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

 

the sportsman 500HO motor is a rocksolid motor...been out for years and its got tons of power...some people find the 500HO is just perfect for the power(i did), the ride is awsome and the 05's have different tires than 04's

and i never found my sportsman to be tippy, just gotta learn when proper leaning is required and the thing will go through almost anything.


i would suggest tryen to get a test drive from them all, and see which one you like and go from there...

 

The 500 HO does seem to be a solid motor, but that machine is a complete hog. My dad has the 2001 model and he likes it. I just think it is simply too heavy. As an overall machine I like my wolverine better, with the exception of low end power. Out of the machines you have listed, I am not familiar with the Vinson, but I have had the opportunity to take a 2005 kodiak for a ride and it was a nice ride and I thought it had comperable power to the sportsman. Then again it is a 01 sportman, but I don't think they changed much.

Ryan

 

for the price of the kodiak go ahead and get the Grizzly.
I did !

 

Hey Arctic.......

How are the Grizzlys for climbing steep hills and riding off camber....are they tippy?