By
mac66
I bought a used 2021 Axis 500 last April. Low mileage and got it for considerably less than what they go for new.
The first thing I did was change the oil/fluids and also put a new drive belt on it. The only other thing I did to it was add a rear vinyl window that zips open and rolls up to keep the weather off.
I used it on my 52 acre property to check trail cameras, service the food plots, haul fertilizer, seed etc etc. It's has a good size bed and is not too big or small. It has worked well as a utility vehicle.
Other than using on the trails working around the property I haven't used it much off road...at least until last weekend when I went on 74 mile group ride around the county. In my state it's legal to ride on any road that's not a state or federal highway. The group started in town, rode about 30 miles on back roads to the state ORV trail system. Then did about 20 miles on the trails and then headed back via back roads to town.
It had rained for 2 days straight prior, so the trails were one mud hole after another. It was very challenging.
The good...
-It worked fine, never had any kind of issue with it since I bought it.
-It kept up with more expensive machines on the trails. I was the only one with a CCC (Cheap Chinese Crap) machine.
-Fairly comfortable to drive.
-The roof, windshield and rear window kept most of the rain off when it started raining in the afternoon.
-Okay, I cheated. I peeled off the AXIS 500 stickers on each side. Everybody in the group assumed I had a Rhino. They didn't ask, I didn't tell.
The not so good...
-The horsepower rating on the 500-cc engine is 24 hp but it seemed underpowered. While I could go about 35 mph with the pedal to the metal on pavement and hard packed dirt roads the best I could do on loose packed roads was 27 mph. I had trouble keeping up with the others in the group. It also bogs down on inclines in high gear. On the other hand, in low gear and 4wd I didn't have any problems going through mud or sand or up hills.
-It is LOUD! Had to wear shooting earmuffs to keep my ears from ringing while riding. Going to have to address that.
Overall Impression...
I was impressed with it on the trails, and it is a good utility vehicle for working around the property. Considering what I paid for it I am very happy with its performance.
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