I don’t own either bike but I was just curious, which one is better then the other, what things can the 500 do better then the 400 and vice versa. The only think I know about the 400 is that with a few simple and inexpensive mods you can drastically increase the power. What else is there that all you scrambler owners can tell me?

 

First let's just say that they are both great quads, and they both have thier strengths and weakness's. The 500 is a four stroke, and off the floor is faster(slightly) than the 400. The 400 is , as you said, capable of reaching a much higher performance peak with only a few mods. The 500 is probally a better trail bike though just because of the 4-stroke being able to just putt around if you like. The 400 wants to be riden fast everywhere, or the plug starts fouling after a short while. The 400 is also a lighter machine, but niether is a lightwieght. One more pro for the 400 is that it is priced four or five hundred less than the 500. Either one is a great ride. I have a 400, and don't think I could have bought a better bike to suit my riding. Hope this was what you were looking for.

David Bean
99 Scrambler 400
99 Warrior

 

I'm not sure what you mean about the 400 fouling plugs. My friend and I did a bunch of slow trail riding on his and his wife's 400 Scramblers (over 300 miles in 10 days) and never fouled a plug. He did have them properly jetted as one came a little rich. I've been riding high strung 2-stroke dirt bikes for years and they do tend to foul plugs more frequently than a 4-stroke if not set up properly. Have your dealer check the jetting on your bike if you aren't familiar with it.
A 4-stroke won't require topend rebuilds near as often as a 2-stroke will.
Scott

 

A two stroke will require top end work more often than a thumper, BUT it's a lot easier and cheaper to do when its needed.

No one mentioned gas mileage, reliability, mixing gas and oil etc.

What's the intended purpose? Trails, rock crawling, mud, woods, sand, desert? If you're wondering what the differences are, then the specifics of where you are comparing the quads and who is riding it must be included info.

 

If properly jetted the 400 should not foul plugs. I had added everything short of porting/new head & follow my kid in his power wheels jeep for hours (1 mph) & never foul plugs & I even run it rich. This is true w/ the stock carb & the 39mm Kiehn (sp?). So check the jetting if you foul plugs on the 400.
Jim Maloney 98 400 Scrambler

 

I like the instant power of the 500 in the woodsy, rutty, sloppy, twisted trails with little straitaways that allow me to squeak by the honda 300 which are way more manueverable in the woods than most other bikes. In the Pine Barons ( NJ ) there are alot of Honda 400ex's and Yamaha Banshee's out there that pose a threat to our way of life ( Polaris Owners ) this is were the 400 Comes into place. I've seen some demons out there stompin some modified ring dings ( banshee's ) and you know who you are.

 

With the way the Scrambler's are setup, I think the 400 and 500 if left stock, are about the same with the 500 have the edge on top speed. From what I have seen, the 400's haven't had much of a disadvantage at all in mud, or similar things, like I thought it would.

I think it boils down to this. If you like 4-strokes overall better, or don't expect 70hp from a few mods, go with the 500. If you like 2-strokes, and want high horsepower from mods, go with the 400.

I have heard a lot of stories of stock Polaris 400's going a looong time without engine rebuilds too. Stock VS stock, I think it's mainly preferance.