Well this is my first post on this site and I need some help. I have gotten away from the sport quad thing and want to get into the fun stuff, mud,climbing brush stomping. I found great prices on both quads but dont know which one to get. The 500 is the best selling and the 600 seems to sit on the floor? the 500 has a pull start(which i like ) the small twin does not. the 600 has more power but eats more gasthat the 500. I guess my question is does the 500 really have the **** to push that heavy machine? How will it perform in mud holes and or climbing? Are they really tippy, (i hope not 750# would be hard to get upright.)

Any help would be needed so thanx in advance, i plan on buying in the morning!!!!!

one more thing, i was looking at the 450 koiak but it felt small to me,im 6'2 and 220, that machine is getting great reviews, but didnt look as solidly built as the sp500/600

 

just my opinion....both machines are capable of what you want....the times I have messed around on the 600 have been fun, my previous machine was a 500, but not the HO, even though they were out then....the 500 HO is definitely a capable machine....I don't think you'll find much differences between the two....the 500 has less issues than the 600, still reading about people having problems in water with the 600....

if you had the money, the 700 or 800 EFI are tops...the EFI is well worth it....

but anyways, both machines are capable of climbing anything....good at mudding, etc.

 

You don't have to worry the 500HO has more than enough oomph to get up and boogy. I am 6'2" and 235 and the quad will pull the wheels up in the air about 1.5 to 2 feet in low range and about 6 inches to 1 foot in hi-range. Hunting this fall It was me and another guy who is 6'3" 240lbs and we were doubling on the 500 HO with no problems and all our gear as well. There is no doubt that the sportsman chassis is one of the most stable ones around. Like you said, the recoil backup starter is a real plus.
But just remember that your coming from a sport bike to a utility quad, you are not going to have the same feeling as far as power goes
As far as the difference in power between the 600 and the 500, i don't know, I have never ridden a 600 but I have had 2 700's and went back to the 500.

Good luck on the decision

Brambles

 

Thanx for the quick responses. Also is 6499.OTD a good price? I see on the polaris site they are offering a winch for 99 bucks, but the delaer wants 170 to install. I think the will up the price if i tell them i want the winch it will probably be closer to 7k otd....

what was the water issue with the 600?

my suspisions were correct i was leaning harder towards the 500

 

If you are buying the 2005 model, there won't be any water problems....that was on earlier machines....

$6499 OTD is a pretty good price....Polaris of Chattanooga has it for $5883....which doesn't include any taxes, etc. that you may have to pay depending where you live....

If they have a special of $99 and the dealer wants $170 to install, the dealer is ripping your off on the install....my dealer charges $75 for the install.......if you can get the winch for $99, then get it and do the install yourself. Not sure if that includes the mount and maybe thats what the dealer is including. If its the kit for the 2005 machine, then it includes the mount. If it is just the winch, you will need the mount, but you can pick them up for about $45. The machine is prewired for the Polaris Warn winch...the kit Polaris sells....not hard to install, still takes awhile, but there are power and ground cables already run and a place to mount the contactor....also a connector in the front access cover for the ignition wire.....

dave

 

I have ridden a few H.O. and also one 600 twin. I don't have a lot of time on these two machines, but 2 of the guys i ride w/ have h.o. and one has a 600. The guy w/ the 600 said the h.o. are faster...?? when i rode the 600 i did not like it. I would recommend the h.o.

 

I'd definately go with the 500 H.O. Proven reliability and plenty of power. If you go with the twins you have poor gas milage and no back up recoil (which I had to use on my Scrammy in the past).

 

Hello Wildland and welcome to the forum. First of all I own a 600 and love it. My brother has a 500ho and I love it also. They are both capable af anything that you would put them through. Here are some plus and minus issues.....


The 600 has more power, but the 500 feels like a softer ride to me. The recoil starter is a plus, but ive never had an issue with not having it (yet). The sound of the v-twin is awesome.
The bottom line, its a no lose situation. Good luck

 

wildland,

My dad has both the 500 ho and the 600 twin. From the riding I have done on each, the 500 HO seems to be more comfortable and to me the acceleration seemed smoother. As you can see from my signature I am a Yamaha guy, but between those 2 I like the HO alot better.

Ryan

 

$6499 OTD sounds good to me. My dealer wanted $7300 OTD with plow and winch for an '05 H.O. even with the $400 free accessories.