Considering buying a 550 XP, and I'm curious how loud it is. I like to minimize my damage to the environment, and wildlife doesn't like loud exhaust. I understand that they have high engagement RPM, that's a big factor. But I'm just wondering if people consider them loud or not. If anyone can actually measure the noise in Decibels... that would be very nice!
thanks

 

I have got to within 60 ft of bear, 30 ft of deer, & 75 yrds of elk with my 09 550Xp. Louder than my 400HO or 300Hawkeye but nothing offensive.

 

I have not stood there and listened to mine drive away so I can't tell you how noisy it is.

I do find that the engine and drivetrain is excessively noisy while riding it.

 

all the new 4 stroke 4x4's are pretty quiet and if you're in the woods they can hardly be heard 50' away.

the loudest stock 4x4 "bark" is probably on the renegade followed by the grizz.

I wouldn't be too worried about the noise effecting the wildlife- like mongrol pointed out- I've also spooked deer turning a corner less then 20' from me. Hell- I've seen deer trotting down main st with cars zipping by un fazed.

 

You can always add-on aftermarket exhaust silencer. Never seen one up front but I have seen them online.

 

but it's not like there extremely loud anyways as mentioned. besides, you control how much throttle you give and how fast which makes them louder or queiter on take off.

 

Is the 550 engine/drivetrain that different from the 850? I have heard 850s run by at pretty good throttle, and they seem very quiet, both engine and drivetrain wise.

 

they were just dumbstruck by that beast on tracks you drive mongrol.

 

Do you really think ATV's bother wildlife? Don't get me wrong, I'm the first to say keep the atv's away from me while I'm in the woods..., that's for me not the wildlife. But I also use one! That said I use mine only during allowed hours, while others will run them all day, nothing like trying to listen the sounds of the woods with a atv in the background, something I hate.

I can get closer to deer, grouse, pheasant, wolves, etc, etc while on my 2 stroke, which is louder than the 4's...than I can ON FOOT!

This bow season...I hunt right on the edge of a main trail along a ridge. Deer are on that trail nonstop, as are atv's. I watched a nice 10pt feeding for 10 minutes, just out of range. Heard a atv coming, that deer heard it coming from a mile away...I could tell by the way he had looked back and turned his ears. Fed for another minute or two, as the atv came over the ridge he stepped 10 yards in the thick, atv passed and he stepped right back out. That atv didn't bother him! Never did present me with a good shot, stayed just out of range.
I've watched this above scenario many times.

My dad is up there in age but still loves to hunt, I drop him off at his stand 30 minutes before light and get to my stand and pick him up at lunch. I've pulled up to pick him up, shut my wheeler off and he's pointing in brush and giving me the "hush" sign. Turns out he had been watching a doe for a while, I pulled up and the doe layed down. She stayed there until dad moved to get down...at that point she busted loose. She wasn't worried about my atv, but as soon as realized a human was there...she was gone!

If I wanted to grouse hunt off my ATV I could shoot 10-1 over hunting on foot, really! But, I still choose to do it on foot.

Point is...atv's don't bother wildlife, don't worry about how many "decibles" it makes. Buy the atv you want and run with it.

Wenty

 

I'm reasonably set on the 550, I was just thinking about whether or not I'd be buying an silence or not. Judging by what you guys say, the noise isn't bad enough to justify the power loss.

Though, for the sake of conversation, birds don't respond well to noise, and Golden Winged Warblers are endangered. Also, deer who are accustomed to noise, aren't scared of roads, and are more likely to get hit by cars.

I just want to have as little impact as reasonably possible.

Thanks for input, as always!