ATV Advice: Is 3100 miles too many?

Just found a Polaris Sportsman near me. It’s not listed anywhere, it was sitting in a driveway with a for sale sign.

2004 Polaris 500 HO. Looks to be in good condition, not beat or faded, owner lives in the burbs so not a beat up farm machine. The guy wants $2500 but seemed real eager to deal. Make me an offer. What would you give me? Etc. IMO, that seems to be a pretty good price and if I could get it for $2250, that would be even better.

The possible catch: It has 3100 miles on it.

Of course, he claims it’s a trail machine, never beat, and there’s no plow mount on it. It does have registration/sticker, so that would bolster his claim. He claims it was never used in the winter. I know all of this can be BS lines, but in general I’d say I don’t see any signs that would contradict this.

Is 3100 miles on an atv a lot? Is that like buying a truck with 50,000 on it or more like 150,000? What’s considered “used up” when it comes to an atv and mileage?

Many thanks.

Grouse

Low miles, I wouldn’t be concerned about that as long as everything else looks good.

$2500 for an 04 sportsman that hasnt been beat to crap is a good price IMO-regardless of the miles (as long as it was well maintained). I also wouldn’t consider 3100 miles to be a lot on an ATV. If you’re looking for a comparison to truck mileage, I’d say it’s a lot closer to 50 than it is 150, but again, if you don’t change the oil 1 time in 50,000 miles, I’d rather have one with 150,000 that’s been maintained properly

You probably shouldn’t buy it…. where did you say it was located…

Two very simple tests will give ya all the info you need on the engine. 1. do a compression test. 2. while its running do a block test (cost ya about $40 at a auto parts store). $40 to know you don’t have a cracked block or blown head/gasket is a cheap insurance. 3,100 miles is a city boys’ toy

With regular maint. and decent operation, to me, it’d be a non issue. Mines clocked over 8k and had nothing but the basics jerr

Sounds like a pretty damn good deal to me Grouse! Buy it up…or i will!LOL

Im with Randy, do a compression and block test, check the bearings in the wheels, look at the oil, is it off color, general maintenance issues, if all checks out, and he would take $2,000 I would take it.

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Im with Randy, do a compression and block test, check the bearings in the wheels, look at the oil, is it off color, general maintenance issues, if all checks out, and he would take $2,000 I would take it.

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Guys, what should the compression be on a 400 and 500 Polaris of that vintage?

I’m looking up on spec sites, but all I can find is the ratio. What does that work out to in PSI?

Any resources appreciated.

Grouse