I'd like a little feedback and info on the Sportsman 400. I have ridden a number of 500Spmans but have never even seen a 400 out on the trail. I'm thinking of getting rid of my Scram (which my wife rides most of the time now) in favor of something with IRS and engine breaking. I would guess that the 400 is a bit underpowered as compared to the 500 but that woudlnt be much of an issue for the misses. Are they real dogs or do they have some get up and go? Do the 400s have engine breaking? Any help would be appreciated.

 

The 400's DO NOT have engine breaking. I picked the Kodiak over the Sportsman because of weight, suspension, POWER, and engine braking.

 

The 400 is not even close to the performance of the 500HO. The cost difference is not much considering the performance gain with the 500. I rode both before purchasing. No comparison.

 

I rode my buddies Sp400 the other day and they go just as fast as the SP500 i don't know about the Sp500 H.O. though.... i just rode an older sp500.

 

Scram500Man,
Sounds like we are in the same boat! I am thinking about selling the scrambler {that wife rides} and getting something more matched to the 700.
All I know about the 400 is that it's 50 lbs. lighter,4 inches shorter and 74 cc smaller than a 500 H.O.sportsman, plus no E.B.S. Also in my area you can get good deals on the 500 since the 700 came out. I think we have decided to get the yellow sportsman 500 H.O.
Keep in mind that you can get E.B.S. on any polaris automatic for an extra 500.00. {that really gets the prices close between 400 and 500 H.O.}. gOOD LUCK !
MY PICS

 

Right now Polaris has a deal for those of you who buy a SP400. They will exchange you're non EBS clutch for an EBS clutch if you buy a SP400. This deal is only good on the SP400 for a limited time.

As for the power, I think they have their share of power. Not like the 500 but still enough for anyone to go out and enjoy a good long days ride. I don't see how the Kodiak is better in suspension. I also know that the SP400 has a better(true AWD) where the kodiak is a true 3x4, not to mention that the Polaris AWD system can be turned on at any speed without risking a major catastophy. Also the SP400 has way more ground clearance.

I don't want to start a war between these two models. They both have their good and bad points. I basically just wanted everyone to know about the deal Polaris is offering on the SP400 and the EBS clutch exchange.

 

Elroy..I didnt know about the deal with the EBS. Im not concidering a Kodiak for the Misses, I want to give her the best ride possible and IRS is the way to go. If price was just a bit closer between the 500HO and the 400SP I would really think about the HO. I wouldnt mind having another great quad to ride.

 

I own both the SP500 and the SP400 if given the choice again; I would have bought another SP500. It will go anywhere and climb anything the SP500 will, but there is a power difference. The lack of EBS brings it down too. This is just my opinion though….

 

I like the Kodiaks suspension because I jump alot, and I mainly drive in sand. What do you mean by saying the Kodiak is "3x4". I have turned on AWD going 30 and nothing happened.

 

AtomicAustin...what Elroy was talking about was that on your Kodiak you do not have a 100% torque biased 4wd system. If you have a front wheel in the air or in a situation where one of the front wheels are loosing traction that wheel gets the power. If that wheel cant get traction that power is being wasted or at least not being helpfull. The Polaris 4wd system is different, it is more of the effect of a locked differential. If you have the same scenario with a Polaris the wheel with the traction gets the power or 100% torque bias. The Polaris 4wd is actually a 4wd where as most of the quads out today are only a 3wd system. This is why you now see Kawi and Yamaha adding a front differential locker to their new quads.