever wanted something else.

 

Did you try putting more air in the frt. tires ..... Bill

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A Honda 300 with 26" Blackwaters at reccamended PSI & rear lift kit was one of the easiest steering machines I have ever ridden, easier than my Scrambler. Once the locker was added, it was tough though.

Adam Dowden

 

Now that I finally been able to put some
miles on my 500, I don't think the steering
is too terribly bad. I did put some extra
air in my front tires which helped some.
However, it will never steer like a Polaris.
If you dropped down in tire size (width) the
next time you get tires, it should make a
difference. You might ask CAT500 who is
expecting delivery of a 2000 model AC500 with
the smaller tires just any day now!

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Rob Ervin 99' AC500

 

I haven't received my 500 yet, but I did drive 2 454's with 25" tires. The steering on the '97 model 454 was terrible, but the '98 model went with titan tires instead of dunlop and they shortened the tie rod length and changed the handlebars. This made a dramatic difference in the turning radius. I later put 27" Blackwater XTs on the '98 and it steered as good, if not better, than the stock titan tires. The XT Blackwater front tires are narrower than the 26" tires on your 500 as well as the 2000 model's 25" tires. I took the titans off my '98 454 and switched them out with the '97's dunlops and decreased the turning radius on the '97 by about 4ft. This led me to conclude that the tires were the major contributor in steering reduction from the '97 vs. the '98 model and not the new handelbar design or shortened tie rods. I believe if you got the 27" XTs you would probably be surprised on how much easier your cat would steer. I've never ridden a 500 with 26" tires, but I know that with the smaller 25" tires steering has to be lighter simply due to the fact that the width is less and the weight of the tire is less. I have a friend with a Timberwolf 250 4X4 and his machine steers a little bit better than my 454's did, but it's a much smaller and lighter machine. I believe the simplest way to help your steering problem is with different tires. I was surprised at the difference in steering with the 25" dunlops vs. the 25" titans on my 454's. You wouldn't think a tire could make that much of a difference but it does. Lots of luck with whatever you choose.

 

I have 26 inch GoodYear Mudrunners on my 99 Sportsman,and it steers great in 2wd or 4wd.On hard pack, it steers great also.

 

Gosh, a bunch of relies over just one night. Thanks a lot. I wondered if the blackwaters would steer better. They have a more rounded profile than the titan 495s. The titans are more square. It would seem right for the rounder tires to steer easier, though I just was concerned with how much of a difference it would be. The 97 454 is one of the worst steering bikes I have ever ridden. If the tires improved its steering, then they would probably help the 500 a bit. I'll wait a while, at least until september, and then consider trading maybe when the incentive programs hit. I'm also interested to see if Polaris puts out another remington edition.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

Guess what this is. Its the oldest dated post that I could find on this forum. With only two topics being active today, i figured I would dig up a very old one and change the date on it. This was back when I was pissed off at my quad because it steered heavy. Its funny now that my tires are a bit more worn that its not that big of a factor anymore. It seems as if I recognize a familiar face in this post as well.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*