I don't want to sound defensive, but I guess this will anyway. Am I the only one who never feels like my SP500 is going to tip over in the corners? I run the thing into the corners full blast and never have a problem. Except the time I hit a bump mid-corner and launched into the woods. It contacted terra firma just in time :-) Still got nicked in the hand by branches hard enough to draw Lots o Blood through gloves.

Glenn.

 

Yeah, I have a 1999 SP500 and let me say, the maintenence I have to do on the independent rear suspension just KILLS me....I mean, it takes me a whole 15 minutes to put grease in ALL OF those zerk fittings...It is just HORRIBLE! I can't imagine why anyone would want to spend 15 minutes of their life putting grease in the rear suspension just to have a top-notch, plush ride. You people are correct when you complain about the "added maintenence"--I sincerely couldn't agree more...it's a terrible thing. Imagine that! Zerk fittings! My gosh what high maintenence!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

well I guess it is just what floats your boat compared to coming back and doing nothing to my Artic Cat seems like a lot to me. And don't have all those extra parts to break either but still have a pretty good ride with the semi independant suspension. Also you guys are not going to make me believe that you don't feel the rear end give in hard turns I rode my buddys sp500 and I wouldn't say it was dangerous but it didn't feel as secure as the semi independant or the solid axle when cornering hard but to each their own.

Artic Cat 500...Ride all day do nothing to it...whats wrong with that???

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I really dont know what people mean when they mention the Tippy or cornering problems with the Sportsman either.Maintenence?I agree with Pflueeb on this one.It really is no big deal after you've done it once.Jack the quad up,remove all 4 wheels,grease and go.Takes all of 15 minutes to grease.It's alot easier on the pocketbook to grease than to replace those non greaseable sealed bearings that are on the other quads anyway.I just done the 97 King Quads rear bearings----no fun. BILL

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I know what you guys mean about the lean. Me and a my riding buddie, who owns a 450s, switch quads for a while to check it out. He said that he didn't like the lean. I asked what lean. I, like you other guys, got used to it and I don't even feel it.

In fact I now use the lean to have fun. I go about 30mph in a long, smooth, grass turn and i lean to the outside. In the middle of the turn I give it some gas and I'm riding on 3 wheels. I find this very fun. It's even more fun when you 2 wheel it.

 

Guess I have to join the no leaners I can't recall ever feeling it.I also don't mind the matinence as it gives me opportunity to check quad over good.I do like the ride of the IRS,the type riding we do it is important to me.

 

well after this is all summed up it sounds that the Sportsman has a nicer Suspension but teh Magnum is defiently less maintainence which I could live without! Well how much of a difference does the IRS make i mean it has a rool bar it does make it not fully independent! also can ya magnum owners thell em anything you dont like or do like over the Sportsman i do like the simplicity of teh MAgnum and also i have heard from numerous sources that it is a bit quicker and can handel heavier loads so can ya help em out any more?

Chris

 

clindst
The "extra" maintenance on the SP500 is a non issue. Period. It takes a couple minutes more than on Mags, or anything else for that matter. So what. As far as lean, you can adjust your rear shocks from very soft to relatively firm. (there are five settings) I like the firm setting on open fast trails and the soft setting for rocks and log hopping. As far as towing, I recently loaded a 4x8 utility trailer with three foot sides completely full with oak firewood. Well over 1,000 lbs I would think. With shocks on the firm setting there was little "squat" and the quad pulled the load just fine. Mind you, I would not have wanted to pull this load up or down a steep hill, but a few dips and humps were no big deal. Finally, what's all the fuss about "all the extra parts" in the independent rear suspension? There are "lots of moving parts" in your engine, transmission and transfer case too, and I hear of very very few failures. Why would you expect any less from an IRS? If your riding on flat, you don't need IRS. If your riding more aggressive trails, you can't beat it. Just my 2 Cents.
Sneeky

 

well the extra maintainence jsut is something els to take care of! well also hrte rear swingarm on the Sp500 will stil not be as steady adn firm as the Magnum!! Also how do u change the setting on the Sp's shox ? and the trailer thing 1000 pounds if nothing i have pulled a 6000lbs boat 4 inches deep in mud with a Honda 300 (yes it was hard put if a smal honda can a Polaris can pull a lot more! also with all the moving partsall that does it adds more things to maintain and break yea there is teh engine adn drive terrain but i dont need more to think about. you can also take a turn harder with the solid rear axle!
i dooo ride on rough terrain but i can get by jsut fine with a Solid axle. Does the IRS really make much of a difference and dont say it does jsut because you ahve one i need to knwo from someoen who has ridden both. Im not trying to put down your machine Sneeky i am jsut analizng the issue!

cHRIS

 

clindst;in answer to your question I have ridden both and still have 425 magnum with straight axel.Yes it does make alot of difference your on the ground and have more traction,more of the time.I myself can really tell the difference between the two.When I first got my 96 500sp the first one they came out with,I had two friends that had straight axle polaris.We had her go ahead of me in rocky area,I followed same places that she went,he followed me her back wheels were off ground 4 times and mine only once.Sure you can get along without it but it really is nice to have.