I think it is more the type of riding than the miles. Like Caper said, look for signs/abuse. You could have 5000 miles of dirt roads only, or you could have 500 miles of hitting trees, rocks, stumps, jumping, submerged etc. with no maintenance. I've always been a little scared of buying used.

 

99 Sportsman 500 8700 miles,2004.5 Sportsman 400 6700 miles and 2007 Sportsman 500 Deluxe 800miles...Also 2000 Trailblazer with unknown miles but riden more thant the 99 Sportsman ...Proud to say these machines have been practially trouble free..Maintance pays off !!!!

 

Another reason why I bought Polaris!!!!!!!...Track record like that!!!!!!!....Caper........

 

I have a 2000 sp500 that just turned 12000 miles. 12000 hard miles. Looks rough but purrs like a kitten.

 

I like reading threads like this. Makes me feel good about my decision to get a Sportsman.

 

I've got a 08 500 carb 3000 miles replaced Bendix under warranty other than that perfect getting put up tho for the winter shortly need to get the sled ready .

 

99 scrammy 500. Bought it with a speedo kit. First kit found a tree. It had over 7000 miles on it. 2nd speedo quit working. Over 5000 miles on it. 3rd speedo had over 8000 miles on it and rolled it and brke it. That was a few years back. I took the speedo kit off cause I wasn't buying another kit. The scrammy is still going now like a new one. I'd guess near the mid 20,000 mile mark now. I have an 06 sportsman and don't ride the scrambler like I use to or the sportsman for that matter. This screwed up thing called life hit me after high school. A fulltime job and marriage and bills slow my every other day riding and big weekend rides down to nearly nothing compared to what I use to ride. I would put more gas in my atv then my truck in some weeks. Man I miss thougs days. Now all thoughs miles on it and it goes without saying that I've spent the money on it when I had to to keep it up. The miles were generally wide open and hills and mud and water and whatever else got in the way. It cost to play but well worth it. Now my sportsman gets washed after every ride and then given a wipe down with pledge. I ride it pretty hard, but I think about stuff before doing it now and go around alot of plaes i use to go through. It's called a budget. (LOL) I'm not that picky but you guys know what I mean