i own a 2004 500 sportsman with 1700 miles on it and it will not go over 50mph,it never has since the day i bought it.Everything i read in this forum about speed people are always talking about going over 50mph.Any suggestions to get me over the 50mph hump would be great.Please don`t say buy a 700 because i have 49 more payments before this one is paid.

 

brian 33, i have the 2004.5 HO and it tops out at about 54 or 55mph and it takes a long time to get there. They were not built for speed and it is a pretty heavy machine [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] But it sure does ride smooth and will take you through almost anything you can give it [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Good luck!

 

I would have to agree with the grumpymedic. My 2003 probably tops out at about 54, but anything over 40 comes slowly. I'm always surprised when people want top end out of a Sportsman. If the Sportsman were a car, it would be a Jeep CJ-5. A go anywhere machine, but scary when driven fast. Your Sportsman is the ultimate off-road battleship. Enjoy it for what it is. Nobody on a fast sport quad is going to follow you into that mud hole, or through that nasty rock garden. Your Sportsman has its niche, and unless you're on another Sportsman, a Grizzly, or an AC650, there's nobody that will touch you when the going gets really nasty.

 

You could probably get a healthy SP500 HO up to 55 MPH but you’d have to have over inflated tires, be on a paved road, you’d need about a 2 mile run, and be hunkered down behind the head light pod in an attempt to improve aerodynamics.
On a sandy fire road, 50 MPH seams about right.

 

my 04 500 tops out at 55-58,my dealer told me anywhere from 55-60 they should run.i got a k&n filter dout that does much though?

 

My 04 sportsman 400 does 55mph on a gravel road and my buddy had a 02 500 and it would do 60mph.

 

sorry I screwed up my machine is a 02 not a 04

 

i was just wondering if ther was an adjustment in the clutch or different air filter for example k&n.because on a long hard packed road i have a hard time making it to 50mph and other people in this form are making it to 55mph etc.my bike is just stock for the dealer.

 

I have a 2004.5 sportsman 500 ho and could get up to about 56 mph-i just recently installed a k&n air filter and have no trouble hitting 60mph.
I have a warn 2500 lb. winch and front double tube bumper and i am the least to say that i am not thin!

 

Check your Jetting, My 04 400 hits 50 Pretty quickly, You should easily be getting another 5 MPH out of yours..
Also th Clutches are not Known for being perfectly aligned from the factory, Check your alignment and belt deflection.. Mine was off from the Factory...remember every bit of Drag will hurt you.

Ron

04 Sportsman 400
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