I raced home from work Friday night [85mph] so I would get to the dealership before they closed at 6pm.I arrived there at 5;50 pm.I loaded the quad up,heated up the pole barn,cracked open some ''ice cold BUD LIGHTs''and proceeded to remove the warning stickers from the quad.What a pain in the ***.I looked it over real well.Good thing.When the mechanic installed the EBS,he left off one of the snorkle clamps.The chain was loose,and the Goodyear Mudrunners were only inflated to 3 lbs.Every thing else looked great.I put 10 miles on it yesterday at our local riding area.It is only 200 acres,but has alot of differant terrain.I have to tell you,im very impressed with this quad so far.The steering is SO much lighter than the Sportsmans.I dont have to use low range as much either.The higher reving 2 stroker realy kicks up the RPMs.[keeps the belt tighter]The hill climbing capabilities on this quad are going to be very tough to beat.This thing just EATS up the hills.The Sportsman was a great climber to,but you sure can feel it's extra 110lbs when climbing.The EBS on the Xplorer is not as good as the one on the Sportsman.Im glad I have it though,as it does indeed work.I was concerned that I might miss the IRS on the new quad.So far,not really.I do have a slight hesitation at idle when I nail the throttle.I will wait for it to break in before I have that checked out.Im taking it sorta easy now,until it is broken in.So far,im really happy with this new quad.Im just wondering why I did'nt buy this one first?====BILL

 

Hi,Bill great to hear your new machine is awsome! I sold my 98 sportsman on thur for 5250 picking up a pair of xplorer 400's on next fri. Do you think the xplorer will be capable of mudding in high range? I've opted to not put ebs on either mainly because i've found brake pads that last more than 500 miles!Is the explorer spirited enough to wheellie even with a winch on the front? I'm really curious to see if it's got the top end to stay ahead of a Grizzly , because I hate eating dust!Guess I'll have to change my name know.Thanks for the info and please keep us informed.

 

The Xplorer is probaly physicaly capable of mudding in high range, but I wouldn't reccamend it. That's one of the reasons people are seeing more belts messed up on the big Polaris bikes, even the 500. The motor has the power to turn the tires but it's too much stress on the belt without being in low.

On our Sportsman, you can make it go through some holes or over obtacles in high range, but I never do it. It's just too hard on the belt and you might burn it up or ruin without even knowing it's happening until you stop moving.

 

Quad_Man , I know that its harder on the belt, Igot 2500 miles out of the first one on my sportsman.Alot of the trails hear in minn are snowmobile trails , there are lots of swamp crossings that require shear speed and momentum to cross. They are uasaully only a hundred yds or less in length, but they do not have a solid bottom! You either carry enough speed and momentum to cross it or start winching! Scramblers excell at this, was hoping the Xplorer would be capable of this too. Sportsman's uasaully wind up winching there just to heavy.For most mudding i'll be using low like normal, I've seen the results of using high in mud! You forgot to mention the melted belt covers! Sorry I should have explianed my question better.

 

I just returned from riding again.I put on another 10 more miles.I cant beleive how much I really enjoy that Xplorer.The local riding area was packed today.Im definately going to do something as far as a clutch kit goes.It will pull a wheelie in low range with no problem.It will also lift the front end in high range to,but very little.Getting out of the starting gate a little quicker is something I will work on in the future.I have not had it over 30mph.I want to take it easy until it's broken in.I dont have a winch,so I dont know if it will pull the front end up with the extra weight of a winch installed.=====BILL

 

Bill, glad you like your new toy (and no, I'm not referring to Toyota!). Now do you believe me that the Sportsman 500's steering (even in 2wd) is not the easiest 4x4 to steer?

 

Rooster,I never once thought that the Sportsmans steering was heavy.That is,until I road the Xplorer.I have to give you this one,it is very heavy in comparison to the Xplorer.The easier steering is the FIRST thing you notice differant about these two quads.My brother owns the Sportsman now.Myself,bro John ,his wife Carole, all went riding yesterday.Johns wife thinks the Sportsman is hers.John lets her ride it and he rides his KQ.What a mistake.Johns wife Carole, is about 5'2 and weighs about 225 lbs.She is far to small a person [height] to be on the Sportsman.The Sportsman is just to hard to handle for such a small person.She damn near flipped it yesterday.Im doing my best telling John to let her have the King Quad instead.He's all for it,he just dont think she'll accept the King Quad.I fear that I soon may be telling my ATV Connection friends that Carole is seriously injured from riding a quad that is just to damn big for her.I hope they take my advice and switch quads.John is fit for a Sportsman,6'3--250lbs.====BILL

 

On our trailrides we go on, you can definitely notice the heavier steering on the Sportsmans. When you ride for 8 hours or so, and a full tank of gas, your arms will definitely feel it if you're riding a Sportsman 500. My 300EX is extremely easy to steer, making the difference in effort even more noticeable when switching machines, even my dad's Honda ForemanES steers easier.

 

Hay Bill Iam glad you like it. I rode 500 Sportsman alot and I have a 98 Explorer 400 that I like better It has winch. Plus a RCR Kit I like it real well. But when it was stock I put a red spring from EPI to much stall. And I lost MPH. Then I installed a stock white spring from my Scrambler 400 and it worked good. The RCR silncer is a little to loud.

 

Bill since you have had some rather"unpleasent" experience with the tie rod ends in the past. Does your new Quad have the New style Tie Rods? Our New Explorer I got last week has them. They are Hiem joint type Ends with a rubber boot over them. Maybe they will be better than the old ones. I noticed all of the New Quads in my dealers Show Room were equiped with them.