If you are curious about a Sportsman 400HO found this review on atv.com. Looks like a sweet entry level ute!

 

So my 350 lb butt is too heavy for it I reckon. Oh well.

 

the only things on this model that i don't like is that it looks kinda plasticky, and lack of front end protection. when i went and did a 360 look on the polaris website of this machine, it looked like there was nothing there, besides three bars. i know they eliminated the protection for less cost but man it would look alot better.

 

See it for real, its a different story up close. Plenty tough.

 

yeah i've seen when they were in the hawkeye name instead of the sportsman name, i think it was the same model, look the same , but yeah that was a long time ago, did u have any problems with any thing getting inside the front or w/e?

 

as long as you dont use it as a skidder i think it will be just a tough as most. the only thing i dont like is no cv protectors.( so far) lol.

 

yeah probably. yeah at least they could have cv protectors.

 

Hmmm, an OK review but I thought he missed on a few things...he seemed to under rate the power and handling a bit in my estimation. The Hawkeye actually does a good job moving snow so I was a bit surprised when he said the 400 was not designed for this task. In my opinion, it is quicker/faster then the 500 HO, (maybe because it is more then 100 # lighter), and I really liked the 400 HO handling BETTER then the full size Sportsmans that I test drove!
He did hit on a couple points....
...At 6' 185# I find the Hawkeye300/Sportsman 400 both very comfortable, but I 'm not sure how a bigger rider would fair with them and as with any ATV, a test ride is the only way to get the answer

...no boot guards on the 400 from the factory! Even the 06 Hawkeye has boot guards!

All in all, it's nice to finally see some media attention coming the 400 HOs way

 

Sounds like the review was half real time and half arm chair & speculation particular with the power and handling aspect. I'm 6' and 205 lbs and find it plenty comfortable. The boot guards are a direct swap from the Hawk.