I went riding in the forest with a friend last weekend. He has a new 550 XP single seater and I took my 97 500 X2. I had head about the power the new Polaris motor makes, and ask him if I could ride his X2.

First thing I noticed. We were climbing some steep inclines, and my X2 would walk right up them. I actually had to get off of my machine and hold his front end as he climbed some rocks. It wanted to go over backwards. But then again, it is a shorter machine.

I noticed that with it's taller tires that it wasn't as stable as mine on the curves when going fast. Also, I went over some logs that he couldn't get over. That really surprised me.

Now for the real killer. We had switched machines, and I told him that I wanted to drag them to see how bad his would walk off and leave my X2.
We started even, weighed about the same, but my machine is heaver. The X2 stayed with the XP, and then started pulling away. We were on a little rock road, so didn't get over 50 before letting off.

He was so disappointed with his machine said he is thinking about buying one like mine. He said that my machine rode much better than his X2, and I would have to agree. I was really disappointed in this new "performance" machine.

 

Thats confusing, might wanna do an edit.

 

This surprises me that it didnt perform better. As for climbing logs and such you must remember you have more heavy duty suspension being a x2 so you have a slight advantage. i myself figure if im going to get an xp im going to get the 850 because ive heard it outperforms most anything.

 

are you saying your 97' 500 or did you mean your 07' 500 has the same performance as the new 550? how many miles on the new 550? is it even broke in yet? as far as the terrain differnce w/ a high machine i wouldnt doubt it about cornering for sure. imo

 

I think Walterh meant the 07 500X2. I don't think it is any different power-wise than my machine. Fastest I've ever got it was a one mile section in the snow where it topped out around 55 or so on the speedometer. I would be surprised too if the 550XP didn't walk away on the X2. I wonder if it is even broken in yet. Walterh, see how it goes in a hundred miles or so. I'd be interested to know if the XP still gets beaten.

 

I do not know why people would think the XP550 was going to be some power house over the old 500.

They both have the the same low compression ratio ,4 valve,SOHC there just a 50cc displacement increase. Thats will not make leaps and bounds in increased power.

Its the same with new 550 grizzly, it still only has a 9:3 compression ratio,no new DOHC just the same old SOHC yet people think they will magically have more power than the discontinued 660 Grizzly somehow,just because its a newer released motor.

 

ok besides the differnce in the cc's and fact its turned sideways,wasnt the whole idea was just to make all the major changes to the bike? so it would be narrower and easieer to ride??

 

I agree... I have no idea who has what machine? The 550 is not an "X2", so it's really confusing.

 

X2 is a lengthen heavier Sportsman 500.

I had the same surprising results when the EFI was considered new for the Sportsman 500.

I lined up with a new X2 500 EFI for a drag run down a long straight gravel road and was expecting the new EFI to be like have NOS or something.

The X2 got the start by 2 ATV lengths then I caught up and walked away from then on.

Of course the X2 has larger 26" wheels and weighs 100lb more than a H.O, but we were both surprised with the result.


I had a to get a oil kit at our dealership and they had a 550XP and SP800 side by side with the same ,$9000 (Canadian) price tag, I could not believe my eyes.

 

I agree! You may want to hit the edit icon and swap some X2's with XP's! LOL!
I knew what you meant though. LOL!
I would find it hard to believe that a 500 X2 could keep up with a XP550. My 500 X2 is quite the tank and certainly not built for speed! LOL!