I have a '96 400 Sportsman, and as you may know, I recently got beat in a race by a '00 500 Sportsman. From what I have heard, this shouldn't happen. I put a new plug in it (old one was wet nd worn). I also replaced the air filter and pre filter. Everything else is still from the factory. What else should I do to make sure I don't get beat again?
Thanks for any suggestions,
Joe

 

Clutch buttons? Could be worn..

umm...new belt? could need a rebuild, i think the 400 is a 2stoke?

 

umm? don't race a 500??
why would the 400 be faster? is it because it's lighter?

 

a 400 2 stroke should always be faster than a 500 4 stroke. It's just the was it is 2-strokes are faster than 4-strokes.

 

4wheelinDakota,
I think an Explorer is about 100lbs lighter than a Sportsman...Plus it's got that 400L.

 

i'll remember that next time. i guess i don't know a lot about these things.
i do know, that when i got my quad, i was riding with some guys who had everything from 200x's to 400ex's and i had no trouble at all keeping up with them except in the turns and over the steep jumps. 700 pounds plus my skinny 160 is a lot of weight to be turning and jumping. i also pulled some of them out of a bog. then when i got stuck in it, they had to get a truck to get me out. (next day, i got the winch, which i used tonight in the creekbed)