I flipped mine (98 Sportsman 500) straight back and over on me trying to climb a hill on my property. The first 3 or 4 feet is very steep, but after that it is fine. I gave her a little to much gas and over she went. It felt like it was in slow motion. I got lucky and landed in the creek with water running in my ear and the quad on top, but the front rack caught 90% of the weight. It put a noticeable crack in the front rack. I was worried about the highbeam light but it was fine. Front rack was the only damage.

My brother has 2, 2000 model Sportsman 500's. He flipped one of them last weekend on my property about 10' from where I did mine. His suffered major damage. Bent handlebars, headlight exploded, speedometer laying on the ground. We haven't begun to try to repair it yet. We are worried about the $$$ on the digital speedodometer!!


Damn, it is a scary situation when it is going over and you can't do a thing about it!!

 

My father rolled mine in late November. First roll had headlight pod break his jaw and dislocated his shoulder. 4 total end over end rolls and it landed upright with only a bent steering column. It bent because his head is so damn hard. Hardly a scratch on the plastic. Don't ever bleed on the seat though, the blood does not want to wash off...

 

I rolled over my buddies SP 400, real easy. Guess I should not have been doing cookies on the sand! Fairly top heavy to say the least.

I always wondered what a widow-maker was. Thanks Trail...

RoostKing...

p.s. I agree. If yo see a hill and have a doubt, dont do it.. Youve already partially(and subconciously) freaked your self out. Listen to the inner voice.

 

Superdman, best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. When you say you "only" broke a leg, an idea of the wreck's seriousness emerges!

I'd like to know more details of the accident itself; my own hill-related disasters always happened while I was CLIMBING (at least, at first!) hills, not descending them. And; like to know: were you wearing a helmet?

Descending (forward, anyway) hills so far I've been able to keep things right-side-up (knock on wood), although some rough landings indicate I need greater tricep strength (the oral surgeon was practically counting his money). While the ATV Safety Institute instructor said to keep the weight well to the rear when descending, the move takes a little thought and seems a little counter-intuitive; I'm awfully curious about what lies ahead and want to peek forward.

Again, best wishes for your health and please share some lessons learned.

Tree Farmer

 

Yes I was wearing a helmet, Tree Farmer! And it's a good thing 'cause my brand new helmet had a nice gouge at the top (probably where the handlebar had raked over my head.) I was definitely in a descent when this ego-destroying event happened, I think with enough momentum I would have made it going uphill in AWD.
These trails at Croom in Brooksville, FLA are pretty well worn and after years of riding and erosion they consist of packed clay/dirt with high walls on either side. It's one-way traffic too so jumping clear to one side is NOT an option!

Yes mike, the grade was as close to near-verticle as I ever want to be associated with. looking back I would say only a fool would try this stunt on such a heavy machine! In the three days we were there I did not see a soul trying this hill. A friend that was with our group claimed he had done it on his SC 500, but nobody said they saw him. There was a small turn to the left as you descend down the famed Widowmaker, that could be where all my troubles originated from. Anyway, what's done is done, I'm just glad I lived to tell about it! I guess turning 35 didn't stop me from thinking I was still impervious to injury.
The neat thing about this forum is alot of folks get to talk straight about topics and actually learn from others...even if the discussion is about anothers fate.

BOB '00 sportsman 500, sport 400

 

I tried that flipping stuff many years ago when we has 3-wheelers, I went up a hill on my oldHonda Big Red 250 ,you know what happened ,front end comes up flips over backwards 3wheeler starts rolling down the hill(amazing how high those things can bounce once they get started)It seems to roll for about 5 minutes or longer, when it gets to the bottom its bent and bruised fortunatly I was not. I have not made that mistake again.

 

I haven't ever flipped my 500 AC, but thats just because I haven't put myself in a predicament that would result in it. I've become rather conservative now that the payment rolls in the 14th of every month. That and the fact that if the 645lb ******* ever starts going over, I know that there is nothing I can do to stop it. The Honda 300 is a little more manageable, but you will normally lose traction on the 2wd before you start it over backward.

 

I only roled my Arctic Cat 500 on it's side twice. Only damage was to the gun rack on the handle bars.

 

I am a 150 lb female.I have been riding for two yrs. All trails the more challenging the better.I have fliped my sportsman 5004x4 twice.First time was comming out of a creek with a high moss bank incline way too steep .My bike went up and over very slowly and i just held my breath as it fliped over on top of me and into the freezing water.I was very lucky that the water was so deep.Funny now but no so much then . My bike ,It just kinda floated there( im blowing bubbles from beneith.)
The second time i was riding through very thick woods it was late dark and i was pulling an arctic cat not my best moment .Anyway i was riding over the sm trees i could not drive around .One of the tree was a little to big and it bent back up "beleive it" ... pushing my entire bike up with it.And again in slow motion this huge bike very slowly reared up i slid down the seat i could not jump off somtimes you just can't i slid on the ground and actually put up my arm bracing for this machine to crush me ( LIke my arm would do any good anyway )I looked up to find there it sat totally balanced on my rear rack sill very convinced i was being crushed in a matter of moments i slid from under it and sat there and looked with amazement.All i could think of was dam wish i had my camara !Im lucky twice and after each time im thinking"well i will never do that again" .You don't allways know before it happens.Its like ok well this is a little challenging but when it goes ain't no stoping it . Even riding carefully ,it allways catches you off gard.I love riding i hope i never get crushed i will allways try to be on my toes ready to jump !It is worth the risk. Ride safe have fun

 

Hi shelovit. I had the same thing happen to me except I was going up a steep hill with my son on the back. We were making a new trail on my property and running down small saplings, somehow I managed to hit one with the front tire and drove right up it. The front end rose up in slow motion and I let off the gas and hit the brakes but it was to late. Stood it up on the rear bumper. Seemed like 1 minute passed while sitting completely verticle my son fell off back. I fell off onto my son and Sp500 was going over backwards onto us. I pushed it back about 10 times to the vertical position with my legs and finaly it stayed on the rear bumper. I weigh 250lbs and landed on my 11 year old son thought I crushed him. Guess I was lucky only damage was my bruised ego. The whole time it never stopped running. I never thought a small sapling can cause a 700lb machine to go over backwards. Now I use my chainsaw to make new trails. Also my son doesnt ride on the back anymore has his own now.