I'm selling my 99 Scrambler 400 and will be replacing it with one of these three quads. I was pretty much decided on a Xplorer 400 but I talked to my dealer on Monday and he said he WOULD NOT recommend a Xplorer 400 due to the fact it's chain drive. He said the chains on the concentric drive models are a pain in the butt to adjust and that some of the earlier 99 concentric drive models are coming back to the dealer and are giving people MORE trouble than non-concentric drive models. He said he would probably recommend a Magnum 500, even though the Sportsman 500 is his best selling model he said he likes the Magnum because it is 60 lbs lighter and 500 bucks cheaper. He did say that the Sportsman 500 is a great bike and that there has not been many problems with the IRS. He said for the kind of riding I plan to do (deep mudding) that I would be better off with the Magnum 500 due to the shaft drive and that I wouldn't want the chain drive on the Xplorer. What do you guys think? Is the chain drive on the Xplorer that much of a hassle? Are the Magnum 500 owners who are reading this satisfied with their bike? Do you wish you would have gotten a Sportsman 500?

Mitch
99 Scrambler 400 (For Sale)

 

Your salesman thinks a bike with less ground clearance is better for the mud?

 

I currently own a 99 Explorer 400 and I really like it. It is fast and with the low range has plenty of power when needed. My uncle recently bought a Magnum 500 to go along with his Sportsman 500 and after seeing the Magnum I think I might have to agree with your dealer. I have never had any problems with my 99 explorer I just think for the purpose of deep mudding that you would be happier with the Magnum. It would have more than enough power and less to worry about going wrong and when you are in the mud and the muck. If I buy another I have already decided that it would be the Magnum..I am even considereing getting rid of my 97 Scrambler and buying one.

And as far as the ground clearance issue. All quads will get stuck...it doesn't matter if you have 8" or 10" or even 24"...your gonna get it stuck...That is where the fun is...Just too bad you didn't do this last month, you could have gotten a free winch with it.
Whatever your decision is...With these three choices you can't go wrong.

 

I chose the Sportsman over the Magnum for one reason riding double, it doenst compress the suspension at all with two people and there was some sag on the Magnum 500. To me they are both awesome and no one could go wrong with either. My concentric chain on my 2000 Xplorer 250 4x4 had to be replaced, but i had roughly 800 miles on it. Riding double. other than that no issues with it. But would go with shaft fo sure.

 

Your dealers a dink.I own a 00 Xplorer 400cc 4x4 and the Concentric drive is super.The adjustment is simple and easy.You hardly have to adjust the chain either.

I owned a 99 500cc Sportsman.The Xplorer is 110lbs lighter,is more nimble,has a lot better throttle response,will beat either the Sportsman or Magnum pretty bad in a drag race,and is the superior hill climber.

You make the call====BILL

 

This is a tough one. I love my Xplorer400 but a yellow SP500 would be great to have too. Do not even take into consideration the chain problems...there are not any! Chains are great and do not need that much maintenance. If you want a more agressive/sporty ride, fast, nimble and plush... go with the Xplorer. If you are content with a moderate and super plush ride go for the SP500. If you want a moderate and plush ride go for the Mag.(It's in between) It's such a hard choice to make. A SP500 with a little tinkering in the clutch is a pretty amazing ride!
Even I would have a hard time deciding.
The only thing that I have changed my mind on lately, just a wee bit, is about maintenance in the woods. My Xplorer's ride is 10x funner than the SP500 but being a worry wart and all I always fill the tank and oil before each ride and wax the chain. I also grease the zerks a lot too. But once it is all done...it's all worth it!!
Try all 3 and choose the one that "feels" right! But honestly...going from a 2-srtoke 400 to a 4-stroke 500 is pretty tough...especially from a Scrambler400! Be sure to do a few mods to the 500 if you take that path.

 

I just went through the same decision process between the Explorer and the Magnum. The dealer was also against the explorer becouse of durability issues. I took the Magnum becouse I plan on keeping it for quite a while and average 1000 miles a year. It also fits my riding style better than the 400. And I also use it for spraying and pulling a mower. Since I also use it for hunting, I didn't want the 2-stroke smell in the woods. The Mag. also has EBS. The explorer would sure rip though. Good luck.

 

Mitch,

I currently don't own a quad (hopefully that will be changing soon), but I do have 2 friends with Xplorer 400s... one a 1999 and one 2000. Neither have had any chain problems.

I have another friend with a '96 400 2x4, and he has had a couple problems (broken links), but I wouldn't let that deter you from the Xplorer.

 

Go with the Xplorer Mitch, I just got rid of a 98 Sportsman with a clutch ,jetkit and k&n. THERE is no way I would be happy now that I've riddin the 400! There is just not enough zip there compared to the Xplorer. Besides I'm begin to think it's a better mudder also. It has instant wheel speed when needed and it's really nice not having the weight when there isn't a bottom! just my 2 cents.

 

There is different schools of thought here but basically all 3 are great quads. But you only want to buy one, so , buy the 400. Mud is absolutely no troubles for a chain if you stick to using chain wax instead of any oils. I have a 400 sportsman 2 stroke ( the best quad polaris ever made) You say you love mud,,, me too. The hard part to accept with the 500"s is the fact you are going to get smoked by a 2 stroke.
P.S. I have over 4000 miles on mine and the chain was adjusted twice. GO POLARIS