I am going to be buying a new atv this week and have it narrowed down to 500 EFI or 800 EFI sportsman. I have ridden both of them and I guess I don't see that much difference between them. I currently have a 2004 sportsman 700 carb. Do you guys see any advantage of going with the 800? I just will be using this for trail riding and hunting. I guess I can't see spending the difference between the two. Please give me your input.

 

i cant imagine you cant see a big differnce in power between the 2 bikes. but the 800 is crappy of fuel and runs hotter then the singles do. you also have aback up recoil on the 500. the 500 has plenty enough power to do most anything you want. some of us are just power hogs lol[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

For about 95% of the people out there the 500 is more than enough. And with a sportsman you should not have any tranny issues like on a 800. The only reason I would get a 800 is if you plan on modding your atv beeing power or lift kit, you might want the extra cc's.If not the 500 is a proven machine that works great!

 

Sounds to me like the 500 efi is all you need.

 

Muskiethriller06
My suggestion is to ask yourself what a gal of gas is worth to you. The 800 will suck you dry at the pump which quite a few folks are concerned about these days. My 500EFI is good (not terrific) on gas. I can only imagine how much fuel the 800 folks are wasting...............I mean consuming! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

If the price of gas is of no concern, then go for the gusto! Lots of POWER, lots of GAS! LOL! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Both are great ATV's imo!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mtpockets

Muskiethriller06

My suggestion is to ask yourself what a gal of gas is worth to you. The 800 will suck you dry at the pump which quite a few folks are concerned about these days. My 500EFI is good (not terrific) on gas. I can only imagine how much fuel the 800 folks are wasting...............I mean consuming! [img][/img]



If the price of gas is of no concern, then go for the gusto! Lots of POWER, lots of GAS! LOL! [img][/img]

i dont consider it waisting fuel, i consider it trading fuel for more fun lol. thisis something that i tell everyone of the poeple who have asked me(and theres alot) about the 800, and the first thing i tell them is that the 800 is a gas hog. but i can live w/ 12 to 15 mpg if i ride normal and already know if i hammer it it drops alot. but its no differnt them somebody w/ a modded car, bike or mud running. you playa nd want power you pay the price. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Both are great ATV's imo!</end quote></div>

 

You have a SP700 never go backwards get the 800. The 500 will feel like your 700 when its not running right. LOL

 

I went from a 700EFI to a 500EFI. And I think it was an UPGRADE!

Let's see:

1. I can go MUCH longer on a tank of fuel and have similar power.
2. I now have a recoil back-up so If my battery goes dead deep in the woods i'm not skrewed.
3. I paid less $$ for the 500 than the 700.
4. When gas reaches $4.50/gal, your ATV will be parked and I will still be out riding.

I almost bought the Honda Rancher 425EFI. As things continue to get more expensive (gas, groceries, heating fuel) I feel it is an even better choice than the 500cc ATV's. Stop and think about where we'll be in 2 short years........hmmmm. What will your paycheck be in 24months?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>2. I now have a recoil back-up so If my battery goes dead deep in the woods i'm not skrewed. </end quote></div>

Not sure about the newer "to me" ECM models ,but I thought if the new Sportsman's have a dead battery there dead in the water?

Others here may know better.

My friends Honda 500 gets better gas milage than I get but its as much fun to throttle down as feeling up my own grand mother.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

As I know it it will start with a dead battery on the recoil ........But from what I hear you can't start or run the quad without one(battery)!!!.........Caper...........

But when my cooling fan ran in the garage without the key in there.....if drained the battery stone dead and the Quad didn't stay running(with recoil) with the totally dead battery it would just start and then stall!!!!!!
......Caper........