I have a 2000 Sportsman 500. The new 2008 Sportsman 500 has easier steering. What year did it change?

 

No changes to report BigFootTX, you just got STRONGER!

j/k

Naa, I am curious myself if this is just limited to the 500 or is the whole
new 08' Sportsmans line easier?

R'

 

The only new info I have so far is that the 2007 has the easier steering too. But that only cuts down the range one year.

 

The '01 I had steered WAY easier than my '97 so I think 2001 was the year it changed. That's why I don't understand people who say they need power-steering. Ride one of the old quads for a day and it feels like we already have power-steering on the '01s and up. That's my experience and I owned both at the same time so I can give a side by side comparison that most people can't.

 

Has anyone ridden a Quad with power steering yet? (I.E. new Yamaha's or Honda's) just
for a comparison and to see what all the buzz is about?

R'

 

Good info. That helps. I learned from another source that the 700's steering had the same improvement.

 

If I had one arm amputated I would be interested in power steering, otherwise if you can't steer it you need something else you can, maybe something like TRX90. Just one man's opinion.

 

2005 and up is when they changed it, look at the angle of the struts on 2000's and then look at the 2005-08's the newer ones are more angled so think thats what makes it steer easier.

 

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

2005 and up is when they changed it, look at the angle of the struts on 2000's and then look at the 2005-08's the newer ones are more angled so think thats what makes it steer easier.</end quote></div>

It changed years before that. It was on my '01 like I already said. It was on the 2001 models introduced in autumn of 2000.

http://farmindustrynews.com/mag/farming_new_atv_works/

"To go with this power, the company improved the Sportsman's handling on rough terrain by improving the steering geometry and components."

 

I think a point missed by us lucky enough to ride POPOs is how hard other bikes steer in 4x4 while we can run around in AWD all day and not even give it a thought!
I have a guy at work that owns a (OK his dad owns it!) 700 Grizzly w/EPS and swears Polaris is NOT true locking 4WD! He claims we couldn't steer it if it was locking 4WD! No matter how much info /videos I show him he just can't get it through his head it is true!
That is how hard other brands steer in 4WD! It is a true breakthrough for all of the other brands with locking front ends!
From a trail feedback standpoint it would be nice on a Sportsman to not get the handlebars jerked out of your hands when you hit that occasional big rut or stump, but I don't think we would notice as big a difference as owners of other brands do!