2001 CHANGES
Polaris made a bunch of changes to its 2001 lineup.
Some of the items include: redesigned fuel tank cap, stainless steel brake lines, improved brake fluid reservoir (with sight glass), a one-handed parking brake operation, and more durable disc pads and rotors.
All 2001 and some late 2000 models with Polaris Variable Transmission (PVT) now use a completely new PVT cover and backing plate. The new cover is said to resist warping from excess heat within the PVT. To provide cooler operating temperatures and increase airflow, the shape of the PVT cover was also redesigned. Inside the cover, more gussets were added for strength. To prevent water from enter the PVT area through the air exhaust outlet assembly was redirected.
Steering posts were also redesigned. Polaris engineers said the larger-diameter steering posts are now in place along with a higher-quality sealed lower support bearing.
Polaris will have a limited lifetime belt warranty program at its dealerships in 2001. If an owner breaks a belt or has belt problems, the dealer will fix it, free. The dealers will then record how the belt broke, and educate owners on how to avoid the same problem.

ACCESSORIES
Polaris is building its parts, garments and accessories segment to appeal to both its utility and sport ATV owners. Some of the cool products for the sport quads include billet aluminum parts, aluminum wheels, aggressive tires, seat covers, plastic skid plates, bumpers and trick sticker kits. And for those riders that need a sport utility machine, Polaris does offer racks and bags for the Trail Blazer and Scramblers.
Other options, targeted more toward the utility rider, are windshields, quick-connect hitches, front-mounted power brooms, electric-actuator snow plow lifts, cargo boxes and more.

Just thought this was interesting. CM

 

Hey Cob, this H.O. model is starting to get my "Impulse Buy" gear started again. Right now, I'm looking around at every Sportsman aspect (that I already know like a book) good or bad, to try to justify trading my AC in in a couple months. The AC would be hard to part with right now because it looks so bad with all the crap I stuck on it, but the H.O. seems to be the stuff as far as quads go.

I like the fact that they redesigned the transmission casing and worked on the brakes, cables, steering, and shifter linkage as well. Other than the money, I think it would probably come down to the fact that you don't have 4wd when going downhill, and the damn auto tranny that I have always wanted to avoid. I'm a shifter man, and thats about the extent of it. I'm not really worried about the rest. A question though might be how hard it is to replace a belt. If I had an automatic, I would probably keep a spare belt on board just in case, and it would be nice if it were easy enough to replace on the trail somewhere.

You can probably expect a few questions from me in the coming months, because I know that you like to take the Chickenquad out to some nasty spots. The rocks that you ride in are close to the same type stuff I like to get into, just that yours are a little less tame.

 

Andy, A belt replacement takes all of about 15 minutes, once you do it one time theres nothing to it/ no special tools required and they are relativly inexpensive. Rarely will you have a problem with it however if you just learn to use Low range when the Quad is under a heavy load. The improvements sound like a good step forward for Polaris, The belt warrenty is a bold move.

 

ANDY
Bet it really hurts to know that all these guy's are watching you talk like that!!!!!I'm waiting to see what becomes of the 700.I'm like you eating my heart out over the HO but will wait.CM

 

Come on now Cob, don't give me that! You know as soon as you see one, you'll trade in for one, and leave the wife with the regular Clucker 500. That is, until she decides that she needs to trade hers in too. How many Sportsmans have you had in the last 5 years now?

As far as a 700, I don't see it happening, and if it does, then I don't see the use in it. I'm looking at that the same way I look at the diesel. The diesel has all that torque, but the gasoline sportsman has enough power to spin its wheels pulling a hay trailer or stump long after it loses traction due to its weight. Where would you benefit with a 700cc utility? A 70mph utility would be fun, but its not practical. They need to just make a manual shift sportsman instead. Then they draw in another group of would be buyers.

I bet if I sell the AC, some folks will call me "Benedict", but like I have said all along, I am loyal to nothing other than my own preference. I will downplay or praise any brand for any aspect that is in or not in their favor. There are a lot of things I like about my AC better than a sportsman, but the sportsman looks like more fun to me. I've considered this a few times in the past, and this time I concluded that if I have come to this point this many times, then it is probably what I want. I think the HO model might just push me over the edge this time.

 

I saw a ho sp500. You can tell by the way the engine sits that it has a bigger cam, look at the recoil handle and housing. and the automotive sytle instrumtent panel with from right to left: R, N, P, high temp, low oil and one other. It is really neat! The park light works like this. When you set the new easier to set parking barke with one hand the light comes on.

 

On another note, tonight, I scrubbed up the cat, armor alled it up real shiny, and mowed out a place by the highway for it to sit. I'm going to ask $5200 for it ($4800 with the stock tires which still have good tread). If it sells, it sells. If it don't, then what am I out? Nothing.

$5200 may sound high for a 99 model with 1400 miles, but to look at it, its pretty eye catching. I've got oxlites, a rack extension (big deal), Kimpex bumpers front and rear (those really set it off), The winch (another selling point), and 27" Bi/Tri Claws on it. The tires alone will draw interest (those little spikeys on the sides draw the most questions from anyone I see).

As far as the condition goes, There are very few even minor scuffs to the plastic. No dents in the bumpers, and really not even any scratches on the racks other than a few scuffs on the pushbar and kimpex (I never hauled anything on the racks in the two years I have had it). Mechanically, it runs like a top.

I don't really see any trouble in selling it. Not unless there just aren't many folks in the market at this time, and it seems that with hunting season around the corner, thats not going to be the case. At $5200, I have room to go down. Always better to ask more than you will take, that way you can always go down on price without getting hurt. You can never go up on price of course. The way I see it, you could pay $5800 plus taxes and get a brand new 2001 AC 500. Or you could pay $5200- 5000 and get a 99 with a few miles on it, and $650 in accessories not counting the winch.

The breakdown-
2000 AC manual- $5800
Sales Tax-roughly $400
Oxlites- $45
Kimpex x 2- $140
AC Rack ext.- $70
Bi/Tri Claws- $400
Total- $6855

Is $1655 worth 1400 less miles? We'll see.

 

You don't know Larry Bird do you?

 

And finally... (man I'm racking up posts here, almost up to 1000). In the case that I do sell it, I figure to pay it on off, then wait about another month or so, and just pay cash for an HO sportsman. Depending on what they are going to cost (I haven't looked for or seen one yet), I may wait until all the 2000 models are gone so the price may go down.

Lastly Cob, if this deal goes down, I'm sad to say that I won't be getting yellow. It will be green and mean. It might be hard riding that old 300 honda and getting my butt smoked by BigBadCat and his 454 for a while.

 

ANDY
Boy you racked them up on me was talking to CAT.I'll bet you'll be happy,guess you are serious,I'd jack the price to $5500,with the stuff that you have on there,and as you say hunting season is prime time.it has everything that they are looking for.As you say you can always go down.
I really like the Yellow as is easy to see,also looks bigger,my first one was green.With what we ride I think would be hard to beat 500SP the IRS and EBS are great here in the hills.It sounds like the HO is going to big seller.I really thought like you as far as the 700 but last time out we were at WEBSTER pass and well above tree line,it really saps your power you lose 3% of it for each 1000ft of elevation.I thought twice as we were into some steep stuff boy that 700 wouldn't be to bad.I wasn't out of power but thought it would be nice to have more.Just like some old woman never happy got to have more.I really don't want stick,as I have found the AUTO to be better in the hills.good luck on the sale!!!CM