Hello all, just wondering how many guys have gone from the Sportsman 500 to the 550 XP and if you notice the power difference?

 

i'm pretty sure there was a post on that very question a long time ago, but don't if you could find it in a search. i think they said in certain throttle areas(like mid range) you tell feel the differnce. but again this is just a guess.

 

If they are side by side and you can ride them one after another you can tell the difference. I sold my 02 500 HO to my friend and my wife has a 550 so we got to try them both. I felt there was a difference. And the xp's are way easier to steer, I don't have eps on them either, and I think they are more comfortable to ride. Maybe a newer year sportsman there wouldn't be as much of a difference though.

 

I've test ridden the 550 and also think it's got a little more pep. Big thing for me though was the better handling and ease of steering that my mind up for me on my next purchase. The 850 of course would be a whole lot more powerful but with the places I ride most of the time the guy's with the big bores have zero advantage over my wittle 500. And in a few cases I could see where all that extra power could potentially do more harm than good. Like on a steep slow going incline. At least from what I've seen. With that said, I'd still go for the big bore if the price was right compared to the smaller engine model.

 

Polaris says you can do 35 in low gear with the XP. Has that been your experience or is it really winding out bad at that point?

I'm just hoping for something to break in the next couple of months and am deciding between the 550 and the 850. I only have two situations where I'm looking for more power. Snow riding with hills (depending on the winter 3-6 times), and long steep climbs where the trail is smooth and open and I want to use high. In those situations the 500 with the weight of the X2 and my weight I seem to only be able to get into the middle of the powerband and it won't go beyond 35 or so.

 

I haven't had either of our xp's up to 35 in low range. I feel that about 25 is the max I am comfortable at, and at that I don't like to ride at that speed going that fast. I like the xp's in every way compared to the standard sportsman's except belt engagement. The xp's take some getting used to, they are a bit more jumpy. I agree with readymixer if you can afford it the 850 is nice to have but not needed. If I never planned on wanting bigger mud tires and being able to spin them the 550 would be all that I would need.

 

do u understand the 500 ho has 34 hp and the 500 they didnt really add any real power to it has only 37. so why waste the time.

 

I can't say on the power difference but the XP is a HUGE step up from the HO or "value" line.

At 25 mph mine sounds like it's ready to come apart.

My good friend has a 750 KQ and he seldom uses low range because he would prefer to use the engines torque rather than the lower gear.

Maybe you should look at something that you don't need to use low so much and it wont ruin the belt loading the machine at low speeds in high.

From what I have been told the XPs don't need to use low as much as the older style does.

Or did I miss the question??

 

Moose......what are you lookin' to get? I don't think you would drift away from the extended wheelbase.....I guess a Touring model.

 

That's 9% more power. It's enough to notice.