Don't know how much each weighs, but it is A LOT! Just to pick them up and compare them with the stock tires you can notice a huge difference. They aren't rated 6-ply for nothing! Even though they are 26" and not 27" I even notice a little bit less power in low range as well as high, but only in deep mud. Low-range power loss is minimal, but I lost just enough power in high range to make me want to do something about it. It runs OK as long as I don't have to go slow through mud or up a steep hill, but if I do and I don't want to go into low or wind it out, it bogs a little when trying to "crawl" if you know what I mean. That is surprising that the stock rims don't weigh considerably more than a set of chrome or aluminum ones. It is a lot of money, so without more people recommending the switch, I won't do it. I agree that most of the problem is in the heigth, not weight. Thanks for the great advise.

I have to say that you guys in here are partly why I got an AC 500. You tell it straight and don't hide the bad, like those other red colored 4x4 lovers do. I think I'll pay off some of the loan on the new bike and wait on the power kit or pipe. I need time to think some more and check out lower priced options like you suggested. Truth to tell, I don't even need the 589s. Right from the start the AC did better than any other 4x4's I rode with - stock. It was a great feeling to pull out three others on my first ride and not even begin to get stuck in the same spots!

One more thing. Last week I was out riding and I came across a deep (and I mean deep - seat high) logging rut. I went in and had no problem until I bottomed out on a huge rock under my left footrest. It totally high sided and the only two tires touching anything while my muffler was under water was the right rear wheel. I gave 'er some gas and the left front started spinning. I rocked it and never came close to hooking up a tire good enough to pull out. It so happens that I was just at the dealers that day and spoke to the mechanic who did the 100-mile checkup for me. He told me it was great how you can just grab the hand brake lever when the wrong front wheel is spinning and the other one will kick in. I remembered the conversation and tried it out. As soon as I grabbed the front brake and stopped the wheels from spinning and then goosed it a gain, the right front grabbed and I climbed over and out of the rut. It was awesome! I'm glad I own an AC because we don't need no stinkin' front diff locker!

 

The HL Power kit gives you alot of power, but the racing core is extremely loud. But you can get a quiet core, like dakotart said. I know of atleast 5 people with this and all but maybe 2 have complained about the noise, so I recomend the quiet core. But NONE complain about lack of power. They all love the power gain.

Now getting a K&N Power kit will help the power considerably, but nothing like the HL performance kit (that includes the K&N power kit). With the filter alone there was a 1999 AC 500 owner that ran his side-by-side with his freind's identical (besides the filter) Ac 500 (bought the same day) and the K&N pulled away from the stocker at the line and gained more ground as it reached top speed. He said it gave him about 3 mph on top end. Thats with no jetting changes at all.

About the aluminum wheels, don't even waist the time. The stockers are maybe about 1-3 lbs heavier per wheel. IF you notice a difference it will not be much. And certainly not worth the cost.

Andy has ITP chrome wheels, not aluminum and no other mods. But he also has a 5 speed, and the 5 speeds DO have more power than the Auto models.

About gutting the muffler. Niteowl is the first person I heard of doing this and someone else did it, not sure who tho. But niteowl said it wasn't to loud and the other person claimed it was very loud. Both said it was a very noticeabe gain in power tho.

The biggest gains I have heard with our motors is useing only parts of the original head gasket (made of 3 layers-- throw 2 of them away and it helps power) and porting and polishing the head. Niteowl and a local AC mechanic did this to there bikes and noticed BIG differences in mid-top rpm power. Niteowl also did the WEBCAM while he had his apart and this GREATLY helped low end power.

I know a 454 2wd owner that ported, polished his head, did the gasket mod, put a web cam in , put an HL power kit, and used a larger carburator(that actually hurt the power) and it still dynoed 30.6 HP at the REAR WHEELS. Just to compare, the 400ex puts out about 26.5 HP at the rear wheels.

Well I think thats about it, if you have any other questions don't waist anytime before asking.