Have been looking for a quad for the gf for a bit now, and am really considering the 2008 Sportsman 500 EFI LE

Anyone have any yays or nah's on this bike?

I was also looking at the sportsman 400, that sits in the hawkeye frame, however, if I ever want to use the bike for anything other than riding down the gravel it looks a little under powered, and weak, not to mention no low range for pulling.

She's a new rider, and has sat on the back of my outlaw 525 and likes to go fast, so I think the 500 would give her the safe feeling she wants, easy for her smaller frame to handle, and still big enough to have fun with once she gets more comftorable on the bike.

As well I can take it moose and deer hunting [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Any input on this bike would be great,

It's the LE model, white in color, with 26" on it, and the polaris winch.

Thanks in advance

 

My wife is 5'2" and initially looked at the 400 because of the size.
After she rode my 800 she decided she liked the ADC/EBS and low range. Also she liked the additional stability feeling more comfortable on a bigger frame. Only real complaint was the steering on the 800 being heavy. Now she has a 500 X2 and loves it.

 

The 455cc Hawkeye/Sportsman does look more for just joy riding.

400H.O vs SP500 LE specs

The 400 H.O (455cc) has a tow rating of 750lbs while the SP500 has a rating of 1225lbs I,m sure thats do to having no low range.

Odd thing is the small ATV has a larger gas tank.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Only real complaint was the steering on the 800 being heavy. Now she has a 500 X2 and loves it.</end quote></div>

Thats strange because the 500X2 is larger and heavier than the SP800.

 

I know TLC, it may be due to the difference in Tires. Both of our popos are Deluxe models.
However, the 800 has PXT radials and the 500X2 has Carlisle 489's
The 800 the radials Squat more vs the X2 the sidewall stands up a lot more. The dealer tells me they didn't put Radials on the X2 as riding two up it makes it tend to side lean more what with the softer sidewalls and the lower air pressures.

I know just airing up to 7psi max on my 800 makes it turn easier with the ATV bucket on and filled, but I think it is too stiff for just riding.

 

My wife is 5' 4" and liked ridding the Scrambler 400 until I bought the Sportsman 500HO. She loves ridding it. I thought it would be a little to wide in the saddle but it has never bothered her. I ended up getting a Kawi Prairie 700 and thought she would like that better because the and transmission are not so wide. Nope, she loves the Sportsman and won't ride anything else while we are on the trail.

I recommend not getting a Sportsman with anything smaller than a 500. It's a heavy machine.

 

Please do your home work on the PVT tight belt system and that will explain why there is no L range. IT IS NOT REQUIRED. If you're considering the 400HO, test drive it before you have yourself convinced that it won't work. I've got 70 hrs on tracks with this machine, 800 miles of hard pulling and not a problem. Others on this forum will confirm that this quad will do everything a full size quad will do. Check out one of Stendori's post with his wife's 400HO in the mud.

Seriously, test drive any quad with an open mind if it might be considered as a ride.

 

I love our 500's, a few very minor problems but nothing big at all. I think the 500 is a perfect all around quad, it has enough power to keep an experienced rider from being board but is stable,comfortable,and not too hard to handle for new or nervous riders. I was REALLY concerned when my wife chose the 500, I thought it was too much for her but she seems to handle it well and grins from ear to ear every time she rides it.

 

Hey Guys, please ignore my mini rants. Its just that when I read a post like the original one, where a person thinks something won't work with out experiencing it, it reminds me of someone who is only familiar with a model "T" ford thinking a new vehicle is inferior cause it doesn't have a hand crank to start it.

Enough from me.

 

I with you mongrol, never assume anything.

As for being underpowered, that is untrue unless you are comparing it to a 700 or 800 but not to a 500. There is only 44ccs difference. When you tack on the extra 120 lbs it comes out even.

My wife has had no problems going everywhere she needs to go. Hills, mud and rocks, It all depends on what they are comfortable with. The smaller frame gives her more confidence then the bigger machines. As for speed She might have been 50 mph one time and its gets there quick enough for her. Youd think she was going 150 if she tells you the story!

smijy, if you and your wife get a chance hop on one and try it out at least then you will be sure. Hell, she might like it.

 

I'm with Mongrol on this one too. I've considered going with the 400 for the fact of the smaller lighter frame and the larger motor, I really liked the size of my Hawkeye.

Now for the 500, I totally love it and the wife does too. She would rather ride it than the Scrammy. She likes the IRS, EBS, and the ADC she says she feels much more in control. I'm hoping to get an 800 this Jan. and my wife will take over the Stealth.