Does it have as much ground clearance as a 500 mag, etc... and also is the rear sprocket protected from rocks, etc....

 

They both have the same ground clearance and the sprocket is protected as well as the chain.

 

I have a 95 400 Explorer and have not had any trouble hitting my chain or sprocket on anything. When you look at it, you'd think that the chain and sprocket would get beat up really bad but that isn't the case. There is a steel ring that turns with the sprocket to protect the chain as well as the sprocket. I have gone through a lot of mud and hit quite a few rocks and have not had problems with anything hitting the chain.
As for the ground clearance, I think the Explorer has incredible ground clearance. The rear sprocket is the lowest part and even it is higher than quite a few other machines out there. I can't really remember what I measured mine at, but I believe it is around 8 inches to the bottom of the sprocket(I think). I know the bottom of the floorboards are 12 inches off the ground.

 

Mine has 7.5" under the sprocket guard.

 

The ground clearance is slightly more than a Magnum 500, but they are very, very close. If you ride both, the Magnum will just barely catch where the Xplorer barely clears. The belly is maybe an inch or so higher, by my guess. I think it is because the Xplorer has longer rear suspension travel and raises the underside up a little because of it.
Clearance under the rear axle is hard to say. The Xplorer will catch the sprocked guard a hair sooner than the rear axle gear housing on the Magnum, but it is only about an inch wide or so, including the sprocket, so in snow or mud, it actually seems to drag less than when the housing on the Magnum catches. The chain and sprockets are surprisingly well protected, I have cringed when a tree stump hit something under the rear axle hard several times, and the most damage I have done is to ever-so-slightly tweak the mounting bolt for the chain guard. Doesn't hurt anything, but now it rattles just a bit.

 

i have a 99 exp and on my last ride i broke the rear caliper mount off of the bearing housing and bent the hell out of the rotor. had to ride home 30 miles with no brakes thanks to the one lever brakes on a polaris.the sprocket gaurd hit the same rock and other than a big scar, held up and protected the spocket and chain.
maybe it's time for a good skid plate?

99 400 exp
kn filter
clutch mods
goodyear tracker p tires