The Magnum style machine seems to have a really good ride for a utility machine. But it seems eveybody has a sp. I am looking to sell my 97 Warrior and get a 4WD as I am in need of 4WD a lot more than I am in gravel pits. Looking around for used machines there seems to be 4 times more choices in the sp market. While checking out new machines with my bud earlier this summer, the sp (when doing the "push the rear end down" test) failed bad! It seemed like a brick sheet house. Heck, may as well buy a Honda. But yet there are so many of them...Do they ride great, although flunking my push test? What gives???? The ground clearance would be nice of the independant.

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Sorry, I live for snow, the 4wh thing is a passifier.

 

the SP rides better than the Mag 500, the SP is known for having the best ride on the market. The push test tells little of any suspension capabilities. They both ride good but the SP is the plushest. I agree cannot wait till the snow files dig out the Indys! Love atving no doubt about it but sledding is big time fun.

 

Also, the rear looks to be more break resistant in the case of a chuck hole/washout. Any oppinions?

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Snowflakes rule!

 

Ox

The Magnum you were push testing may have been on the lowest shock setting. The rear shock can be adjusted on the Magnum. I am not sure about the Sportsman. I am very pleased with the ride on my Magnum. Where were you looking at them at? All Seasons in Wauseon? Honda East in Maumee has better prices, but the service and parts department are of the lowest quality.

P.S. The snowfall in northwest Ohio has been rather disappointing the last few years.

 

Put it this way, your Warrior is like sitting on a wooden chair with a pad on it, the Magnum is more of a stiff sofa and the Sportsman is like a huge comfy lazy-boy.

That's about how I can put it. The SP soaks up all kinds of uneaven terrain and rocks and bumps... After riding it you will understand entirely!

 

Actually I have a bud who has a Mag. Another just bought the x-pedition (same susp). Those seem to be pretty good. And Not on the low setting either. That's why when we did the push test on the sp we both went UGH!!. And I would not say that the Warrior rides like a wood chair. It will climb in the pits a LOT better than the Mag. Ask a bud that couldn't fallow!!LOL. But I am the same guy that wouldn't own a vehicle that didn't have a pig under ther front end. Time to put one on my wheeler.
Anybody want to trade that heavy junk Mag or Sp for a Warrior? Made for the whoops! I just don't ride where the whoops are. Racks front and rear. EXC.

 

the only thing that rides as good as a sportsman is another sportsman


later
jon

 

I've ridden just about everything at a dealership at one time or another. Nothing at all comes close to the ride of the sportsman. My votes for second place in total plushieness are the Magnum and the Prairie 400. Prairie really does ride good.

I do the push test a lot too. Most sportsmans, I can't budge on the rear, but I have found ones that I could. Basically, the shocks are preload adjustable, and will be stiffer when set differently. Thats what I figured when I finally found one I could push down easier. With most quads, the push test is true to form, but the sportsman is hard to push and still rides far better than anything else.

 

I agree entirely, the Sportsman is the best ride by far. I looked for a long time before buying mine and the 2 main reasons for going with the SP were IRS and auto tranny. IRS rules.

 

The push test is nice but... it is all in the ride. The Sportsman is the plushest.

The Magnum will compress easier in the push test but one thing that must be taken into consideration is the fact that the Magnum is a "Shaft Ride System" The cantilever action of the rear suspension loading must be taken into consideration before setting the pre-load on a Magnum.

In other words, you can't preload the suspension like you can on a "Concentric Drive". The Magnum suspension must be set on the trail or chances are you are setting it too stiff.