I have a 2005 500 ES, and I have always thought it was a great machine, until I rode my friends 2006 Polaris 500 EFI. I can't go over 25-30 mph on the trail without contstantly having to correct my steering, if I was just to relax and ride the machine I'd be in the woods before I know it. Is this a bad case of bump steer? or too much tow out or in?

I get on his Polaris and all I have to do is point and go without worries. I'm pretty ticked off right now please help.

I do have a set of 27" mudlites on the machine, would this cause handling issues?

 

Play with your tire pressure! When I first got my Rancher, there were times when the bump steer was terrible, and other times nonexistent. I started experimenting with different tire pressures, and it has not been a problem since.

I have no experience with 27" mudlites, but I bet that isn't helping any either. How did it do with the stock tires, before the mudlites?????

And, you won't be regretting your Honda's bump steer one little bit, while you are towing that Polaris home someday..........

 

I had the tires put on at the dealer before I ever rode it.

Thanks for the input, I'll check the tire pressures as see if that helps.

 

Rule of thumb, you should have 4 lbs. of pressure, no more than 6 lbs. I'm sure the 27's, are the problem!!! I would do like the other's said and try the stock tire's. Then you can make your decision.

 

Go to the ITP website, and see what pressure they recommend for that tire and use that as a starting point. My experience has been that the ideal pressure is quite a bit lower than their recommendations.

 

Why would a lower air pressure reduce darting/bump steer?

Is it because the tire forms over the bump, rather than gripping it?

 

The Mudlites will definitely do it. The problem with agressive tire is that sometimes comfort and mauverabilty is sacrificed. I used to have Titan 489's and had a nice smooth ride. These Mudlites sort of take me where they want to go. I think maybe my next set of tires I'll go agressive on the back and less on the front (as long as the height is the same).
Buck

 

Another friend of mine has a Polaris 500 EFI X2 and he has 26" 589's on it front and back. His tracks the exact same way as my other friends standard 500EFI-perfectly. I'm not too sure how much I can buy that it's just the Mudlites, it has to be something with the Honda front end geometry or my tire pressure.

 

toe the tires out, this will make the bike have less of a chance of darting

 

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