I'm looking for advice from actual experience regarding suppension mods to the SP500HO. Read the article about the Progressive suppension preload kit for the front end, but what do you folks recommend for the rear end? Can anyone recommend a rear suspension kit that is easily adjustable on the trail.

 

In my garage is a Sportsman 500 HO. The normal driver of the quad weighs a little over 300 lbs and has a Polaris box on the back with the usual things thrown in. On the front rack is the 4 gallon fuel pack.

In normal trail riding it was found that the front end liked to bottom and the rear suspension was 50% used up in a static position based upon the load.

This load necessitated the installation of the Polaris original equipment heavy duty accessory springs front and rear. With the springs installed the Sportsman now rides like a regular Sportsman would with a 160 lb rider. Works for us.

If your Sportsman "squats" with a rider on it, the Polaris heavy duty springs are an inexpensive solution.

 

Thanks, Thor. Whats the deal with adjusting the spring load on the rear with the polaris heavy duty spring? Can you adjust, is it easy to do on the trail, or do you have to take off the rear wheels?

 

That quad in garage is my HO. For trail adjustment you will need three people. One person on the ground with very strong arms to turn the wrench and two big guys to lift the rear of the quad off the ground. If doing this by your self use a jack in the garage with a cheater bar. Expect to scrape some skin off your knuckles for first aid I recomend an adult beverage of you choice.

 

YES! Adjusting that rear suspension to its last setting requires lotsa stamina! :-)))