I just got my 500 Quadrunner a few hours ago and this thing rips. It has a lot power and it barked front & rear tires on asphalt hitting 2nd without gunning it. It's too cold tonight to get to really ride it so I'm gonna wait till we get some more snow Saturday night to really ride it. After the snow melts and turns the mountains into mud I'll do some mud testing. I was a little concerned that this wouldn't have enough power to keep my blood pumping like my Banshee but it sure as heck does. The only thing that irratates me was that Suzuki doesn't offer a winch or snowplow package for free or for $49.95 like they usually do, yet they offer either packages for the automatic 500 Quadmaster. This makes no sense at all since they're both equal machines and only differ in the Transmission. I was really wanting a winch bad but I guess I'll have to b!+ch at Suzuki or somehow try to get one for a reduced price. And no more 4"x10" oak beems for loading and unloading, I finally have a folding alluminum ramp. Who says Christmas only comes once a year.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee

Venomous, what color did you get, green or red ?

I got the 2000 model Green. I was going to get a red 1999 model but for just $500 more I could get the color I wanted (Green) and a model year newer. I think with all the snow we're gonna be getting this week I'm gonna take my new machine Bobcat hunting in the mountains and try her out in the rough terrain and the slick snow and ice. Any idea why the Winch offer was only on the automatic version and not the 5 speed. I don't think I really need a winch since I don't know of any real deep mud pits but it sure would be nice just to have in case I ever needed it or ever got stuck or needed to pull something out. Anyone know how much weight a Warn 2500 winch weighs or any other winch for that matter and wether it's worth having to pay for without the free or $49.95 deal. Thanks. Gonna try her out tomorrow for the first real ride and see how it grips the snow.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee & 99 Suzuki LT-F500F Quadrunner

Venomous,sounds like a hell of a machine to me.Take your time and break that beast in,best of luck=====BILL

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Venomous...I'd get the winch.

I bought my Quadmaster 3 weeks ago and there was no winch deal here in Maine. The winch deal stopped at the end of November. It cost me $387 for a Super 2000 winch mounted with the roller fairlead by the dealer. After some pushing because of great advice from r34 the dealer did a sweet job mounting the winch.

My first time out I got hung up in some black mud. The ground under me was frozen. My tires broke through but the belly of my Quadmaster was sitting on the frozen mud. The winch I couldn't decide whether to purchase or not saved me a$$. Glad I had it!

Enjoy!

[This message has been edited by c4drm (edited 01-23-2000).]

The reason they offered the winch on the Quadmaster, was because it is the first model year for the automatic. They were trying to offer an incentive to gain public interest, and perk up some sales.
If I were you, I would get a winch, because if your out hunting, or travelling on ice, you never know what might happen.
A one time cost of a 2 or$300.00 winch is a nice piece of insurance for the 5 or $6000.00 you paid for the machine.
If you were out by yourself one day, and something happened... got stuck..fell through some ice...or whatever, you cant get out... your miles away... that one time, is when the winch would pay for itself.
...Just my opinion, cause it happened to me.

It sounds like my tuition was right about the winch. As soon as I get some money saved up I'm gonna get one. I've riding it today and getting ready to go ride again and this thing's great.

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Jeremiah Lucas

1989 Yamaha Banshee & 99 Suzuki LT-F500F Quadrunner