As far as I know, MN won't be affected in any way. It was the WI plant that moved and the machines being made there are mostly UTV's and will be sold to other countries. If you read the newspaper article, it explained that there reasoning for moving was to be closer to buyers. I think it's BS, but whatever.

 

It doesn't matter what you say, William is buying the oversized 400 HO. It's what he wants and that's it. We won't hear anything about it for sure until someone gets one and they have their first problem(s).

IMO, (which is irrelevant) the 400 is just too small for that big of a machine, but I like that they put the lowrange back. I think a lot of women liked the smaller 400, but the lack of low range created a problem similar to what the Rincon owners have.

The value line is just what it is. Nothing special. They will be phased out sooner or later.

 

Thanks. But the engine in the 400HO is 455cc, and the 500HO is 498cc. The carb differences are 34mm vs 40mm. Everything else is the same on the quads. Not worth the price difference IMHO.

The only way I would buy the 500HO is if the incentives are too good to resist, otherwise, the 400HO it will be.

 

Anyone know off hand what the difference in the 500 and the 500 HO was? I believe they went to a different cam and bigger carb. The power difference was very noticeable.

The numbers on paper mean something but very little. Many variable including carbs, clutching, timing, etc..but I'm no mechanic.

When the 500 and 500 HO were rather new back in 2000 and 2001, I had a friend with each. I had two 400 2stroke Xplorers which were only a 378cc and I believe a 34mm carb. They were also about 100 lbs. lighter than the sportsmans. The 400 2 strokes (which is much snappier than the 4 stroke) could easily outrun the 500 and be neck and neck with the 500 HO all the way through from 0-60. Just throwing that out there for arguments sake. I really doubt the 400 HO will be even close to the 500 this year, but I've been wrong before.........

 

And that is the nice luxury I have. The fastest we are allowed to go on the roads up here is 20KM (12MPH) in a 50KM (31mph)zone, and 50KM (31mph) in an 80KM (49 MPH) zone. Speed is not what I am looking for, it is the torque, and the low provides this.

 

I wouldn't try to talk anyone out of buying anything.

I didn't think that it was really under powerd for a 400, I'm sure bigger tires would affect it and I doubt being a 400 it would be a good mudder if that was the intension.

400s do just fine for trail machines.

 

And that is all I am looking for. If I was going to do mudding, I would go as big as possible, but that is not my intention.

Won't make a final decision until I hear one run, and test drive it in the bigger chassis.

 

They go back and forth from way to many models to a slimmed down line up.

 

for $400 id definetly get the 500

 

That is a valid point... Why not spend the $400. Thats about the price of a winch. I would probbly get the 500 as well.