Cowman, if you can spring a few extra bucks I would go for the SP500 EBS. As previous posters have mentioned the ride is second to none. The Magnum is a good machine too, oh!! but that ride!! I have my springs adjusted to the highest setting to maintain the most ground clearance. With this setup riding double, both guys at around 200 lbs. each, a quad box with about 40 lbs. of stuff in it and dragging a 750 lb. moose, we went up hill, down hill and through washouts with no difficulty at all. Great traction, power and stability and did I mention that ride.
Dave Formstone
98 SP500 EBS

 

Gravel pits and rippin' around...yeehaa! I drive my SP500 like its a sand duner and it is joy to ride. I myself was impressed after getting off after a 20 mile pipeline run full of rocks and steep hills with no crushed butt and a case of "permagrin".

 

Cow,
After working on SEVERAL mid 70's to early 80's Vettes.. I am thoroughly convinced that IRS has a lot of parts to maintain and break.
Yes.. I know we arent talking Chevy here, but there ARE a lot of moving parts.
As for the Magnum... The EBS is an option for 2000, last mellinium it was standard equipment.
Is the EBS worth it, I personally think so. If you plan on doing any heavy towing EBS is the way to go... in low range, I hardly EVER use my brakes.
As for the "fun factor" Thats a matter of opinion... I think the IRS robs some significant rear wheel h.p. from the Sportsman, others don't... The weight difference probably plays a small role..
As the owner of a Magnum 500, I will say that I love this thing... Granted, its still a utility 4x4.. but I play on it pretty hard... When i'm ready to REALLY thrash on a machine, I still throw my leg over the Scrambler, but for work, there is no comparison.
Either way you go, you're buying a nice machine that will serve you well...
Maybe compare price of the Sportsman to a Magnum WITH EBS?
ANd go from there....

 

Cowman, I use my '99 so500 primarily for custom spraying. I have a 24 gal Jackrabbit sprayer on the back. We had to set the springs up to their stiffest notch and that's it. I too had a tough decision whether to go with the sporty or the Magnum. I still like my sporty. The suspension just gives me a 'cushy' ride for lack of a better explaination. I've chased and checked cows with mine and have cut around on it as well. Running over frozen cow **** in your yard - I would go with the sporty! good luck.

 

Lol foster. I've done that also, those big frozen cow terds are just like rocks, except worse when they're half melted!

[This message has been edited by rooster (edited 01-20-2000).]

 

Both quads are very nice,but I'd sure stay away from the Grizzly as I seen someone allready posted.They run very hot.I have the Sportsman,nice riding quad,probably one of the very best at casual trail riding.You could easily put 100 miles a day trail riding on one of those.Very comfortable quad.Either one,your sure to enjoy.===BILL

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Cowman: I suppose you couldn't go wrong with the Magnum or the Sportsman. But for that matter, depending upon your weather, I'd give consideration to the Grizzly. I ride a 98 Grizzly and my wife rides a 99 Sportsman. The ride of the Sportsman is clearly better on rough roads. I ride it when I go elk hunting and it does a much better job on long rough rides. It also doesn't get high centered as much as the Grizzly or the other quads we ride with.

But, the Grizzly is certainly more powerful and if you were in cooler climates, I'd bet you'd end up being pleased with the power and hauling capability of the Grizz.

All three seem to be pretty good quads though.

 

hhmm... I'm just wondering,,,, Do you need to flip on the AWD to tackle those frozen bombs?
See, here in Texas, we've never seen the frozen variety, but now ya'll see why most everybody here has 27" tires on ATV's and lifted 4x4 trucks..... Damn cows...!!!....

 

One thing I've particularly enjoyed about that AWD switch on the Polaris, and one of my buying points, was that the SP500 was one of the only quads that offered 2 wheel drive all the time, and true 4 wheel drive at the pushof a button. Other quads had full-time four wheel drive, and I found that most of the time, in normal driving, all I really wanted was just rear wheel drive. Had a quad with full time four wheel drive and the turning radius on my paved driveway was poor, and I wore out a set of front tires over continuous use on pavement.