I have been looking at getting a Sportsman 500 HO. My brother in law just got a new Honda Foreman 500 4x4 ES. I went and rode his machine last week, and was pleasantly surprised. Now, I'm not sure if the Polaris will do it for me.

The Honda had really good low end torque and was able to pick the front in right up in first gear when taking off. I'm not sure the 500 HO will have enough grunt to snap the front end off the ground, will it? I thought the Honda has an appealing FUN FACTOR with the push button shifting and great low range power. Will the Polaris 500 have better performance?

I have read reviews and the testers hands down give the nod to the Sportsman in most all of the categories in the 500 class. I really want to get the Polaris, but don't want to be dissapointed either.

 

Go for the polaris. The polaris might not feel as sporty because of the independant suspension but if you though the honda had power you will be pleasently surprised when you ride the polaris, however i dont think it can pull a wheelie.

From the april edition of ATV action there was a shootout for the best 4x4 for under 7000. It has the BF650,Sportsman 500, Vinson 500, and the Foreman 500. In a 100 yard drag race:

BF: 7.13
Polaris:7.72
Vinson:7.93
Foreman:7.97

Thier final answer on the shooout was:
4th-Honda Foreman 500
3rd-Vinson 500
2nd-Polaris 500
1st-Brute Force

Overall you cant manually shift with the polaris but you get more power, more ground clearance, more power, true 4wd, and maybe even EFI. However you can probally bet the honda will be more reliable.

 

The 500 will pop a wheelie in low range pretty easy...

 

Don't make the difference of what to buy because one will pop a wheelie. You'll want the Sportsman when it comes to performance and riding in technical terrain. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the replies, I know deep down I want the Polaris, but the Honda had a pretty good Fun Factor. I have never ridden the Polaris 500, so I don't know its level of performance.

I have a 1997 Sportsman 400 2 stroke right now. It has absolutely no low end torque even in low range.

The only reason I was commenting on the 'wheelie' ability of the Honda, was a reference to the amount of low end torque.

 

Hi BAlaska,

If your only concern is the "wheelie facture", then your approach is all wrong. There's allot more to a quad then wheelies.......... but if it makes you feel better, the 2005 500 HO wheelies in low without the least bit of effort. I know this to be a fact because I own one.

In my humble opinion, there are several reasons as to why the better choice is the 500 HO over the foreman 500. Here are a few

- True 4x4 vrs. 4x3
- IRS (much, much MUCH better ride)
- Way better G.C.
- Discs brakes all around
- Reliability certainly not a issue nowadays. (although Honda used to dominate the question of reliabilty years ago.)
- E.F.I. on the 2006 500 HO models........ and so on !!


The overall performance with the 500 HO is truly hard to beat. The foreman certainly can't even come close........... I've owned Hondas for well over 20 years so no offense to any Honda lovers, the above opinion is in reference to the 500 class.

 

I guess this sums it up, thanks for the comments. I really don't care if the machine wheelies, I just want good low end power and performance. From what I've read on here, the 500HO is an excellent machine. I think I will be getting the new EFI model.

Does anyone know the power increase for the EFI version?

 

In comparison, I have a pretty weak machine, a 2000 Sportsman 335. I take it to Moab, Ut once a year and it has out-performed any other machine that goes with us. My machine is 5 years old and it does better than many of these newer machines. My low-end torque in awesome. There is no honda or yamie that have out done me on steep technichal terrian. That goes for mud too. I have no reason to sell my machine and get a bigger one because even at 335 cc's in low gear, I have all the low-end torque I need.

I will say this, I bet the Honda feels more nimble and peppier with reason. But when you have one wheel with traction, you're not going to get stuck. The Honda will.

 

Arctic Cat 500 is the way to go.

 

I own both a 500 foreman, and 500h.o. sportsman. The honda doesn't have anywhere near the grunt the sportsman does, or the sporty ride. Honda is known for dependability, however, my polaris is hanging in there with no problems. The 500 sportsman's Fugi made engine will out perform any 500cc utility quad for that fact....and will run for ever! As for the ride, ride both for half a day and at the end I gaurantee the sportsman will be anybody's choice. Not knocking honda by any means, I own one too, but they're far behind the others with technology. Also, the foreman is 3 wheel drive as opposed the the sportsman awd. My best friend has a 1996 sportsman 500, before they were h.o. He has put this through everything possible, and never had a minutes problem. No belt slipping, or any minur problem. The sportsman 500 is basically bulletproof. It's been around forever. Drive one and you won't be dissapointed!