Hi Folks,

Just joined to day and enjoying the great info available here.

I am about to puchase my first unit and would like some feed-back from the experts.

As a starter unit I am looking at the polaris sportsman 500 HO. Some good deals up here in Ontario on this unit but am now wondering should I buy new or used for first unit?

Also in this a good starter unit?

I would be using for ice fishing in winter and casual trail riding in summer to start.

Last question for now, HO or EFI? Is the extra $$ for EFI worth it. Does the EFI start better in cold?

Thanks again fro any help.

Musky...

 

Welcome! There are good deals out there on new old units (08MY) I would look for one of these with EFI!

 

Welcome to the forums.

 

The Sportsman 500 is a great all around machine. Fantastic as a utility and can get moving pretty well. Good towing and toting also. I would get a past year model if you can with EFI. The carb. model starts fine but the EFI is much better. I have the 500 in both a carb. model and an EFI. I prefer the EFI hands down. You will never need another machine if you buy a 500. The only reason to buy another is if you want to go faster. Then the 800 class machines are a better choice. My Sportsman X2 with the 500 EFI pulls my 350 lbs. and a passenger's 200 with ease.

 

I live in Sault Ontario and the bought a used mint 2001 500 H.O, it starts right up in any temperature I ride 500X2 EFI ATVs and I can not tell whats what while riding, its more about one is easy to start in the winter and the other is easier if anything.
I saved $3000 from buying new, I could replace two motors for that even if I bought a lemon. I bought a used 250 Moto4,350 big Bear,and a 450 Foreman and sold them to friends and they are still riding them to this day.

I,d say the 500 is beyond a beginner ATV and you can,t hit over 20 mph on most fun Ontario trails anyways on open wide loging roads the 500 will do 55mph at least,that fast enough on 5 psi ballon tires,atv do not handle nice like sleds at high speeds. In low range a 500 will pull as hard as any big bore out there.

Here is a cold -20c night in Wawa Ontario,even my blue 2006 Polaris 120hp 600 H.O. Switchback sled in the back ground uses twin TM38 carbs and I start that in the cold all the time.LOL The Scrambler did well also and has the same carb and motor as the SP500 H.O.

 

new or used? Some of it might depend on your area. Around my area I can pick up a brand new sp500 H.O. for $5000 or E.F.I $5800 Now with that said I could pick up say a 2-3 yr. old used sp500 for an avg. price of about $4000, but you don't know the bikes history. If that was the case I might as well spend the extra $1000 or so and get new with warranty and no hidden issues. Your area may be totally different on the used market. And as moose said a 500 will be a great all around bike. And I would prefer the E.F.I as well

 

The New ATV here drops $1000 once you sign the dotted line. I know a girl who won a new 660 Grizzly in a draw and had to sell it for $1500 less then it sells at the dealership and she never drove it, In Ontario you only pay 8% PST tax on used ATV while new is pst+GST 16%. The Warranties are only 6 months up here and run out while they are sitting in a garage usually.

Its more about milage and contition to me then year on ATVs. I turned down a few 500s that were 3 years newer before buying mine. That was 3 years and 1500 miles ago,and I do not regret it yet.

A good price on a new 500 OTD in Ontario is close to $8500 while a low milage great condition 500 is $5000-$6000.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks a bunch for the quick posts.

Wow, definitely great info here.

Sounds like efi, maybe look for 2008 or 2009 unit still in inventory at a good price. Need to budget, winch, probably a back seat and storage combo and trailer.

Here in Ontario, I notice sp500 ho carb untis selling at approx $7,200 out the door. (pdi, frieght, lic taxes all in)

I'll check fro what 2008, 2009 efi units sell for.......$1,500 more??

I am paranoid about buying used as per already commented... not knowing history etc...I have heard of some horror stories of abused used units. If I buy used , should I buy from a dealer not private?

Trailers - what is prefered trailers for atvs and costs??

Thanks again for input.


Musky

 

$1500 more for a thottle body?" No way its that great of a option.I could buy new 26" tires with SS rims and a winch for less then that on ebay.

I bought this spare 97 sled for almost that 4 years and 1000miles ago as a lender for the have nots visitors and it has reverse,500 twin,hand warmer now thats a better $1500 option living in Ontario.


When I buy used it from the owner,before the dealer gets his hands on it and resells it for a higher cost and even used you have to pay both gst and pst from a dealer.

Remember EVERYONE on this site rides a used ATV.

I test ride them,you can,t hide broken. Even if it had a problem I,m sure the $3000 savings fixes it for far less.


Look at this sweet deal http://forums.atvconnection.com/yama...odiak-4x4.html

Your going to be worried about a machine that has 260 miles, I would not get in the sport if they were that unrealiable.

 

Well TLC good to see you are on you EFI sucks kick but when you spend $10.000 on any machine the least they can do is have EFI and now most have Power steering and if you have done more than just ride one with it you know it well worth the $$$$$ just like EFI!