STABILITY: With a ride as smooth as the Sportsman there is always a chance of unknowingly getting into predicaments in the technical stuff. The suspension does tend to load up in the off chamber areas so keeping momentum up going into these areas is key to avoid roll overs. We've always found the balance of the Sportsman to be rather unique. The balance offers superb traction from the rear tires but does tend to make the front end feel lite in steep hill climbs. Momentum, momentum, momentum is the number one way to avoid loading up the suspension for roll overs with this quad.
ENGINE: We knew coming into this review that the drive line of the Sportsman was capable, but wasn't sure how well the engine would perform lugging around the claimed 700 pound dry weight of the qaud and additional weight of the rider. After just a short time it became apparent that the 500cc engine was up to the task of propelling the Sportsman through whatever we threw at it. It builds good low end power and really comes alive at the mid range of the curve. Although the engine is certainly up to the task of powering the Sportsman, don't expect the zip of the 800 Sportsman and larger displacement machines. The 500cc engine is certainly fun to ride with the horse power it delivers, but don't expect it to pull wheelies or kick the rear end around on demand.
BRAKING: In typical Polaris fashion the 500 Sportsman has a single braking handle. It's located on the left side of the handle bar and when pulled applies graduated pressure to the front and rear disc brakes. The system slows the machine down quickly and is predictable at steep descents. Part of the Limited Edition platform includes Polaris's Engine Braking System. The system is the most aggressive of any atv we've rode. Once the throttle is released it mimics applying the brakes and slows the Sportsman without having to use the brakes in most circumstances. On steep descents we had to actually give the quad throttle to counter the aggressive engine braking.The Sportsman 500 is a great value, but does lack one convenience feature. The Sportsman could benefit from fuel injection, although the only time we noticed it was on a cold start. Once warmed up the carburetor delivers crisp throttle response and also good fuel economy. Older 500's were equipped with fuel injection, so we assume Polaris went with the carburetor to save on cost.
| Cylinders 1 | ||||||||||
| Engine Stroke | 4-Stroke | |||||||||
| Valve Configuration | OHV | |||||||||
| Displacement (cc/ci) | 498 / 30.4 | |||||||||
| Carburetion Type | Carburetor | |||||||||
| Transmission: | |
|---|---|
| Transmission Type | Continuously Variable (CVT) |
| Primary Drive (Front Wheel) | Shaft |
| Reverse | Yes |
| Wheels & Tires: | |
| Front Tire (Full Spec) | 25 X 8-12; 489 |
| Rear Tire (Full Spec) | 25 X 11-12; 489 |
| Brakes: | |
| Front Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc |
| Rear Brake Type | Hydraulic Disc |
| Technical Specifications: | |
| Wheelbase (in/mm) | 50.5 / 1283 |
| Dry Weight (lbs/kg) | 696 / 316 |
| Fuel Capacity (gal/l) | 4.1 / 15.5 |
| Seats: | |
| Seat Height (in/mm) | 33.8 / 857 |
