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I Need Help !!! ATV purchase

RoadKing

RoadKing

Silver Member
I'm interested in buying an ATV. I've never owned one, I've ridden a few.

Use: Work around the house, wife will use for landscaping,

moving small trailers

My Kubota dealer just took one in trade today and is holding it until saturday AM.

2000 Polaris 500 Magnum with 500 miles, same engine as sportsman, according to the salesman it's in mint+ condition, it was adult owned and maintained. It has a 48" manual plow and Warn 2500 lb winch.

The only difference with the sportsman is Magnum has one piece rear axle instead of independent rear suspension.

Price is $3500.00

What do I look for? Wear? :tiphat:

What do I ask?


If anybody can shed some light on this I will really appreciate it.
 
RK,
The only recommendation I can give would be just to look it over carefully for bent or broken peices and excessive wear and tear..
I have had several 3 wheelers and 4 wheelers(I never got into the ATV term:D ).. Most of mine have been Hondas and indestructable for my purposes(I've never been easy on them).. My buddy has a 325 Magnum and it has survived quite well in his possession(:burp: ).. The early Polaris' had some belt slippage issues in deep water, but I believe that was addressed fairly quickly(you may want ask about that).. If the price seems reasonable to you and it looks to be in good shape, I dont think you can go wrong.. It's a big bike, but they are hard to do without once you own one..

A quick search for Polaris belt search found several forums where it is mentioned.. You may also find soe good stuff with a search specificly for that bike..
 
I own a '96 Suzuki. The polaris wheelers seem to be good ones. Only 500 mi is good unless it's really had the s#*t beat out of it. If you buy it, I suggest hooking the winch to the plow.If you have a lot of snow to move, the arm running the lift will get tired.
Mike
 
Thanks for the help

HGM, I did some searches and the price is a little high ( $200-400) for average condition. According to the salesman this one is mint, he checked it over for the trade-in and says there isn't even a small scratch on it.

mla2ofus, I think the plow does work with the winch. The plow is just an extra hadn't even thought of using it but who knows.

thanks again
 
I had a 2000 Sportsmen 500. I think mine had a clutch problem as I wore out belts a lot on it. I rode with a group of about 15 other guys and they had either the sportsmen or the magnum and none of them had the problems I did. I think the magnum is a bit more durable than the sportsman because of the independent suspension versus the straight shaft.

Go here and you will see a magnum in full force. Upnorth. We ride them hard and the majority are Polaris.

We ridem hard, but we have fun.

murph

PS; I do think the price is a tad bit high, not sure if it is a regional thing or not.
 
thcri said:
I had a 2000 Sportsmen 500. I think mine had a clutch problem as I wore out belts a lot on it. I rode with a group of about 15 other guys and they had either the sportsmen or the magnum and none of them had the problems I did. I think the magnum is a bit more durable than the sportsman because of the independent suspension versus the straight shaft.

Go here and you will see a magnum in full force. Upnorth. We ride them hard and the majority are Polaris.

We ridem hard, but we have fun.

murph

PS; I do think the price is a tad bit high, not sure if it is a regional thing or not.
Click to expand...

Uh ??? Wait a minute !!!! My 2004 500 sportsman and 2006 450 sportsman are indepentent suspension . The magnum is the straight shaft right ???Isn't the magnum a 2 wheel drive ???
My wifes 2006 450 Sportsman is a dream to drive and cost about $6000 out the door with winch and all kinds of goodies . I would buy one in a heart beat for myself . They tow about 1500 pounds . This last year I had two adults sitting on the rearrack while dragging out a Elk and it never even slowed down .
 
BigAl said:
Uh ??? Wait a minute !!!! My 2004 500 sportsman and 2006 450 sportsman are indepentent suspension . The magnum is the straight shaft right ???Isn't the magnum a 2 wheel drive ??? .
Click to expand...


Al, I think I have that backwards, it is not what I meant, you are right the Magnum has the straight shaft and the sportsman has the independent suspension. But no the magnum is 4 wheel drive or at least all the ones I have seen has 4 wheel. If you go to the link I posted that is a 500 Magnum and it is 4 wheel drive or it would not be with us where we go.

murph
 
RK,

Other posters have covered most everything.

I'm a Suzuki guy myself but I would say that price is within reason if it's as clean as the dealer says.

I would suggest you let Mrs. RK drive it some before buying. A 500cc ATV when going slow (ie. yardwork) can be a bit hard to steer. Mrs. Zoom didn't care for my 500 for primarily this reason (so she used the 250). With the plow on, it's going to be even worse.

Oh, one more thing. Is the muffler/tailpipe offset to one side or does it exit straight out the middle? If the middle, it can be a bugger hooking up a trailer since the coupler latch handle keeps hitting the muffler.
 
bczoom said:
RK,

Other posters have covered most everything.

I'm a Suzuki guy myself but I would say that price is within reason if it's as clean as the dealer says.

I would suggest you let Mrs. RK drive it some before buying. A 500cc ATV when going slow (ie. yardwork) can be a bit hard to steer. Mrs. Zoom didn't care for my 500 for primarily this reason (so she used the 250). With the plow on, it's going to be even worse.

Oh, one more thing. Is the muffler/tailpipe offset to one side or does it exit straight out the middle? If the middle, it can be a bugger hooking up a trailer since the coupler latch handle keeps hitting the muffler.
Click to expand...

Boomer !!! You said a mouth full about the steering !! That was the #1 issue with the wife on my 500 even though it had the improved steering .
Her 450 Sportsman is a dream to steer compared to my 2004 500
 
bczoom said:
RK,

Other posters have covered most everything.

I'm a Suzuki guy myself but I would say that price is within reason if it's as clean as the dealer says.

I would suggest you let Mrs. RK drive it some before buying. A 500cc ATV when going slow (ie. yardwork) can be a bit hard to steer. Mrs. Zoom didn't care for my 500 for primarily this reason (so she used the 250). With the plow on, it's going to be even worse.

Oh, one more thing. Is the muffler/tailpipe offset to one side or does it exit straight out the middle? If the middle, it can be a bugger hooking up a trailer since the coupler latch handle keeps hitting the muffler.
Click to expand...

We're going up Sat morning to check it out. the dealer has a large area so I'll have the mrs give it a good run. I've never had an ATV but I've had enough mechanical experience to check for wear and abuse.

Thanks for all the help guys, hope I can return the favor some day. :tiphat: :tiphat:
 
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