Rick,
Thanks for your help. I haven't installed the spring yet. I think I'm going to get a Sportsman, and am thinking about letting my 11 year old son ride the Scrambler.

What I want to know is, what can I do to make the 500 4x4 safe for him to ride. He only rides with me, never unsupervised, just think it's too hot for him yet.

Am I nuts, or can we "detune" this thing some ?

Does anybody else have any suggestions ?

I'd love to get him a 325 Magnum 4x4, but I'm upside down on the Scrambler, so might as well keep it.

Thanks,
Dave

 

See if you can't find an old Xpress throttle control (and try and find out if it will fit!). My brother has one and there is a built-in adjustable throttle stop. Cuts it down to under half throttle if you want all the way to wide open. Even has the ETC gizmo in it. Works great for teaching kids. Can cut the throttle opening way down, then slowly move the stop as skill increases. Don't know if it will work on a 500 for sure, though. Just a thought. Maybe could get one off a wrecked bike cheap.
Farmr

 

Buy a regular Sportsman at a great price,
'cause everybody wants an H.O. (I do) Then swap
cams, carbs and manifolds with your Scrambler.
The result, you get a hot Sportsman at a discount price ($5500) and your son gets a docile 500 4x4
Scrambler. My son, age 12, has a 425 EXP. It is a great ride for him. He likes shifting, and hunting, and we talk about getting a hot sport bike someday--when he's bigger, as he is the smallest kid in his class. He handles that EXP
as well as most adults. My stock Sportsman is
faster and quicker, but I have to work to keep up with him on the trails, and passing him is difficult. If I can get ahead I can put a little distance in front of him, but I think that is because he backs off due to the dust.
We started out only 1&1/2 years ago with a
325 TrailBoss and a 325 Magnum 2x4. Traded in the Trailboss on the EXP and kept the 325 for wife or
friends, but it just can't keep up with the big dogs. My SP is a late 2000, sure wish I had an
H.O. but it does have the new clutch cover and
ventilated disc brake, maybe something else. I
know it doesn't have the new steering or steel brake lines but I have no complaints in those depts.
I do want more power and better hook-up, so
a cam and carb and clutch spring are cheaper than a trade in soooo. Silly Later, Fourlix

SP500,425EXP,325Mag