How does the fuel economy (or range) compare between the 700 EFI and the 500?

I'm thinking of getting a AWD machine since I'm always blasting off and leaving my wife 10 minutes behind. The problem is when you ride faster than everyone else, you ride alone. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Anyway, my concern is range. I don't like getting lost out in the muskeg.

 

I just got back from a day long trail ride consisting of 29.5 miles of HARD riding. My wife's 600 used more than a half tank of fuel, while my 700EFI used probably 2/5ths tank. The EFI is definatly a better quad for range, but if I was going to ride more than 50 miles round trip, I'd probably take a spare gallon of fuel with me on the rear rack. Each rider has his or her own style, so you will probably see different results.

I was hard on the throttle all day, in and out of it for tight turns, jumps, mud runs, gnarly up hill climbs, and a lot of engine braking going down hills. No fire road speeds so it wasn't wide open for any great lengths of time, except when going through the mud pits a couple of times.

However, the EFI is nice in that the Speedo needle blinks red when you are on reserve, that get's your attention fast, and puts you in conserve mode.

 

I do a lot of 50-80 mile days. As it is, I have my wife carry extra fuel for my Predator. Ran out once on the trail this year. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]