From what I read the only thing other riders has to say as a negative about the big cat is that it's slow. How slow is the 500 cat?

 

I own a 98 AC 454 4x4 & it is full of power & very torquey,but not too good at drag races (loses to my lt230 & whoops a foretrax300 4x4)
but it has more torque than a grizzly (31 ft-lbsAC 28 ft-lbs GRIZZ)& a load capacity larger than all ATVS in every class(@ 300lbs).the point is that AC's are the most powerful $strongest for work(in other words it's the workhorse of all quads)& not too good at sport riding cuz thats what SPORT QUADS are for.thats my opinion

 

there was a thread started here a while ago that asked ac owners what thier top speed was and the 500 ran around 56-58 mph.my 500 runs around 50 with both racks loaded,not to shabby for a 1000 lb. machine

 

Sly, it really depends on what you are used to riding. The first time I rode a Sportsman 500 I thought it would pull my arms off! But I was used to riding a 230cc timberwolf! The AC500 is not a "dog" in acceleration, but will be stomped every time by most sport quads, especially by Polaris models such as the Scrambler and Sportsman! If you are looking for fast acceleration in a sport-ute, look at a Polaris Xplorer 400cc 2 stroke...it will make you a believer!

However, just as somebody else mentioned, you can't beat the big cat for TORQUE! Meaning you can put the beast in low range and just about idle over logs, rocks, and really anything you've got the ground clearance and guts to go over. This is the main reason I got my AC500. I am not the best rider and had a tough time in slow technical sections on trails when I had my 95 Timberwolf. I would have to "get a run for it" to go some places on my 2wd 'wolf in order to keep up with my buds on their 4wd quads. The AC500 is great at going as slow as you want to go in technical sections, without bogging down. I have taken mine up the steepest hills I could stand in 3rd and 4th gear from nearly a dead stop! My t-wolf would bog down in any gear in these situations. If you want to go fast..get a banshee or some other sport quad. If you want to go where you friends may or may not be able to follow, the AC500 is a good choice.

BTW...you will NOT find a true sport quad that has the plush ride of my AC500. I have ridden 20-30 miles regularly with no "monkey-butt". Neither will you be able to pack as much stuff on a sport quad as you can fit on one of the bigger 500-600cc Sport-utes.