I am currently running an 01 sportsman 500 and it is almost time to retire it and find something new. I have not really paid attention to any atv but mine and a few of the guys i ride with so i am unsure of whats out there. My 500 still runs good but i have an uneasy feeling taking it 20-30 miles in the bush with no one else around (back country fishing). Its got lots of miles and wear and tear on it. So what i am looking for is suggestions on what bikes to stay away from or look into. My main concern is reliability. The 500s power is close to all i ever need. Sometimes a little more pulling grunt would be nice but not necessary. I know they still make the 500 HO. maybe look into a newer one than i have? what about the 550? any issues? fuel injected vs carb? i also use it to plow in the winter. A couple friends have 650 can-ams and love them, are they proven yet? Sorry to mention BRP in this forum

 

Two many to list, but if your happy in the mid bore class and want alittle more power Id look at the 550 Grizzly,550 AC,500 Outlander. Even the new 500H.O has less maintenance, no grease fitting any longer while the 2001 has 23 of them I think.

My problem with the XP 550 is it cost more then a 800 twin Sportsman.2013 Polaris Sportsman® 800 EFI ATVs

The 800 Twin cylinder is a power house over the 550 single cylinder for less money, something odd there.

Both have IRS,low range ,true AWD and EFI but there motors are not even remotely comparable.

Imagine your Old 500H.O with no grease fitting and the motor on steriods,Thats the 800 Sportsman.

Not sure where your from but up here Can Ams are way over priced. A 650 Outlander cost as much as a XP850.http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...2=315228&go=Go and it goes toe to toe with the 800 Outlander.

 

The new Outty 500 got a major power increase, 47HP, hoping they got more torque from them too.

 

Researching the outlander 500 a bit more. How are the few year old ones holding up? is there a recoil on these?

I should mention i probably will be looking for a model year or 2 old as i don't think i can afford brand new.

 

The G2 chassis was put under the 500 in 2012. If you buy used, make sure the frame around the powers steering box never cracked. Can am had a brace for them. Or buy a base model new.

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Can-Am ATV Forum

 

47hp out of a 500 twin, thats more hp then a 700 Grizzly or 750 KQ make. There has to be a down side. It must need alot of rpm,s to make that and has less down lowend torque.
You do not get something for free.

 

BRP has never been afraid to push the envelope. The japanese stuff is boring, they have not increased power in any of their quads in ages.

But the folks at Rotax have always been able to get more out their engines. As much as I love Polaris AWD system, next one could be an Outty 500.

 

I can tell you my son's Renegade 500 goes very well. Not quite up there with my Outlander 650 but it handles a lot lighter and is fun in the woods. Rotax are powerhouse engines. They are in both snowmobiles and quads and are proven. If you do go over a year or two old I would recommend skid plates or a frame insert. 2012 and newer Can-Am Renegades and Outlanders with the 800 and 1000 cc engines have the new Generation 2 chassis. For 2013 all but the Outlander 400 get the new frame. 2011 Can-Ams and 2012 500s and 650s got a frame brace inside the box frame where the lower front A-arms attach to strengthen the weak area. As others have alluded to, the spar frames they used were on the weak side in my opinion. I got a UHMW insert (ultra high molecular weight plastic) form my son's Renegade and I put 3 square aluminum box tubes in my Outlander frame. The inside of the older spar frame is exactly 1.25" so it was realtively easy. I also put skid plates on mine for extra peace of mind. Coming from a Polaris Sportsman X2 to the Can-Am was a good step up in power but with nowhere near as strong a frame as the Polaris have. All the other machines mentioned are good machines too. If you can take each for a ride try them out and see what fits your needs the best.

Honda's are reliable but behind the times feature-wise and power-wise. No front locker in an industry where every other maker has it. Honda has a limited slip. Fine for most applications but deep mud where you might need that little bit extra, deep snow, and up rocky, steep hills where you need all the traction you can get.

Polaris has the best ride period, in my mind. Can-Ams have the most power per cc and a good ride. Even better in the new G2 chassis.

 

They can.They just chose not to. Yamaha has a
4-stroke, 2-cylinder, 3-valves, liquid-cooled
HORSEPOWER 80 hp
DISPLACEMENT 499 cc
BORE X STROKE 77 x 53.6 mm
CARBURETION 43 mm fuel injection


In there Yamaha Phazer GT 500 snowmobile that puts the 500 Outlander twin to shame. http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...cleCode=180179


Polaris has a 145hp 4 stroke 750 twin in there snowmobile and PWC.http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...cleCode=186368

It has Turbo but even without turbo its rated at 95hp on its own.

 

The Polaris Liberty engines produce 100hp/ litre, they could shoehorn a 1L in a quad rated at 100hp, not sure why they dont.

Can Am did, they are the winners.