How does the Vinson rank upon the rest of these 500's? My pops is thinkin of gettin a 500 Utility and i'm still researching for him... what do you all think?

 

The Rincon is a 650 so it probably has a little more power and a smoother ride with the 4 wheel independent suspension. It's also expensive and not even the fastest 650 sport/utility bike.

Re: the Sportsman and Arctic Cat 500s, this month's ATV Action said that the Vinson is still the fastest 500. In my book, it is the most bang for the buck re: sport riding, utiility usage, style, weight, reliability, and features.

Mark

 

$#!t, I meant the Rubicon. hehe [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img] But yea; the Vinson got good low-end torque and good reliability?

 

I think for utility the sportsman is the best puller even considering the manual vinny. The sportsman is the fastest if the vinson is the automatic version. Sportsman has better suspension and better mudding, but vinson has better handling. Those would be my top 2 choices.

 

VINSON

 

<u>Thanks for input fellas. Any more is welcome...</u> [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I can't say about the AC,but I've ridden the rubicon,and just got rid of a sportsman 500 and now I have a vinson manual.
Vinson-fastest,quickest,sportiest,most care free(manual)most fun to ride.

Sportsman-smoothest,heaviest(good for pulling),best factory tires,easiest to ride(one brake no gears),best in mud but if you do get stuck,better have a winch or truck!most upkeep greasing and oiling everything after you ride.

Rubicon-only rode a couple of times but here goes,least suspension,more of a true utility feel,no 2wd,loud hydrostatic type transmision(very good ebs though),drum brakes(not very good),no adjustments in the shocks,very reliable but if you do have transmision trouble it'll cost a ton.

These are my opinions I tried to be objective,but you can see in my signature which was best for the riding I do!

 

You get a lot with either the Vinson or the Sportsman HO, hard for me to pic a winner between those two.
The Rincon is a great casual trail quad, but way over priced for what you get.
The AC has a lot to offer but the lack of power would be a turn off for me.
The vinson might be my replacement for the Sportsman (2000 non HO) in a year or two. The wife rides it mostly and wants the auto, so I'm waiting for the auto to get the better motor.

 

Both vinsons have the exact same motor. The only differance is the transmition. I have NEVER liked belt drive trannys. They can and will eventually slip and WASTE A LOT OF POWER!!!! These two quads prove that last point. You put a 5 or 6 speed on a Prarie 650 and bansees would be ashamed.

I'm gettin me a 5speed Vinson sometime next year. I cant friggin wait to toy round with the 600 grizzly in my riddin group.

l8r
cart

 

I read a magazine article a while back and I was sure they said the manual Vinson had a slightly more powerfull motor then last years auto. Vinson.
Unless its a realy smooth shifting auto clutch manual I'd never buy another. I have had several in the past and I truly hate those. They are usually hard to shift and make horible banging and clunking sounds when you do shift. I've had realy good luck with Polaris belt trannys and the tiny loss of performance on top end with a belt is a better deal to me then the sore toe, banging, and clunking. Thats just my look on it, probably not yours.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
For me its full Manual or full Auto.