So, The movers will be here next week to ship my stuff and atv. To virginia for my next tour of duty. So I figured I’d do a little review or my likes and dislikes of the bike.

2013 sportsman 500ho carbureted
Purchased at Hals equipment in ketchikan alaska brand new for 6k. It has seen everything from mud up to the headlights, deep river crossings, And long 50+ mile days on hard pack.

Likes: for a 500. Way more power than I thought for. 500. Even compared to my 2000 sportsman RSE.
– ride is amazing. I often. Only when on flat trails will ride 3 up. My son in front of me (he’s 3). And the wife out back. And have never had an issue.. Power, suspension, over heat……..nothing.
– it’s not bad on fuel at all
– I loved the true AWD. SPECIALY WHEN MY BUDDIES ON THERE 3 wheeled wonders would get stuck. And I would crawl out of it.
– very reliable, ( knock on wood)
-polaris brand 2500 winch. So far no issues. It has many days of full length 30-40ft of heavy load ( had a kawi brute force tied to my bumper) pulling up a mountain. Has been submerged…..a lot. The only dislike about it is the engage/disengage swich feels cheap, Like break off when you touch it cheap. But no issues yet.

Dislikes: the stock tires are almost bald with 1000 miles of hard pack, sharp rocks, rock crawling, drifting corners, and the occasional mud pit. I will say when new. They were not that bad. They just wore out way to quickly for me.
That’s really my only dislike.

Broken so far. Right front cv axle. Had a torn boot. But drove it 45 miles at a high rate of speed. Before I noticed. And completely fried the joint.
-transmission selector switch. (I think the lake had something to do with it). But it was replaced under warranty
-thermo switch. I had a constant hot light. I disconnected the switch 120 miles ago, and so far no problems. Fan comes on and off as normal.
Fluids. Mobil one 520 synth in trans. Mobil 0w40 in engine, Synth ATF in front diff. Is changEd to these after the first oil change at 25 hours.

Overall… I’m at 1025 miles, over 100 hours and this thing us taken everything I have thrown at it. I’m convinced the engine (500cc). Is bullet proof. My first one survived my teenage years.

I know, I know. A full size 4×4 utility quad was never meant to be jumped, drifted, wheelied. Or drivin with the throttle pinned for miles on wide open logging roads. And she has done so, without a hiccup.

My review most defiantly gets a 👍

So, The movers will be here next week to ship my stuff and atv. To virginia for my next tour of duty. So I figured I’d do a little review or my likes and dislikes of the bike.

2013 sportsman 500ho carbureted
Purchased at Hals equipment in ketchikan alaska brand new for 6k. It has seen everything from mud up to the headlights, deep river crossings, And long 50+ mile days on hard pack.

Likes: for a 500. Way more power than I thought for. 500. Even compared to my 2000 sportsman RSE.
– ride is amazing. I often. Only when on flat trails will ride 3 up. My son in front of me (he’s 3). And the wife out back. And have never had an issue.. Power, suspension, over heat……..nothing.
– it’s not bad on fuel at all
– I loved the true AWD. SPECIALY WHEN MY BUDDIES ON THERE 3 wheeled wonders would get stuck. And I would crawl out of it.
– very reliable, ( knock on wood)
-polaris brand 2500 winch. So far no issues. It has many days of full length 30-40ft of heavy load ( had a kawi brute force tied to my bumper) pulling up a mountain. Has been submerged…..a lot. The only dislike about it is the engage/disengage swich feels cheap, Like break off when you touch it cheap. But no issues yet.

Dislikes: the stock tires are almost bald with 1000 miles of hard pack, sharp rocks, rock crawling, drifting corners, and the occasional mud pit. I will say when new. They were not that bad. They just wore out way to quickly for me.
That’s really my only dislike.

Broken so far. Right front cv axle. Had a torn boot. But drove it 45 miles at a high rate of speed. Before I noticed. And completely fried the joint.
-transmission selector switch. (I think the lake had something to do with it). But it was replaced under warranty
-thermo switch. I had a constant hot light. I disconnected the switch 120 miles ago, and so far no problems. Fan comes on and off as normal.
Fluids. Mobil one 520 synth in trans. Mobil 0w40 in engine, Synth ATF in front diff. Is changEd to these after the first oil change at 25 hours.

Overall… I’m at 1025 miles, over 100 hours and this thing us taken everything I have thrown at it. I’m convinced the engine (500cc). Is bullet proof. My first one survived my teenage years.

I know, I know. A full size 4×4 utility quad was never meant to be jumped, drifted, wheelied. Or drivin with the throttle pinned for miles on wide open logging roads. And she has done so, without a hiccup.

My review most defiantly gets a 👍