LiveForMud
Posts: 706
Joined: 1/7/2007
Status: offline
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i'm guessing you mean the foreman 500?
the bb and the foreman are both pretty simple bikes (no radiator, pump, extra hoses, belts, etc) and have quite a few mods available.
Power
Foreman 500: 26.5hp @ 6,500rpm, 28 ft-lb @ 5,000rpm
Big Bear 400: 23hp @ 6,000rpm, 21.5 ft-lb @ 5,500rpm
the foreman 500 has a 506cc big bore kit available and i've heard there is an aftermarket cam coming soon. the big bear can be easily made into a 406cc via a 2mm overbore, and there are some companies that make a ton of mods for this engine since it's similar to the old 350 wolverine and warrior (435/446cc big bore stroker kits, cams, head porting, etc). with the big bore stroker, head porting, and cam the big bear can make in the 30-35hp range. the foreman might cap out in the same range with the 506 kit, head porting, and a cam (maybe a few hp more than the bb).
Gearing
Foreman 500:
Primary reduction 2.103
Secondary reduction 1.818
Final reduction 3.153
Gear Ratio (Overall)
1st 4.231 (50.954)
2nd 2.388 (28.759)
3rd 1.608 (19.365)
4th 1.178 (14.187)
5th 0.848 (10.212)
Rev 5.600 (67.441)
Big Bear 400:
99-current single range 5 speed:
Primary reduction: 76/24 (3.166)
Secondary reduction: 28/24 x 24/18 (1.556)
Final Drive: 33/9 (3.67)
Gear Ratios (Overall Ratio)
1st 40/12 = 3.333 (60.18)
2nd 34/18 = 1.888 (34.09)
3rd 30/22 = 1.363 (24.61)
4th 25/26 = 0.961 (17.35)
5th 19/27 = 0.703 (12.69)
Rev xx/xx = 3.019 (54.51)
both stock, the big bear dominates in the gearing department (except reverse). there isn't a gear reduction available for it though, unless you swap in some arctic cat 4.0:1 or kawasaki 4.375:1 differentials (a lot of work). there is a gear reduction available from turner's for the foreman 500 that gives it gearing very similar to the big bear. i saw a picture of it in the honda forum and counted the gear teeth... the stock secondary reduction is a 1.818:1 reduction (40/22) and the turner reduction is a 2.100:1 (43/20). which is about a 15% reduction and the new ratios are:
Gear Ratio (Overall)
1st 4.231 (58.91)
2nd 2.388 (33.22)
3rd 1.608 (22.37)
4th 1.178 (16.39)
5th 0.848 (11.80)
Rev 5.600 (77.98)
which is very close to the big bear. the 500 with the gear reduction will turn bigger tires than the big bear... more engine torque + same gearing = more tire turning power. put the 435cc kit in the big bear and give the 500 the gear reduction and 506 kit, and that might make them pretty much even though.
Ground Clearance
Big Bear: 10.5"
Foreman: ~8" (SRA kills GC)
it's pretty easy to get the big bear to around 14" of GC with a 2" lift and 27" tires though. the foreman's rear axle will always make it a pain to get more clearance unless you do an IRS conversion on it (been done a few times already).
Usual issues
Foreman 500s have a tendency to blow up 1st gear and rear differentials (the 450s didn't have this for the most part). the ES models can suffer from problems with angle sensors and other electrical stuff that goes along with it, but it's few and far between considering how many of them are out there. the S models are the most reliable.
Big bears are still working out problems with the rear diff seals. the stock CVs can have issues with a lift and big tires, like most others do so it's a wash. i'll give the big bear the advantage in the reliability department.
Other stuff
stock, the foreman makes about 15% more power. but the big bear has a 18% lower 1st gear, so it has a small advantage stock (except reverse, again). with the gear reduction in the foreman, it gets the advantage by a fair margin though. i like the yamaha's locker better, i never trusted the DGL since it gets very pissy when mud and water get in the diff (and it will). without swapping diffs, the gearless locker is the foreman's only option for a locker unless you count the spool, which you don't want.
the foreman will be a lot faster on the trails with its extra power and taller gearing. the big bear buzzes the engine kinda hard with that 12.69:1 5th gear rolling in the 35-40mph range. the foreman's 10.212:1 5th gear makes for nice cruising... my dad's foreman is pretty quiet and smooth at 35-40mph (close to my cat with its 9.5:1 high range 5th gear). even with the gear reduction the foreman still has a 11.80:1 ratio which will still put it quite a few rpm lower than the big bear at speed.
so... with enough money either can be made into monsters. give the foreman a gearless locker, big bore kit, IRS conversion (using rincon parts), "monkey" axles and you've got one mean machine. give the big bear the 446 big bore stroker, a lift, and "monkey" axles and it's ready to tear up some mud also. the main issue is money and how much effort you plan to put in it. the foreman's only real advantage in the end is speed, but takes more work to get it to the point where it can follow the big bear in the mud (IRS conv. and locker).
boy after all this typing i hope that covers your concerns, lol
_____________________________
2005 RED AC 500M
Remote mounted g.o.r.i.l.l.a. 3k lb winch
PC680 battery
iEquus 8068 3 3/8" tach
Reloc'd radiator
26-in XTRs
some other stuff
!seals, !brakes, !traction, !BEVEL GEARS, !money, !sanity...
Dad's ride- 06 Foreman S 4WD
Bro's ride- 07 King Quad 450
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Big Bear IRS 400 Vs Foreman 4x4? - 
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