With 20% more power on tap, does the new Sportsman 500 HO get 20% less mileage than it's predecessor?

 

If I am thinking correctly, The more HP you have, the more gas mileage you get. It becomes more effiecent.

 

Correct, but if you use a bigger carb to get that it takes away or equals out.

 

My SP500 (Non-HO)varies from 15 to a little better than 20 mpg depending on which trail I'm on and how many times I have to stop and wait on the my riding buddies to catch up. The more I can keep it rolling the better it gets.

 

20 MPG seems to be about the average everyone that I talk to about H.O. mileage. For the performance received I think it is worth it.

I've been getting 25 MPG on my stock tired Magnum. I have been so pleased with the mileage and starting of the Magnum that I have not touched the carburetor. (which is rare for me. hahaha)

 

I get 20 -25 mpg depending on how much the 4x4 comes into my ride. went 92 miles the other night , haven't filled up yet. with 5.5 gallon tank it is nice to know 100 miles is not out of the question I am going to see how far i can go , i am going to carry 2 gallons with me and ride till it hits reserve, i estimate 120 miles.

 

let us know what you come up with. When i go to my dad's in W.Va. we may ride for up to 8 hours. Not sure of the total miles but it would be nice to have an idea of about what the limit might be. So far none of us have taken spare tanks. I get too crazy to carry it but there are others that ride safer and can carry it.
Rick

 

Hey Guys~
That is generally true about the larger the engine, the greater the MPG. When trailriding at a steady speed about 30-35MPH, polaris 400's get around 25-27MPG. The older trailboss 250's and the new trailblazer get only around 20MPG. At 35MPH, the 400 have the clutches shifted out and it is effortless for the engine. Whereas the 250's are approaching their limit to top speed. I just installed an HPD clutch kit in my scrambler tonight(great kit!) and am going riding this weekend(close to 200 miles). Do you think the clutch kit would help with mileage? I'll write again on Monday about the results.

 

No offense WIscrambler but you are getting some tremendous mileage on that Scrambler/Xplorer of yours. I have burned many tankfulls of fuel in a 400 Xplorer/Sportsman and a good day would yield 19 MPG overall. Those 250s that you run with must be wound pretty tight.

A clutch kit normally moves the rpm range up in ATV applications. If the range is up the mileage would go down if the engine was not bogging to begin with. However, your results may vary.

 

Hey Thor~

The trails we ride on are abandoned railroad beds up by Park Falls, WI(Tuscobia trail). The trails are straight as an arrow and we normally cruise along about 35 MPH. Of course if the trails were through the woods, and I was constantly on and off the gas, 19 MPG sounds very accurate. All the machines that ride with us are mechanically 100%. The trailboss's that are getting around 20MPG are a 91' and 87'! Both 250's and 4X4! About the clutch kit...I know what you're saying about the RPM range, but I thought a clutch kit is supposed to use what power is available more efficiently? My thinking is that the machine is running more efficiently and therefore MPG should increase. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right. Whatever the MPG, just keep on riding!!! I'll write again Sunday night when we get back from riding and share the results.