Need some advice on a 2up machine

Trying to decide between the Arctic cat trv 650 and Polaris sportsman 500 x2.


Very close in price at my local dealers. I ride mostly easy trails and will use it for snow plowing, hunting, and casual rides w/the wife.

AC has a carb, popo is efi

Currently have an 05 500 ho

Any recommendations??

 

I have a sp800efi X2 DLX edition with about 300 miles on it and really love riding it. When I was looking at the 2-up atv's, I tested each one and felt I would getting so much more with the X2 models. Between the two you mentioned, here is my take.

POWER:
The ac650 with it's H1 motor will have more, although the sp500 X2 will have ample power. The gearing is very low when in low range and the 500 motor will pull whatever you want. Also, the 500 is efi and will help in the cold weather and altitude for starting vs the 650 being carb.

RIDE COMFORT:
Both ride very good, but the X2 models have the most comfortable ride of all atv's bar none.

TECHNICAL RIDING:
Both will do good here, but the ac650 might get the nod since it is slightly smaller and slightly lighter.

MUDDING:
Both are great as long as you put some better aftermarked mud tires on them. I put 27" ITP mudlite XTR's on my and IMO, these are the best all around tires for mudding and trail riding.

TOWING:
Both will be about the same even though the sp500 x2 is rated higher. The ac650 H1 motor will shine here due to it's extremely nice low end torque.

EXTRA SEAT:
The ac extra seat is slightly more comfortable, but the riders are fairly close to each others body. The x2 seat is always with you while the ac's extra seat is either with you or not. Plus the x2 has the dump bed which is always attached and holds 400lbs. The x2 also has the nice storage box up front.

For me, it came down to wanting a 650-800cc class 2-up machine and had many uses. And with the dump bed and extra seat always with the quad as well as the polaris's most comfortable ride, the X2 won out handly for me. But in between your two choices that you mentioned, the larger more powerful motor of the 650H1 helps the AC against the 500X2. Another thing is I use mine for hunting and it really is nice to use the 400lb rated dump bed for hauling corn and seeds out to the deer stands.

You have to ask yourself a couple of questions.

1st: Do you want the extra seat to always be there just in case you need it out on the trail?
2nd: Do I need or want the extra power of the 650H1?
3rd: Do you need or want the extra dump bed? And how much does it matter to you about the extra storage on the X2?

Go ride both and look them over throughly before deciding. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

Agree with Vtwinman. The X2 is probably one of the most comfortable rides out there. I have a bad back and can ride it pretty much all day long. I like not having to decide whether or not to have the seat with me. Takes 10-15 seconds to set up or put down the seat. I like the EFI but the AC has gobs of tourque. But the 500 EFI has got plenty of tourque. When a friends pickup with open diffs couldn't pull a chipper up a wet grassy hill, we hooked it up to my X2, put it in AWD low and it pulled it right up and over the hill onto the road. Amazing machines. The X2 is probably less tippy, the AC a little more due to having a higher ground clearance and more angle on the cv shafts. I've had my 350 lbs. and 200 lbs. of passenger and the X2 has gone over and through everything I've asked it to. Hope this helps.

 

What's the top speed of the X2 500 EFI, one of my friend just look at it and we heard about 50, is that right???

Pout

 

Hello Pout, the top speed of the X2 500 EFI is right around 50-55. I can't be sure. I've only gotten up to 50 on a frozen beaver pond that is about 3/10ths of a mile long. Usually run out of room before I hit what feels to be the very top end. My guess is probably around 55. It gets there pretty fast on dry surfaces though. Where I ride there aren't too many stretches long enough to keep it wide open and get to top speed without killing yourself. Tops on a dirt patch when it started getting rough was about 50 also. Again, it felt like it had a little bit more though.

 

Thank's MosseHenden...

Pout

 

I love my X2, highly recommend it, and agree with the above. I have had my X2 up to 65 mph on a level gravel road - there was a tail wind - but that is the absolute truth. I think 70 was a possibility, but I had to slow down for the turn off. Mine is stock and has 120 miles or so on it.

 

i rode wv,trails on my 07 x2 500 this weekend almost 150miles, some on the road ,some on the trails, some easy some hard. this bike is awesome on the trails. i don't know how big the gas tank is on the AC,but when everyone else was running out i still had over a half a tank. i rode with the wife on the x2 ,58 miles saturday ,on 2.7 gal of fuel. the bike only has 200 miles on it ,so its not broke in yet. i'm getting 55-60 tops on the pavement and thats 6400rpms . with my bad back ,i dont think i coulda bought a more comfortable ride.

 

thanks srwshooter. That's the kind of fee back I've been looking for.
The wife's pick is the X2. I'm a little worried about it's reliability. Sold the sportsman 500 today. Getting close to decision time

 

The reliability is a moot point now days with polaris. No matter what brand you purchase, all are very good and all will have a few lemons. BTW, I had my 800 X2 up to 68mph by my garmin gps a few weeks ago before I got mud in the radiator and started overheating.