2 weeks ago, I raced in a local XC race, and I was beaten (by only 1 minute) by a young whipper-snapper riding a Scrambler 500 HO 4x4. I was schocked to say the least, but in reality this was my first race against that kind of machine. The local XC rules allow any 4x4 to enter the utility B class, so the fact that the Scrambler has no racks, tall suspension travel, 22" and 23" tires did not disqualify this machine from my class.

Does anyone have any thoughts on just how fast the Scrambler 500 HO 4x4 is compared to a P650/P700 in a drag race, tight woods race, etc. I'm pretty sure I can take the Scrambler in a muddy XC course, but I'm a little nervous about racing it again this Sunday in another XC race. Does the Scrambler 4x4 accelerate better or handle tight turns better than the P650/P700? Any thoughts on this subject would be most appreciated?

Happy trails...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

MikeyBoyesq I can tell you from first hand experiance that the 500ho is not faster than the P700 in a drag race. As far as handling I'm not to sure only becouse I haven't been on one my self but, doing the tight turns depends on the rider I think, the 500ho guy I road with was good on the turns but not as fast to come out of them. Keep presure on the right thumb and you got maid![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Mikw we just had the Nation ride in Tenn.In the drags a Scrammy with bolt on Mods was beating built 400ex z400 and was barely beaten by a moded V force.These things are quick.He got a good hole shot because of the 4wd. If he is a good rider you will have your hands full.There is a guy in our club that has a modded Scrammy and it would tie a modded p650 in a 300 ft drag.These quads are under rated.Good luck

 

Bossman...That guy in your club beats the Prairie 650's and runs about even with the moded 700 Prairie's. I know, I've seen him race many times!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

you think the scrambler 500 4x4 is quick,wait till you run against a modded 400 4x4[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img].

 

Welcome to the old mans' club, Mikey. I'm constantly being beaten by young whipper-snappers on slower machines!!

The 500HO isn't as fast as the 650/700, but a 2 stroke 400 modded will smoke them.

 

Scrambler 500 HO 4x4 vs. P650/P700????????????? What??? Mikey, Your POST!! Its going to start a War Now!!~LOL Now all the Polaris riders are going to come out and think you can really compaire the two!~LOL.
Anyways~lol There is a guy leading points in the GNCC utility mod right now and I believe hes on a hopped up scrambler? He's NEVER won, A Prairie has always taken first! but has been very consistent. In Rausch Creek I had him with no problems gunning for the whole shot! But he proved to be a much better rider then I and passed me in the woods. Well Maybe not better?~lol just younger and in better shape maybe~LOL. and I did let him by also [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]. I have that shirt that says something like Youth and Skill are no match for Age and Treachery? But it doesnt say anything about us older guys puttering out sometimes!~lol. Im sorry to say o'fella You may need to just log in a lot more saddle time?~LoL I know if there was just one thing I could do to improve, It would have nothing to do with what Im riding, but how much Im riding! You really gotta get out there and ride a few times a week! I know Ive looked for places local for me! where I could get in at least a few hours of riding here and there per week. But cant find[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]. A LOT of the better racers ride all the time! and even log in riding time days before the races. I dont know about you but I just cant seem to ride as much as I would like, Plus If I wanna keep my Wife and two little Girls I have to limit it~LOL[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]. You gotta remember too there are just some guys out there that are just plan Good, on any quad!.. ~coop

www.MarylandATV.com
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Thanx for all of the comparisons above regarding how fast a Scrambler 500 4x4 is compared to a P650/P700. I have no experience around those machines and your comments help me understand their potential capabilities. Sounds as if a modded Scram. can be a real force to be reckoned with, but not so much a stock Scram. I don't know if the Scram. 500 I raced last time is modified or stock...I'll ask him this Sunday when I race him again. In any case, the smaller tires (lower ctr. of gravity), taller suspension and lighter weight of the Scram. makes me believe that it has at least a small adv. over the Prairie in the tight woods sections...but the reality is that alot of races are won/lost based on the skill of the driver...and that probably explains why I lost the last race more than anything (I understand that the young guy has put in more XC races this year than I have).

Maryland ATV,
You hit the nail on the head with regard to the younger guys having more energy than most of us older fellas. I have a wife/family too and finding practice time can be nearly impossible. Unfortunately, I have spent little time riding my quad this year and 99% of my seat time was in XC races (which equals 1 race per month so far this year). That is not enuf seat time to consistently win XC races IMO. Somehow my 50+ year old hero -- Mike P.-- seems to have outsmarted father time and avoided the injury bug for many years now...perhaps its all of the seat time he puts in that helps him race strong vs. the young whipper-snappers?

Wish me luck racing vs. the Scram. on Sunday...I'll probably need it (due to my lack of skills mostly). [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Happy trails...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I used to have a 2001 Scrambler 500 4X4 with a Hot Seat Pipe, and full clutch kit (weights, springs, helix). I also shaved about 35-40 lpounds off the bike with various accesories like Douglas wheels and lighter tires. That thing was pretty quick/ My buddy had a stock 650 Prairie and I could easily smoke him out of the hole and be several bike lengths ahead until about 60 mph. then he could slowly catch me and pass me on the top end. I think his taller tires helped him on for top speed. In the woods it was pretty close. A stock scrambler is not amazingly fast, but responds well to clutch mods. I now have a modded V-force and against that same stock Prairie, he can't even keep me in sight. (ok, slight exaggeration)

I think with your mods, you will be close on power and speed with that Scrammy, but if your anything like me, I am old and tired and can get spaked by an 18 year old on a 400EX without him breathing hard. LOL[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

UPDATE:
I had another XC race today and my utility B class competitors included the same young whipper-snapper that beat me by 1 min. in our last XC race (2 weeks ago)...he is the one riding on a stock 2004 Scrambler 500 H.O. 4x4.

Like I said in my post above, I was pretty sure that I could take the Scrambler in a muddy XC course and that is EXACTLY what I got a chance to do today. We had tons of heavy rainfall the night before and more throughout the race day...as a result, there was tons of slop on the course, and it was particularly slick/deep after the earlier races held today. I ended up taking 1st in my utility B class (I beat both the stock Scrambler and a piped/modded P650 by 5 minutes) and I also came in 5th overall out of 32 quads in my B class race. I love XC racing in the mud!! After a bad holeshot today (my motor does not want to start on the first try with the Dyna cdi for some reason...this is the 2nd race in a row where this happened), I managed to pass both of my competitors by the end of lap 1...and the Scrambler was the hardest to pass today b/c it seemed to handle bad bumps much better than me, but he occasionally got high centered in the ruts (it comes stock with only 22" rr tires and 23" ft tires) and slid excessively around muddy turns. I followed him closely for about 2 or 3 miles and took the lead as soon as he turned too wide/slid in the muddy turn...and that was the last I saw of him until after the race. Ahh, revenge is SWEET!

PS - I also drag raced the same Scrambler today on a wet grassy field, and I was able to beat him easily (I won by approx. 3 or 4 quad lengths in about 300 feet). Now I no longer fear the Scrambler 500 HO 4x4!

Happy trails...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]