27lbs is nothing, alot of this is driver, as I'm the opposite, my dad has a 06 HO EFI and I have a Stealth 800 and I cream him in all bad terrain even deep snow, as I'm much more aggressive then he is. Could I go back to a 500HO, if i had to, but would miss that get up and go forsure, its just awesome, and 1 more thing, you don't need to use LOW gear as much either as with that extra power and better belt it seems to slip less.
For gas mileage it all depends, if your in LOW Gear all day it will suck, but a combo of both and its not that bad, I've gotten 80 Miles on that litlte 4.1 gallon tank, where most have 5 gallons and get 100 miles.
I have 1200 miles now and its AMAZING, no issue's SO FAR. : )

 

The problem with mudding isn't so much the weight as it is the power, or rather how rapidly that power gets to the wheels. The 800 is powerful, really powerful and all that torque is available almost instantly... You get yourself into a big mud pit and it is difficult to control that torque to pull your self out. You give the 800 a little gas and you get a lot of wheel motion. The 500 is not near so touchy - lower hp / lb ratio. Much easier to control in that type of situation, she can pull herself out while I'm trying my @#$$ not to dig myself in deeper.

Also, the benefit of the pull start is there for serious soaking and mudding, something you don't have with the 800. I short something out, I get towed.

Would I give up my 800? No way, but, I don't ride "messy"[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Gas mileage? I don't worry about it unless I'm going on a long haul. For most riding, I can come back with a quarter tank to her slightly more. Besides, its like my 76 Eldorado...you don't drive a car like that if you are going to worry about mileage[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>The dry weight of the 500 is 833 lbs.</end quote></div> Dry weight of a 500 EFI is 731 lbs. The X2 500 is 830 (or 833 depending on where you look on the web site).

*Edited to correct weight for X2 500.

 

From Polaris' website:

500 X2 EFI - Dry Weight Standard- 798; Deluxe- 833 lbs

800 X2 EFI - Dry Weight Standard: 839, Deluxe: 874 lbs

 

Nix377 - The 500 I was referring to is the standard 500 EFI, not the X2 - I missed webslave's callout that BOTH were X2's. I typo'd the X2 500; it should be 830 (or 833 depending on where you look on their website). I edited my earlier post.

For my '07 500 EFI, the owners manual shows 728 lbs and the web site shows 731 lbs. Go figure. :-)

 

Sorry Randy... wasn't tryin' to be a wise-***

I wish the popo's weren't so heavy. That's probably the only thing I don't like about my X2

 

Interesting! My Polaris Service Manual part # 9920560 for the 2007 Sportsman 500 EFI has the dry weight at 715 lbs.

What is a "popo"

 

PoPo = Polaris

 

lets see the first sportsman i road was a 600 twin I think. It was a friends. after that I had to have one but couldnt afford a new one so went with used.
it was last year about. I found my 500HO about 30-60 miles from me. It been a great quad. If I could by a new quad it would probly be a 500HO again not that 800EFI wouldnt be better. just staying with what i afford.

 

The 500 is a fantastic motor and has plenty of power, I didn't need the 800 just wanted it. I owned 3 500's prior to this, all were great and trouble free.

There is no best ATV. Ride what you like and like what you ride. If one was the BEST we wouldn't need all the choices and yearly upgrades.