ATV's Again (Arctic Cat 500)
- Thread starter long bow
- Start date
I had an '02. 1600 miles on it. I sold it and will NEVER buy another. The miles were not hard ones , but the wheel bearings went out causing the breaks to fail.
What a great design. It cost just under $1000 to repair.
The steering and suspension leaves a lot to be desired.
They are very tippy.
Why buy one when there are so many others out there.
What a great design. It cost just under $1000 to repair.
The steering and suspension leaves a lot to be desired.
They are very tippy.
Why buy one when there are so many others out there.
Let me re-assure you...
That 500 engine between your legs is Suzuki desinged and built...It is pretty much bullit proof.
I own one and the thing is a tank. For me, it has been a great trouble free machine.
I think you will enjoy it.
That 500 engine between your legs is Suzuki desinged and built...It is pretty much bullit proof.
I own one and the thing is a tank. For me, it has been a great trouble free machine.
I think you will enjoy it.
I have an 05, which I like alot. My back needs independent rear suspension, I had a polaris and couldn't stand it, the yamaha is too small, I didn't want a 700 or I would have bought a Suzuki(they hadn't introducd the new 450 by then), so for me the Cat was the only choice. It's great in the mud, lots of power, I only use it for hunting I like it.
Bought a new 300 Cat in 00 
Was one of the best bikes for reliability I have ever had.
Every 4whr I have ever owned has required wheel bearing replacement, if you let wheel bearings go to the point they wear out your brakes maybe you should try a little maintainence
Was one of the best bikes for reliability I have ever had.
Every 4whr I have ever owned has required wheel bearing replacement, if you let wheel bearings go to the point they wear out your brakes maybe you should try a little maintainence
Bought a new 300 Cat in 00
Was one of the best bikes for reliability I have ever had.
Every 4whr I have ever owned has required wheel bearing replacement, if you let wheel bearings go to the point they wear out your brakes maybe you should try a little maintainence
How many times have you re-packed and tightened the bearings on your cat.
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First you don't repack a sealed bearing!
& you can't adjust them their all Ball bearings, you just check for looseness & replace!
2 sets on my Cat in 4000 miles.
2 sets on a Honda in ??
1 set on my present Bomb Outlander in 5,000 miles,
6 sets in my present Grizz in 5,000 miles
All bikes rode hard, mudded with mud tires.
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I've had 2 Cats, first one was a 400 put 730Km's on it before I decided to get a bigger bike. Now I have a 700, and love it. No problems with either machine. And yeah, a cat will be a bit tippy compared to a honda (for example), one machine has 8-10 inches of ground clearence and the other has an industry leading 12 inches from factory. I put 27 inch skins on my machine and I got used to the height. The 500 is probably the best selling AC, it's an excellent machine, the motor is bullet proof and can be upgraded if you want to turn it into a mud machine. I know a guy running 29.5 outlaws on a 500, clutch kit and snorkles, just to give you an idea of what can be done.
Just checking..
I checked mine for looseness before the last trip. They were fine. Even after the breaks started to go, ( Had to pump the lever). I thought I had a leak and lost fluid, or had air in the line somehow. Took all the wheels off and (tried) bleeding the breaks. Didn't work. checked the bearings, still not loose. Changed break pads and sent it to a shop. 12 hours labor later,
because they couldn't find the problem either (not cat's fault) they change the bearings. Even though they seemed to be still ok.
Still would never buy another. The steering,suspension and tippiness will keep me away.
I agree, .... Fun for the sake of fun is something I never saw the sense in.Mudding for the sake of mudding is something I never saw the sense in
NOT!! ...... If I'm just gonna drive around and not play in the mud, I might as well just drive around the city in my K-Car.
.
Mudding for the sake of mudding is something I never saw the sense in
Ya I'm just like one of those weird people that...
Hit little white balls around a big field so you can walk up & do it again!
Go to a big stadium & watch some overpaid smucks hit another white ball because you appanently can't run around those bases till you do
Or sit on a bench & shoot all your bullets at little pieces of paper you can't even eat, well at least there not much taste to them
ETC....
Tell us Weebull how you spend your off time
mahony1977
Regular
- Location
- Frelighsburg Qc
How many times have you ? Unless your talking about the front end of a 2wd all other atv wheel bearings are sealed , usualy double caged ball bearings
Atv info
Thanks for the info Gents....not having owned one before, but certainly driven the hunt camp machines..its good to bounce this kind of stuff off the board members with more experiance. We can all learn something. As one member said, you will get pro's and con's...which is what I wanted. So far I love the 500 AC. It runs smooth and quiet. I dont want it for mud, just something to get in the bush with, save the truck finish. Of course, It needs to pull moose. That we have done with a 2wd 300 honda for years. This ones gonna be ok.
Thanks for the info Gents....not having owned one before, but certainly driven the hunt camp machines..its good to bounce this kind of stuff off the board members with more experiance. We can all learn something. As one member said, you will get pro's and con's...which is what I wanted. So far I love the 500 AC. It runs smooth and quiet. I dont want it for mud, just something to get in the bush with, save the truck finish. Of course, It needs to pull moose. That we have done with a 2wd 300 honda for years. This ones gonna be ok.
- Location
- Richmond hill, Ontario
i have an 05 650v2 and so far its been great..put 500 miles on since i bought it ..Changed the plugs and did an oil change and last week put some snorkels on it ( just incase )
