I have an opportunity to buy a new Sportsman 400 for a very good price.

Someone won one and will sell it to me at a discount. I have been eyeballing a Sportsman 500 HO. What is the difference between the two besides the cc's? what does the HO designation mean?

Is the difference worth the worry?

Thanks for any speedy replies.

BB

 

i have an 500HO and ride with some 400's their are both good machines, the question is the deal that good not to go with the 500HO?

HO = high output.

 

The HO means that the performance has been increased from the non HO from like 99 or so (different cam). The 400 while able to pull well and will be within a few mph (2-4) on top end. The 500 certainly has a more powerful feel and sound to it. The 400 will pull in low til the tires spin on dirt and once tires break loose are pretty much done anyway. The 500 will have noticable better torque. The 400 will keep up in normal trail riding and pull fine. If the very good price is less than 4500 would not be bad.

 

They are essentially the very same machine with the following differences:

* The motor is the same motor except the "400" is actually a smaller bore/shorter stroke version of the 500 H.O. motor. The "500 H.O." motor is actually 499cc and the "400" motor is actually 425cc. The 500 H. O. also has a larger carb. The "H.O." stands for High Output. So in a nut shell the 500 has more power.

* The 500 also has electronic engine breaking. What that does is allow for "engine breaking" when desending hills. The 400 does not have this feature. I think this is a preference thing where some people like it and some people (like me) never had a need for it.

* In the 04's the tires were different......in the 05's I believe they all have the same tires.

I got the 400 because like I said it's essentially the same machine as the 500, with the above acceptions, but it cost $900 less. I would have liked the 500......but I had set a 6G limit and I couldn't justify the extra $900.

BTW........I'm really enjoying my 400.

Good Luck, Bob

 

I also went with the 400......and i ride with a 500 and he will lose me if its wide open roads ,but not by much......and he may make it a little further up that one sand hill we never make it up....but other than that I keep up fine all the time. I have never regreted it yet and am just glad i went with polaris and their all wheel system......cause it is THE BEST!

 

Unless you are a really big guy, the 400 will be great - as it was stated earlier, it's actually a 425. I tried both and just could not justify the extra money - I still had to buy two more atv's (for my sons), so I was watching the $$$. With the $$$ I saved, I bought rack bags, warm weather gear, heated grips and the insurance.

 

I had a 04 400 and now have a 04.5 500 ho. The difference in power is huge!! The 500 is a work horse. The 400 won't use as much gas as the 500 ho. If i had to do over, iwould still opt for the 500. They both are great machines though. Dobie

 

I believe the PXT tires are optional on the 2005 SP400. They are standard on the 500HO. Personally, unless its like a $1500 difference, I'd go with a 500HO. I've had mine a year and I'm already itching to go bigger (like 700EFI). The 500 gives you more motor, and Engine Braking (which I love) and the PXT Tires.

 

Thanks for all of your replies.

In my search, I have never considered any thing but 4x4. I have run across a couple of 2x4's at a great price.


Will I miss a 4x4? on a 4 cycle,..I should get more performance ,..shouldn't I? And they can still climb well,...can't they?

Price does matter.

Thanks,

BB

 

4x4 or 2x4?? All maters what kind of riding you do. If you like mud, muddy hilly trails, or snow you need 4x4. My friends with 2x4's only ride when it's dry or less than 2" of snow, kind of limits your riding days.