After spending a lot of time reading peoples comments about performance kits and pipes for the Scrambler 500, I was very enthusiastic and eager to get to work on modifying my 2000. My final decision was to contact RCR to get what was best. With all the positive comments i've read, I felt they were my best choice.

When I contacted them I was greated very politely but was discouraged with what I was told. According to the person I spoke with, their was not much I could do to improve performance on my 500. He said I could get a pipe and clutch kit and it would help some, but not much. This seemed to contradict what I've been reading.

I certianly appreciate his honesty.

Am I missing something here????

Bud Harris
2000 Scrambler

 

That's what's great about RCR, his honesty. However, when he says you can't do much, that isn't completely true. He probaly meant compared to the 400's, where you can do a LOT.

For the 500, there is a varity of things availble.
[ul][*]pipes - depending which one you get, you will get different results. Most all of them usually help low & mid range mostly, and some help on top and others take away top end.[*]carbs - Runs better overall, helps mostly on top[*]clutch parts - faster response, better acceleration, smoother shifting[*]pistons - supposedly help low end (haven't heard of one used yet)[*]cams from (coming soon from HPD) - help everywhere & a lot on top according to the dyno sheet.[*]air filters - help mid range & overall rev[*]suspension - help jumps, whoops, rough trails, handling[*]tires & wheels - help corning a LOT and acceleration
[/ul]
Sure there is not as much out as the 400 2-strokes, or the 400ex for example, but there is still a good amount. Once you do even a pipe and clutch kit you will be able to feel a noticable difference. I don't think you will be dissapointed whatever you do.

Go to product reviews, and find the HotSeat clutch kit article. Go down to the timed runs. See how much JUST a clutch kit made? A pipe would be even more, etc...

Also, check out these two dyno graphs:
http://www.geocities.com/~gtthunder/polaris500.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/quad_man2/hpd500dyno.jpg

The first one if from the wheels, that's why the numbers are lower than the second, which is from the engine. The first one shows that the HotSeat pipe gained about 4hp where it peaked. The second shows what differences the HPD stuff made.

So don't loose faith yet. If you really want to make mega HP though, you need a 2-stroke. They are cheaper and easier to get HP out of. I just like 4-strokes anyway I guess.

 

Bud A 10% improvement with just add on's is good. You won't notice these improvements much (like a pipe, k&n -,jet kit,ect.) but you will notice your quad pulling away from your buddies bone stockers.

 

gardner,

10% works for me, although that was not the impression I got. I'de like to purchase a complete kit as you suggest (pipe,filter,jet kit,etc.) but the guy I spoke with didn't seem to recommend it. I got the impression that they didn't offer a performance kit for the 500. I'm really weary about combining parts that arn't proven together.

 

Scram, if you're set on getting a kit, look here http://www.highlifter.com/. They've got a nice package that includes a Supertrapp pipe.
You'll get a nice boost from this, but the most drastic performance increase I've gotten is from a roller clutch with an AAEN blue spring on back and an AAEN green spring on front with 53 gram weights. Even with all the money I've invested so far, its not a huge difference over the stock performance, but there's definitely some gains to be made.

 

I will have to agree with quad_man there is not much right now for the 500 but enough to keep us happy. I am a firm believer that no one modification with the exception of the clutch kit ( Especially the roller clutch kit ) offers a great improvement without the assistance of additional items. Most pipes do almost nothing unless you properly rejet the carb or replace it with a larger one. A larger and/or higher compression piston can also be installed with out anything else done but most people don't even want to bother doing that much work. If have heard that any good after market cam requires a piston with valve reliefs to avoid collision with the valves due to the prolonged valve durration and increase valve lift. I am not sure if there is a piston out yet that has valve reliefs especially a higher compression piston. I would like to get it as some kind of a kit ( Cam and Piston ) and have recommended head work done.

Final note : As a rule of thumb all the components must work in harmony other wise you have a mess of mixed aftermaket parts that cancel each others performance advantages.

Chris Picciotto
99 Scrambler 500