I have a friend who is looking to buy a new 08 or 09 500 ho. I had an 05 800. Are the two machines comparable as far as issues,ie front end sagging, heat on right side etc? I know there is a difference in power. I was telling him the issues with my 800 and did not want to steer him in the wrong direction.

 

Don't know about other issues, but I just picked up an 09 500 EFI X2, and the heat shielding on the pipe is a non-problem, at least on this model. They added both a long sheet metal shield under the plastic, and some heat-reflective blanket stuff. Seems to work fine. I've heard some earlier versions did have insufficient heat shielding. '09 and '10 ride is much improved, too, with better geometry, longer travel, and plenty of adjustment range on the suspension.

As far as power goes, I drove 800's and 850's before I bought this one and decided I would not need/use/want the extra power, especially at the expense of initial cost and the penalty in fuel range. Unless one is a member of the young go-fast set (in other words if you haven't yet done a couple of tours in a hospital and a rehab unit after severe get-offs) this 500 has about all the power and torque that can be safely applied to the ground, at least in my estimation. That's just my personal opinion after about 45 years of off-and-on riding dirt and observed trials bikes. I have to admit this is my first four-wheel machine, though.

If going fast is all your friend wants, I'm sure somebody will have a 1200cc 100 hp 90 mph machine out soon, since the power race never ends. And people will buy them.

 

I have a 2008 500 X2 and I don't have a heat problem, nobody told me about that, I guess that I'll have to complain about that now....

Short of my fuel sender being bad, I like this machine.

 

I try to steer him towards the 550XP.....

 

It was a short problem only for a certain year ( can,t remember whats years),your 08 would not have it. 500 is the same chassis as the 800 just like the 550 has the same chassis as the 850.

If you buddy buys a new 500 it will not have the melt the plastic thing going on for sure.

 

the strut springs do sag, but there isnt the heat issues w/ the single 500 vs. the twin 800.

 

nice thread. learned a lot about both. thanks to all.

 

i hav no problem with my 500, i ride with a 660 grizzly and a can am and have no problems keeping up unless you want the top end,myself i like a good hole shot...