Sportsman 500 series -- first EFI year?

[picker77]

1. Can someone please tell me for sure the first model year that EFI appeared on the Sportsman 500 series? I'm interested in a used 500 X2, but there is conflicting info all over the place as to which year EFI first showed up, and I'll use this thing sometimes at 10,000-12,000 feet so would prefer not to have a carburetor model.

2. Other than paint/decals, marketing-induced model name changes, and steadily increased prices every year, are there any useful/practical mechanical differences between the 2006 through 2009 Sportsman 500 EFI's?

Thanks in advance!

[Wildhorse800]

Not really any differences.

I thought that EFI wasn't until 2005, but I could be wrong.

They still make them both ways. The best way to find out is to actually look before you buy. There should be some sort of sensor on the air intake hose between the throttle body and the air box.

[TomZ]

1. Can someone please tell me for sure the first model year that EFI appeared on the Sportsman 500 series? I'm interested in a used 500 X2, but there is conflicting info all over the place as to which year EFI first showed up, and I'll use this thing sometimes at 10,000-12,000 feet so would prefer not to have a carburetor model.

The 500 EFI first came on the scene in the second half of '05 (2005.5)

[Ken]

I'm not sure about the 500....but the 2005 800 and 2006 800 have a few of differences...two that really matters.

2005 - Required to push rear brake to put into Park or High.
2006 - Not required. Still have to stop, but no brake required.


2005 - 1 piece exhaust pipe that breaks about 1/2 back. 2 piece heat shield, that gets VERY hot and causes the plastic side panel to warp.
2006 - Exhaust pipe is now 2 pieces, with break point being the connection point. Heat shield is now bigger and 1 piece. Big heat reduction on right side.

2005 - EFI is set to run rich, and burns more gas
2006 - EFI is set leaner, and gets better gas mileage