Hey everyone!!! I currently own a 99 Sportsman 500, and am seriously thinking of selling it and getting an Xplorer 400. What is everyone's opinion that has owned/ridden both? My sp500 has a tendency to overheat when ridden in alot of gumbo mud. Do the xplorers have the same problem? Reason I'm asking is that when we recently went on a ride in arkansas, there was one sportsman 400, and it was over an hour into the ride before his radiator fan kicked on. Mine kicked on about 10 minutes into the ride (and I'm positive my rad was clean). Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

 

Xplorer 400s are the coolest running quad in the line-up.

They do not have the fan shroud and will run cooler in the event of radiator clogging.

Read Bill450ES post about their recent mud contest.

 

I had a chance to ride one last week-end and it was a smoother ride that I expected. It is a smaller motor and should run cooler. Did your bike over heat or did the fan just kick on?

Also if you plan to ride in a lot of that really thick/dry gumbo mud, you can't beat a Honda 450ES. No water pumps or radiator problems. No belt to burn. Limited turning radius for more reliable CV joints. I hate to hear you considering to get rid of the SP500. Did you guys have fun in AR??

Greg

Greg

 

To Walexa, Just one more possible choice would be to just hang on a while longer and wait and see what the 2001 sp500's are like. To me right now the sp 500's out, you could call 2000 and 1/2. We have been reading on this forum that polaris is working on better parts control and better rads. and other parts. It might be worth looking at the next generation sp500. Its just a choice. rangerchet

 

Mine has never overheated...hardly ever hear the fan either. I feel that the Xplorer400 is snappier than the SP500. The power feels different. Better acceration and just as good in the mud. The only thing better on the Sp is the IRS and no chains to worry about. I hardly ever worry about my chains though. That EBS is pretty good to if not ridden to agressively.

The Xp400 is a very good choice and has not let me down yet. Stick on a clutch kit and WOW!

 

I was very impressed with the Xplorer 400, very nice running and powerful. My only issue is the chain drive, but people don't seem to have any trouble.

 

My fan kicks in before other people I ride with but I ride with allot of two stroke Polaris's, I figure that is why. but it has never over heated even 85 degrees and 90 miles of mud and dust.

 

I had heard that the 2001 explorer 400 were supposed to come with shaft in the front and rear. No more chains. I have never had an overheating problem with my 99 Exporer even in this 100+ degree heat..of course with 100+ degree heat there aren't many mud holes left.