Had my new Sportsman 500 out for a run today it was fun lots of power and fast. But it grinds when shifting sometimes ..If you try to easy it into gear it grinds but if you give it a quick shift it doesn't do it as much...does this sound normal?

 

Sargenthp...i'm not ragging on you here, but everytime someone is checking out new bikes you recommend the cats....most of the time these potential buyers have looked around and narrowed it down to a couple of machines...but you keep insisting that the cats are then best thing since sliced bread....as a matter of fact, if i posted a topic wondering which brand of bread to buy, i'm quite sure you would recommend Arctic Cat....not raggin' on ya....i don't find it annoying, just amusing...i've read a lot of your posts and you sure do like your machine....i'm actually considering the AC 500 myself....like the suspension and torque.

 

Hotdog it might be idleing a little to fast causing it to grind. Mine also grinds sometimes if I don't stop completely.I have about 1500 miles on my 01 sportsman ho with only a few minor problems.I have also abused it in deep mud, water and rough rocky trails.It has always got me home.I have rode all the big new ute quads and still like my ho best.

 

For bread I recommend Village Hearth. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I was at a ATV rally this weekend... Lots of fun! I do love my Cat. The only complant I now have is the tires. Not very agressive... Once the small lugs are full of mud you spin. My wife's 300 comes with better tires than my 375. It was cool to see the new Polaris 700 in the mud bog. Mud was flying every where and the engine didn't bog once. My brother's girlfriend's Polaris blew a head gasket... That sucked! Had to pull her back the 20 miles to the resort.

 

Anyone someone wants help I am going to recommend a Kawi 650. It compares in price to the Polaris 500 HO at $6,100. Here is my rational:

Kawi 360 vs. 500 HO? Get the HO. I ride a friends HO and its a great ATV. Proven, durable, and fun to ride. If IRS is important to you than the HO is your ATV. If cost is the issue then get the 360.

But, if you are going to spring for an HO get a 650 only because of the bang for your buck. Its fast, it pulls well, and overall its a great multi-purpose ATV. I thought I wanted IRS but my 650 gets me through anything that my buddy's HO goes through.

I am not an extreme mudder but I have found my share of deep mud and the 650 has done well. I may get a second ATV here this Fall and it may be a Polaris. But up here in the north I cannot imaging trying to clean off snow from the bottom of my ATV at Zero degress on my cold concrete garage floor to grease zerks. But I really do like the RSE 500 HO and I still may have to get it.

Daryn

 

Yes the RSE is NICE. My neighbor purchased one and it is a head turner on the trail.