I'm hearing mixed opinions about the Sportsman 400. I havn't had a 4 wheeler for quite some time and was just looking for a good machine, comforable ride, and not to pricey. Is this going to be a good purchase?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

The Sportsman 400 is a heck of a machine. All the chassis advantages of the Sportsman series, but with a smaller engine. While not a powerhouse by any means, the engine in the 400 is fairly torquey, and quite reliable. Actually, the engine probably has as much or more power as anthing else in the 400 cc utility quad sector, but it is carrying around as much weight as the 500HO Sportsman. If you don't need a speedster, it is a heck of a machine for the money. If I were looking at one, I would be sure to get one with the EBS option. Not only do you gain engine braking, you get a roller secondary clutch, which helps backshifting when hillclimbing, towing a trailer, etc, and no plastic buttons to wear out. The EBS rear clutch has been updated to steel ball bearings on the helix instead of the teflon sliding buttons of the standard one.

Also, the new Sportsmans have been changed over to greaseless chassis bushings. I think the new ones only have 3 zerks on the whole machine.

One other machine in this class that has most of the advantages of the Sportsman 400, in a lighter-weight chassis would be the Outlander by Bomb. It is a new machine, so no experience for how good they are long-term.

Farmr

 

i am not sure about there longevity either , but they do give a 3 year waranty ,not bad.

 

bombardier that is

 

I am sure the company that buy Bombadier will be around to provide service... oh did I say that???

Farmr,
Just so you know, while the buttons usually wear faster, the rollers still wear. Once they are worn slightly, you will begin to feel the belt slip in high with full throttle take-offs.

I do think the SP400 is an awesome quad for the money. I would look into the SP500HO compared to the SP400 with the EBS. What is the cost difference at your dealer?

 

Greg: Thanks for the info. I talked to a guy who said that the rollers were expected to last the life of the pulley. Guess I figured ball bearings would.