Will the new HO keep up with the 2 stroke? I really ike the quickness and fast wheelspin of my '96 400. Will a Sportsman be worth the extra $1000 or so?

 

they have about the same hp. the 2-stroke reves faster but the 4-stroke has more torque. i think the xplorer might be a little quicker just because its lighter than the sportsman.

later
jon

 

In the scrambler 400 vs 500 HO the 500 is slightly faster.

 

I know a 400 Xplorer can beat a non H.O 500 SP and Magnum.

 

The 400 is quicker because it can beat a Scrambler 500, let alone a Scrambler with all that extra weight(Sportsman 500 HO).

 

I also know a 400cc Xplorer is faster than a 500cc standard Sportsman.I owned them both at one time.Even if the HO Sportsman is faster than the Xplorer,it would'nt take much to hop up the 2-stroker to whip its a$$.I cant justify buying the HO Sportsman over my lighter,more nimble Xplorer.However,lets see what the 700cc is all about.===Bill

 

I have a feeling that it will be the same old 4stroke vs. 2stroke thing. The 4 stoke will have that low end grunt, and the 2stroke will have that sudden punch that leaves you head behind you. As far as top end, I have no idea, but the sudden acceleration of the 400 will still probably pull away at some point. For drags, I would say the 400, but for overall top out, I am clueless.

 

I sure wish they would have made a 400,or 500 2 stroke with shaft drive and Independent Susp, That would be sweet!

 

In a word, NO !!!
In the Scramblers the 400 is lighter, less expensive, less complicated and much easier to get big power gains out of...

 

Hi
I am new to ATVConnection, but I have been riding Polaris ATV's since 1989. Last weekend I went to a Polaris dealer and rode a new Sportsman 500HO. It wasn't too bad but I wouldn't trade my 400 Explorer for it. I asked the dealer how the 500 HO compares to the 400. He told me he lined up a 2001 Sportsman 500HO and a 2000 Explorer 400. Oh, this is a dealer that really likes to sell 4 strokes rather than 2 strokes. I asked him, "so, did the 500 beat the 400?" All he said was "it was close." Then I asked him "did the 500 beat the 400 off the line?" All he said was "it was close." Finally I asked him "Was the 500 ahead of the 400 at any point of the race?" All he would say was "it was close." Moral of this story: for trail riding or raw speed, stick woth the 400 2 stroke. They are easier and cheaper to modify. Go with the 400 scrambler. It is roughly $400 cheaper than the 500. $400 could buy you a good pipe and clutch kit taht would make the 400 walk all over that 500.
WIscrambler
96' Scrambler 400 4X4
99' Exploroer 400 4X4
00' Trailboss 325 2X4