I am thinking about getting the 2004 sportsman 700 with a carb not EFI. Is it a machine worth getting or does it have problems?

 

I have one. No problems here. I did have too have the carb update, but I doubt you will. Great quad.

 

If this is a "new" bike, you can get tremendous deals!!! The carb versions were huge money savers for those looking for a big bore on a budget. Now, with the 2005's on everyone's minds, also check into the 700 EFI's. Great deals to be had with this model as well...

If used..... and a good price.... go for it. I've got one and it's been a "pet rock". Even after lifting it, adding wheels and 27" tires, a few "secret motor goodies" and beating the living snot out of this thing.... I've had no major problems to speak of. Routine maintenence and that's it. Just be sure to get that carb update for it. Some bikes have it already, some do not. Even if the manual say it does, it still may not. The only way to tell is to tear down the carb and check the jets and needle. During a routine service call to your dealer, have them take a look. For me, this was free-be from Polaris. If your location in Riverhead gets cold, let's say 10*f or less.... The update is a must have!! We've seen 16*f here and for cold starts, it requires little or no choke. And a bonus, during the warmer months, the "better" jetting gives you a bit more bottom end grunt. If you need more info on this update, P.M. me....

I'm completely stasfied with 700 carb!! Hopefully you will be too....

 

We have 2 and have had no problems. 1200 miles on one and about 1150 on the other. We keep them clean, do the routine maintenance, and they still look and run just like brand new.

 

just my opinion but if your gonna spend the money you mise well spend the extra $300 to get the EFI. you can look at it like this, for $300 you don't have to spend time jetting your carburator everytime you make a mod or add a air filter ect. you never have to deal with using a choke anymore. and you don't have to sit and wait for the machine to warm up for ten minutes. when you go into the higher altitudes the EFI adjusts itself and when you add a filter/exhaust the EFI also adjusts itself just like a new car. my cousin just got the 700 carb and I got the 700EFI's and the power is the same, just the small things like not having to use a choke/jetting/etc.

don't get me wrong the carb models are still great but for a couple extra bucks I don't see what the big deal is when your spending the cash for the bike in the first place.

 

Silverbullet has a good point. The EFI is great and I would highly recommend it. But, if you don't (can't) spend the extra money or you are completely opposed to the extra technology, then the carbed model is great. The only thing I would say different from Silverbullet, is that to me, the power is not that close. To me, the EFI is way more responsive and quick up to about 30 mph or so.

 

i have a sportsman 700 efi and it will put a 700 carb down any day of the week. the efi just lights this big bore bike up. it is most deffinatley worth the extra money to get efi, if not, after you buy you'll be mad

 

I got an 05 sportsman 700 with 2200 miles on it. Its the EFI model. I love it, I am currently letting it "rest" lol I happen to roll it and dislocated my knee and shattered my knee cap and had to have surgery. But I cant wait to be back on the quad.

 

I hate to sound like a know it all here, but Silverbullet is completely wrong about the EFI system on Polaris quads. The EFI system here is not a closed loop system like cars, it does not have oxygen sensors in the exhaust streem so the EFI system has no idea of modifications like intake, exhaust, cam, etc. The only thing Polaris EFI (and most quads) adjusts for is temp and altitude, if you are relying on the EFI to compensate for modifications you have a long wait.

 

If your riding two models of the same ATV one EFI and one carb you would pressed to tell the deference. There no power gain with a EFI and if the stock jetting works for you condition you will never fool with it again.
I jumped on a 500 EFI 500 expecting a miraculous difference,it just is not there. You hit the gas and they both move carb or EFI. You still have to let a EFI warm up in the winter temps it does warm up engine oil any faster then a carb.

In are fishing group(see my pics) we have a 03 SP700 and SP700efi I cant see what one can do over the other and neither can they and they discussed it enough times around the fire a few times .LOL

Want a better bang for your buck difference for $300? Put it toward tires,then you will fell a change.