I let my buddy use my 500 HO for the week to hunt. We needed to go reset a tree stand after hunting Saturday and he took his girlfreind. I let them take mine while I rode another bike.
Well holy crap did they squat that thing. They aren't huge but I guess it isn't set up to sit that far back on the rack.
I've been meaning to dial up the rear shocks to a little stiffer setting but I never got the spanner wrench with the bike. I'll need to get one.
I don't think it hurt anything but he said it won't steer for a @!$#. go figure, I don't think the front wheels were on the ground.

 

I adjusted mine with some large channel locks,only took a minute. Now that I've made it through my back surgery and may actually get to ride again one of these days I'll probably need to soften it back up [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]
Riding 2 up really does squat the 500 pretty good. I've followed my wife and step daughter on the trail and was really surprised with the amount of squat at the rear.
Neither of the girls are bean poles but neither are grossly overweight either.
The squat wasn't bad enough to really effect the steering but was worse than I would have ever guessed.

 

make sure to take the weight off the springs when you adjust them to make it easier and even spray some wd if need be. i have also used a set of channle locks b4 i got a spanner wrench.

 

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

spray some wd if need be. </end quote></div>

Seen a can of WD-40 lately? They've developed a can with a straw you can't lose. It's connected right to the nozzle. Never again will you lose that blasted little red straw. No more trying to thread it back through the little loop of tape on the side of the can.
I got a little misty eyed when I saw it.

Behold the greatness:
WD-40 Smart Straw

 

Yes, love that little red hose, I even went one further and broke down and bought the gallone with the reusable sqeeze bottle. Got tired of picking up empty cans every time I went to use them. Now I keep a bottle with the red nozzle hidden, and keep the squirt bottle out for everyone to use in the shop. Those little WD pens they make come in handy too.

 

Captain,
That's a good one. How many dudes in the country are saying the same exact thing about a can of WD.

 

Wide load. Oh, I thought you were looking for me... That was yet another reason I bought the X2. It handles the weight in the rear better than any other quad short of the 6x6. I've had my 350ish self and a 200 lb. passenger without anything near the squat I've seen with people riding 2-up on regular quads.

 

Moose,
do you think upping the preload on the shocks is going to do any good or am I looking at heavier springs?
Deerkiller

 

Upping the preload should help out a bit. After I put heavy duty springs on the front of the X2 it sat a little high in the front. I put the rears up a notch and it sits a little more level now. I think the regular springs on the Sportsman are good for about 180 lbs. where the X2s are about 400 or so. If I were doing alot of 2 up riding with a single rider quad I would probably end up getting heavier duty springs. I don't know what is available for the regular Sportsman though.

 

I did well with the Hilifter yellows up front. keeps the plow from squating the front and the ride is still ok when not loaded.
I think I'll look into how much the rear springs would be. I have a rear suspension lock out for when I have alot of heavy pulling to do but it rides like a board.
Your estimate is good. I go about 180# and it is set up pretty good even on the second from lightest setting. Hopefully stiffening it will help.
2 weeks ago I had a good sized doe on the front, probably 150-160 lbs. Didn't squat it at all. Had it on the front to keep it from coming over on me while getting out of a gulley.