I love my 500HO ... i got it for the following reasons;

1. Pull start
2. Proven engine
3. More than enough power for me
4. I live in the midwest ... EFI is not really needed as there is no real alt change, but would have been nice for the winter
5. Price


hope that helps [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I was looking at the 500 just the other day and it appears to have an external oil reservoir made out of plastic. Is that correct, and if so, how many other machines use this set up? Remember there are no stupid questions just stupid people [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I have had my 04.5 Sp600 for nearly a year now and love everything about it. I don't worry about the lack of a pull start because I never stray far from home and if there was even a question of a battery problem I would just replace it, so far it performs like new. At the time, my Sp600 was cheaper than the 500 so it was an easy decision for me, plus I am from the school of "bigger is better". Even though it's a twin there is only one carburetor to worry about so that was also a plus. However, I do go through a lot of fuel in relationship to the miles I have on the machine, but I also spend most of my time in LO range doing chores around the barn. I haven't done enough trail riding to really give you a reliable fuel economy figure, but I'm sure the 500 goes through much less fuel. From what I have read, on the trail, the power difference between the 500 and 600 is minimal and the 500 will get you farther on a tank of fuel. I use my machine mostly as a workhorse so the extra low end grunt comes in handy. The power is right there off idle, it pulls like a bulldozer as long as you can maintain traction. Don't get me wrong, this thing will fly around in HI when asked to and always brings a smile, it's just a matter of priorities and prefference.

 

those 2 atvs are not even comparable!! my bud has the honda 450 and i can just whoop on him mud snow or just ridding.. in all areas the sportsman shines over the honda.... the only thing that the honda can do better is probablly pull a loaded trailer

 

Check out the under $7,000 shootout in the latest issue of 4 wheel ATV action mag.
The 500 HO beat out all the other 500 class quads and was the fastest.
The 650 BF won the shootout because of the extra power. Polaris 2nd.

Jim

 

the sportsman 500 was the fastest? was the vinson running? because i know that the vinson is by no question the faster of the 2... maybe the sportsman got a little faster in 05

 

Yes, the 500 HO was the 2nd fastest of the bunch behind the BF650.
It beat the Vinson in timed radar runs, the Handa was the slowest.

 

100 yard drag times (in seconds)

7.13 BF
7.72 SP 500 HO
7.93 Vinson (auto)
7.97 Forman 500 (new 475)

Jim