If high top speed is what is important to you, you bought the wrong machine. Seems everyone expects too much out of the smaller cc engines in these heavy machines. And yes, putting 28's on a 550 will kill speed.

 

It is on the list of a $7,200 atv. If all they I'd low 50s, I will get rid of it and get an 850. I've only had one chance to get up to speed, but I figured it would have a little more.

 

That's why I went ahead and go the 850!! Don't need the speed but its there if I want it


2013 850ho

 

I have 2012 550x2 62 mph stock all the way has about 660 miles on it that is with a GPS. 62mph is way too fast!!!

 

Had my 850 up to 77mph on Gps. Scary.....

 

when I got the 550 I was not looking for speed. I was looking for low end get out of the mud grunt. I think this machine can do it. If it will it 40 mph I'm happy

 

In stock form you should get 60-62mph

 

My stock 550 XP EPS tops out at 62 on my Gps.

 

My 2013 XP550 is not even faster than my 08 500 efi I traded in. That was a little disappointing. But I really don't go fast often. Any good power adders out there that are actually worth it?

 

Remember that when you changed tire size the speedo was more than likely not recalibrated!! So your 28 Zilla's @ 50 mph would be closer to 55 mph on your stock 26's. Now calculate in the added "umf" to roll a heavier tire.... bigger isn't always better, all depends on what you want it to do!!

 

Thats pretty weak. I had my 400ho @ 50 mph and it was NOT topped out. That was all stock, WITH a passenger.

 

i get 60 out of my bone stock 550xp

 

No offense intended, but why are you guys that don't have any experience on the 550 chiming in on a thread that clearly states "what is 550 top speed" The question did not ask how fast a 400 is, or a 800 etc. Bottom line the 550 should run around 60+. If your 550 is appreciably slower than that then you might have an issue. FYI I had a 400 once that topped out at 52, and my 500 topped out at 55, but hey that's not to the point;-)

 

Guess if we don't own one then we don't know anything about them.
Do you have 28" tires on any of your atv's? No? Don't know why you are chiming in on a thread asking about the top speed of an atv with 28" tires on it if you don't have any experience with them.
No offense intended, but, you see where this is going.

Ronnie, that's damned impressive speed out of your 550. My 850 will only go...... never mind, I have never tried to see how fast it will go. Oops, this isn't about an 850.

 

I had my 550 up to 682mph the other day. I was keeping up with a few jets. That is all i could get out of it and i was a little disappointed. Just think if I could have gotten 18 more mph out of it I could have hit 700.
I just don't get buying an ATV for top speed anyway especially a 500 class machine. My 550 has 8000 miles on it and my GPS says I average about 15 mph. How many of us really run that fast anyway. I know what people are gonna say. Better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it. I have ridden so many places in the US and my 550 has followed every big bore there is made and never needed anymore power.

Ronnie

 

My 550xp does 105kmh on a straight, 90kmh with 2 average size adults.

 

Great point Bob, I don't have 28" Zilla's on my 550 so I don't know how much the Zilla's will effect top speed, but the top speed on a stock 550 is much more relevant than the top speed of the 400 or the 850, wouldn't you agree? Now for more info, Bigger tire = slower acceleration faster top speed. As for speedometer,The taller tire will cover more ground at the same rpm (what the speedometer is reading) than the stock tire, indicating a slower speed than actual, hence the need for a GPS to accurately check speed. I also don't know what the weight difference is between the stocks and the Zilla's are but that will play a part in the equation as well. Like I said before no offense intended

 

My 2 cents. There are two 550XPs in our fleet and here is what I have found. It actually applies to all machines, not just 550s. Your chosen accessories and tires WILL slow you down. One of our 550s has a super tall windshield and it is slower than the other that has a short windshield. Both machines lost about 5MPH top end by adding cargo boxes and windshields. Add on big tires and again....you will lose speed. When an ATV gets up into speeds that require some sort of aerodynamics the only thing that will overcome it is HP. Just to be safe check your belt to make sure it isnt glazed or slipping.

 

A heavier taller tire will kill the top speed of anything. My 500hp duramax lost 3mpg and 18 mph going from stock tires to 33 inch into mud grapplers. The truck puts out 800 ft lbs of torque. Putting 28 inch tires on a 550 with no clutching or a gear reduction will kill the all power from that machine. My bone stock 550 runs right around 63 mph on a hard packed dirt rd.

My 850 lost almost 5 mph when I put a set of 26 inch zillas on it. The tires are one inch wider than stock but the same height as stock...the biggest difference comes in the rotating mass. So if it makes that much difference on an 850....imagine the difference on a 550.

sent from my Droid Razr Maxx...I would rather be riding.

 

I do have a 550 xp sooo I get to wade in! We occasionally hit a section of gravel going from one trail to another so the natural thing is to opener up an see how fast she'll go. At 55 the feeling on gravel was like chasin a big girl on a greased water bed..kinda like just trying to ride the wave and not sure which direction it'll go, Hope you get the visual. Of all the things that I want to know about my 550 how fast it will go is not one anymore. I am positive this helped, and no matter how fast you go use protection...and common sense.

 

I dont hunt fat girls very often, but it does make me want to put stock tires back on, and do one more top end blast just to see. Also, at what speed do both clutches lock up, and RPM starts to rise? If its much below 60, I bet I can clutch it quite a bit. I dont need, nor want a 65mph atv, but I do want to be out able to out run a $2500 Honda thats 7 years old.

 

Just run the Honda up a steep, rocky and/or snow covered hill, or through a rocky stream bed or a big mud hole. You will out run it hands down. No more questions or worries. :veryhappy:

 

I can do about 65 mph with my pitbull tires on. I have hit 70 on stock tires. More then fast enough for me!

 

Thats different tho.

EVERYONE knows the Camo's can do approx 5 mph more than a standard color XP.

 

I still have everybody beat.

Ronnie

 

57mph on mine. My bike also lets out a high pitched whistle noise once I reach around 50mph. Never have figured out where it is coming from. Kinda weird (2012 550 eps)

 

Belt slip maybe?

sent from my Droid Razr Maxx...I would rather be riding.

 

my buddie has a 550xp and i have a 800 efi mine will out accelerate his but i have seen his do 68-70mph on a good long stretch i was very impressed ….he had sedona 26" rip saw tires other wise basically stock