I'm looking at buying my first quad after riding dirt bikes for a few years . I live in AZ and just like seeing where the road goes nothing to crazy got tired of tipping over on my bike. I think I have settled on a Polaris Sportsman 500. I can't afford a new one but can afford a reasonably new one. I've rented what I think was an 04 model and was pretty happy and read about the 05 model which sounded even better. I'd like input about changes between the model years and if there are years to stay away from or things to look out for. There are a couple of 02 and 03s in the local trader magazine that look interesting and a fried of mine says a guy at his work is selling a 99.

Thanks much.

 

Welcome aboard. The guys here are 1st rate and will treat you well.

As for your choice in machine, I think you are looking at a good one.

I have no first hand knowledge on the particular years you are looking at.

Good luck and I hope you stick around

Joe

 

I would try and find an EFI model. If you stay flat in AZ you will be fine, but if you plan on riding in the mountians EFI works great at high altitude

 

Hello Done, I would also recommend the Sportsman 500 EFI. I believe they started selling them in 2005. I have the same engine in my Sportsman X2 and love it. I prefer it over the 500 HO carb. model my son has in his ATP. I don't really have any mountains higher than 2000 feet where I ride so the jetting isn't an issue with carb. models so much. But, it does get cold, and the EFI starts in a couple of chugs in the coldest weather. Highly recommend.

 

I have a 04 and its great, but efi would be a little better. I live at 5000 ft and the carb has not been a problem, but at 6000-7000 it a bit choppy, but I got by. I like the rope pull start, it help a couple of times[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] with a dead battery.

 

The 500 has a solid engine, and I like EFI better than my carb model. Both have their advantages. The engine is made by Fuji (Subaru) and has a great reputation. Look for a clean, preferable one-owner ATV.

 

I'll second the EFI part as my 04 sucks to running in ther very cold temps we can get in colorado but other than that polaris makes a great 4x4 quad.The suspension on the sporsman is 2nd to none.

 

I'll try to answer your questions as best I can. I'm not an expert but I like the 500.

The overall design of the 500 had gone relatively unchanged from its introduction with the 1996 model through 2008. Minor changes occure between most years like numbers of grease zerks and u-jopints vs. CV joints. Also speedo design changes occure frequently.

-1996 I think all were green and had u-joints in the rear end instead of CVs.
-2000 or 2001 They change the badge from a 500 to a 500 H.O.
-2003 They went with front and rear rims with 12" diameter with goodyear rawhide tires. Previously they had 12" rims up fornt and 10" in back with good year tires. *some special edidtion 2002 500s had rawhides with the 12" rims.
-2004 They had two models. The 2004 was the same mechanically as the previous years but they changed the plastic and had the rawhides.
-2004.5 looks the same as the 2004, but this will be the first 500 where the 4x4/AWD engages in the front diff rather than the hubs. It also was the first year sp 500 and only to comewith the carlisle badlands radial xtrs. The 2004.5 also had a different ellectrical sysytem, transmission/shift pattern, rear brake, fuel gage, and other minor changes.
-2005 was mechanically similar to the previous models except they went with longer travel front struts. Of course this is the first year of the new body style. The 2005 was still a carb model. It had 26" polaris by carlisle radial PXT tires.
-2006 was the first year of the EFI. They also made a 06 carb without engine braking (EBS).
-2007 they dropped the carb and offered a standard and delux versions in EFI.
-2008 they brought the carb back and also offer an EFI.

I have a 2004.5 carb with absolutly no complaints. It has been a great quad and I would recomend it to anyone. I would look for a sportsman 500 in the 1000-2000 mile range with stock tires owned by someone over 40 with no kids. I dont think you can go wrong with any certain year, but they did have problems with carb models from 2004.5-2006 with an ECU/surepower module problem.

My choice would be 2004.5 and newer.

 

not only did they change the badge from 500 to 500 HO, they changed the cam and put a 40 mm carburetor on it compared to the 34 mm carb, so i would look for something newer than a 2001

 

I rode motorcycles for 14+ yrs then I too came to the conclusion that a quat would be safer for me(beer & M.C.'s dont mix). Two years ago I bought a 1998 Sportsman 500 and fell in love. Last summer the rush was gone & I needed something more. The people I ride with still have bikes or sport quads and speed is the game. I sold my Sportsman & bought a 2000 Scramber 500 4x4. Try a Scrambler before you buy, Better power to weight ratio, 4x4 for mud, sand & snow, solid rear axle for spinnin' doughnuts, higher top speed. Ask yourself some questions, do you hunt, do you ride aggresive, will you ever need low range? The Scrambler is the same 500 engine, trans & 4X, w/o 160lbs & the IFS rear.