Boner,
I think what everybody is talking about is not being able to run the higher speeds when in High Range... Trust me, these 500's have PLENTY of low end torque.. especially when in LOW range...
The mid-range and top end power that people are looking for is a speed vs. weight factor..

 

Thats right mudmachine, my power search goes on for acceleration and speed in high range. Geared down, the machine is fine. I know I'm expecting alot from a heavy machine that was not designed for rodding around. But still, the ride is so nice you can't help but desire a little more speed. I don't want to sell it and move to a Scrambler, 'cause I haven't ridden one. I just have to make the Sportsman a littler/alot sportier.

 

I didn't really mean it to sound like I was complaining about the power....it's great. I was just using my experience's to show how powerful they really are!

 

I must be getting senile, but the SP500 does not have to worry about too much hp or wheelies, regardless of what you will ever do to it.

 

I can get the front up on my Xplorer 300 in low range and my cousin up the road can get the front up on his Xplorer 400 in lo and high.

 

Jack,dont laugh,since I had the HP clutch kit installed,my 99 500cc Sportsman will definatly wheelie in low range.Im not telling you I can ride a wheelie or it will do a great wheelie,but the heavy tank will lift the front wheels off the ground about a foot or more.===BILL

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My SP engine is "bog standard" and on a paved road in low range it will lift the front wheels off the ground one foot (about). I also have a 2000 lb warn winch mounted on the front too.
Dave Formstone
98 SP500 EBS

 

Any machine can wheelie on a "paved" road. It's not hp that creates the wheelie, but the right amount of traction and lack of ability to spin the tires at that moment. Hp would create a burnout.

 

Jack, your ideas that any quad can wheelie on pavement are true to an extent. The SP500, at least to my experience, on any surface with traction will bring the front end up vertical, with minimal effort...by minimal i mean pressing the thumb throttle and holding on. There are many that this can't be done. Many have to really be forced by tugging at the handle bars and situating all your wait back to even start to wheelie. I put my friend (who weighs around 175) on the front of my SP500, I stood on the back and it wheelied pretty decently. That tells you what kind of power these machines have.

 

i was wheelie-ing my 400 scrambler on moist dirt this last weekend!! it will pull a long or high wheelie on pavement, depending on how much ***** you got! i dont have much.

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chris mattox 99 scrambler 400 4x4 / 98 300 express