How are the Sportsman 500's? (or 400's) are they dependable? Do they ride nice? ARe they tippy, esp going up steep hills?)

Been looking at one ....04's are much cheaper but 05's look nice...26" tires, extra travel in suspension

I'm not looking for high speed thrills or winning any races.....just wanna get there in comfort and not get stuck too many times....going through mostly trails, some rough, a bit of mild mud and a bit of bad mud, muskeg, some rough hilly terrain, wanna pull the occasional log out of bush.

Stuck between getting one of following

Suzuki Vinson..........no locker though but only one Ive had out on trail ride
Sportsman 400/500 2004 or 2005
2005 Kodiak 450 with IRS......nice ride, lacks a little on get up and go though

Also Brute Force 650's are selling for a little less than price of 05 Vinsons, Sportsmans and Kodiaks, but they are new...and hear a lot about belt problems with VTwin Kawis and I assume they use alot of gas too

 

reliablitiy goes like this

vinson
kodiak
Brute is unknown really.





sportsman

vinson is the most stable of the 4, is faster than the sportsman, and kodiak, but slower than the 650 v twin, kawasakis are know for a noisy belt.

i have over taxed my vinson 8 times what its rated to tow and never skipped a beat.

v581

 

i always thought the sp500 H.O. was one of the best overall 4x4's out there. Check out the 05 they have nice features. I think there just about as reliable as any other 4x4, people live in the past and need to see that polaris have changed. They ride very nice and are easy to go up hills. Ive never rode any of the others so im not really sure on that, but i know there reliable for me.

 

Take your blinders off, the sp500 is one of the best and reliable 4x4's out there.

I too would look at the 05's. 26" mud radials, a lot of storage, very smooth ride, a lot of clearance and suspension travel.

 

i have a 2002 sportsman 500 h.o it breaks belt left and right, howerver with stock tires it will be fine, its the big tires and lift that kill me.

and the heelclicker clutch sloved my belt problem.

the motors on the polaris arent nearly as smooth as on the jap bikes.

 

alright, first off its a brute force 750 however there could bea 650 but ive never heard of it and the vinny is much cheaper and unleed ur 6'5 900 pounds ur not goona need a brute. I think the vinny is ur best bet its quick and sporty and u can even get it in semi-auto

vinny all the way



--------------------------

vinny 05

 

Actually, there is a Brute Force 650 ....it has no IRS though....specs kinda look like a Prairie in Brute Force clothing. Seems to be aimed at the 500 market cause its in the same price range.


If ya go to http://www.kawasaki.com/index2.asp go to Brute Force ATVs and at the top click on 650 4x4

 

How does your detroit locker work Vinson581?


I read that they auto sense when your turning and adjust the wheel spin...and lock when in a straight line. Is that kinda how it works? You can still switch in and our of 4WD also right?

By the way.... nice pics

 

i LOVE it single handed best upgrade it does exactly whats avertised ++++ more, no spin outs, and steering is stil light.