ATV Stels ATV 500 GT 2012

In Russia, ATVs began to be produced not so long ago, but at the moment such equipment is in great demand. Unfortunately, expensive branded manufacturers charge too much, so Chinese equipment is an excellent alternative.

Stels is considered one of the best representatives of not only ATVs, but also bicycles, scooters and mopeds. We will consider one of several representatives of four-wheeled vehicles, namely the Stels ATV 500 model. The excellent characteristics of the Stealth 500 ATV allow us to consider the new product one of the best in all of Russia, and with a 500 cc engine you will completely forget about the word “impossible”.

Pros:

• stylish appearance;
• smooth ride;
• frisky at the start;
• economical;
• excellent cross-country ability.

Minuses:

• required for registration and obtaining rights;
• high noise;
• in mud and complete immersion it may stall.

Chinese accent

Thanks to the efforts of the employees, the design adapted to the conditions of the Russian market really turned out to be quite successful. Good performance properties and relative ease of maintenance played a significant role in this. And although the model clearly has Chinese roots, there were enough people willing to purchase the Stealth 500 GT ATV, the technical characteristics, price and quality of which were at an acceptable level. However, like any other technology, it had its advantages and disadvantages.

Comparison with competitors

The Stels 500 ATV, thanks to its high power and functionality, successfully competes with devices from world brands. The model has practically no analogues on the domestic market, so the main opponents of the Stealth were BRP, Kazuma, Polaris and Kawasaki vehicles.

Main competitors:

• Kazuma Jaguar 500. The prototype of the Stels 500 GT was this American-Chinese device. But unlike the prototype, Stealth is distinguished by greater power, speed and sophisticated design. However, the Chinese are more popular due to the price; a new car will cost only 185 thousand rubles. Stealth 500 from the showroom costs between 285-295 thousand rubles.
• BRP Outlander The Canadian car, released in 2021 and updated in 2021, is superior to the Russian device in almost everything. The only negative is the price. A used device costs between 400-500 thousand rubles.
• Polaris ATP. Russian and American ATVs are practically identical. It all comes down to cost; a used Polaris costs 300-350 thousand rubles. The Polaris Sportsman 500, comparable in cubic capacity, is considered to be very good.

Among domestic devices, the only alternative to the Stealth 500 GT can be the Lynx 500 or RM 500-2 model, created by.

Suspension

Large suspension travel - 170 mm at the front and 225 mm at the rear - is provided by double wishbones and spring-hydraulic shock absorbers. The vehicle ground clearance is 260 mm. And although there are those who claim that the chassis is too stiff, you should understand that with other settings a heavy car would become a roll.

Those wishing to purchase the new Stealth 500 GT ATVs, the characteristics of which seemed attractive, should hurry up. After all, only already produced cars remain on sale, and there is no need to wait for new arrivals. If you hesitate, you can only buy a popular model second-hand.

Characteristics of the Stealth 500 GT ATV

Thanks to a durable frame made of steel pipes, Stels 500 can withstand significant loads. The device can easily carry two people and transport cargo with a total weight of up to 156 kg. Since the car is most often used for tourism, the manufacturer installed a comfortable two-stage seat with a backrest on the model, ensuring the comfort of the driver and passenger.

Parameters of the Stels ATV 500 GT ATV:

• The engine capacity of the car is 499 cubic meters. see. The motor is equipped with a liquid cooling system.
• The engine power of the model is 32.6 hp.
• Electric starter.
• Fuel supply - carburetor.
• Electronic ignition system.
• Transmission – variator.
• Hydraulic disc brakes (front and rear).
• Independent suspension (front and rear).
• The maximum load capacity of the device is 156 kg.
• The weight of the car without body kit is 330 kg. The relatively low weight improves the controllability of the vehicle.
• Ground clearance height – 18.5 cm.
• Gas tank capacity 7 l + 4 l in an additional tank. Despite the high power of the device, the machine is very economical. A full tank lasts for 95-115 km, depending on driving style and the complexity of the route.
• The speed limit is 100 km/h.

The delivery set includes a comfortable double seat with a backrest, luggage racks, a durable bump stop, a winch, a towbar, an electronic control panel, brake lights, turn signals and rear-view mirrors.

What is this quad like in action?

The ATV has been in production for several years, and during this time it was possible to test this iron horse in action. The test drive was carried out personally by representatives, and their first task was to test the ATV on a difficult cross-country road. A variety of experiments were carried out, the Stealth was tested on steep climbs, sharp descents and, most importantly, on mud and fords.

The final test was to determine whether the new technology could cope with deep water obstacles. The fact is that the manufacturer installed special moisture-proof wiring, which should increase the tightness of the main contacts. The second innovation is the installation of a new breather on the variator. And the Stealth atv 500 ATV coped with the task 100%, going through all the difficulties of off-road.

In the spring of 2013, the STELS ATV500GT (Stealth Atv 500 GT) ATV model was updated again

Everything to increase the reliability of the machine for use in harsh conditions. New instrument panel, stronger servo pulleys, electronic servo cut-off sensor to prevent overloading, cylinder air pipe made entirely of metal. A sensor that excludes manual switching/activation to speed-parking in an inappropriate driving mode. And some other small changes.

In general, in 2013 and 2014, the STELS ATV model, tested many times, worked out to the smallest detail in the most severe Russian off-road conditions, was supplied to the market.

Reviews

1. There was a desire to buy an ATV for recreation. At first I wanted to drive it from the states, but due to lack of time and money I started looking for a cheaper car. I came across the Stealth ATV 500, and at first glance I really liked it. I arrived at the dealer, purchased it for 165 thousand rubles and headed home. They gave a 3-year warranty, which almost completely erased my doubts about the quality, but still I didn’t expect much. On the first trip I discovered the first problems. It turns out that the signal does not work, and the gearshift lever is not screwed in completely. I fixed the problem with the lever very quickly, but as soon as I did the signal, it still didn’t want to work. In terms of traction, it is a very decent car, even when driving with a passenger. I was also pleased with the cross-country ability, it goes everywhere. But at a speed of 50 kilometers per hour, another problem appeared: when you release the gas, something makes an unpleasant crunching sound.
2. Because of the move, I had to sell my quad, but upon arrival I bought a new car. This time I decided to save money, and it turned out to be in vain, although maybe I was just unlucky. So, it was like this: in the winter I went out for a ride in the snow, and the rear-wheel drive ATV didn’t even budge. I turned on the four-wheel drive, the power indicator came on, and I slowly pulled away. Before I even had time to pick up speed, the drives suddenly crunched, and the second indicator came on, notifying me that all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive were simultaneously engaged. I pulled the device out of the snow and drove back home. As a result of this trip, the all-wheel drive disappeared, and now it crunches very loudly, although the mileage is only 90 kilometers. I thought about taking it to a service center, but realizing that such breakdowns occurred on completely new equipment, the idea arose to simply sell it, since in the future it might not give me peace of mind.
3. When choosing an ATV, many were dissuaded from buying the Stels ATV 500GT model, supposedly the equipment was very unreliable. But still, by coincidence, I purchased it at a low price for a new one. I don’t know which one I got, but it doesn’t look at all like the model that often gets negative reviews. The ATV pulls very well, everything works properly, although there were some shortcomings, but not significant, and I even managed to fix them myself. The all-wheel drive performed very well in the mud, and the variator did not let us down either. Now approximately 4 thousand kilometers have already been covered and during this entire mileage there have been no serious breakdowns or malfunctions. Basically, everything was corrected by tightening certain parts and nothing more. I ride carefully, although sometimes quickly, and I don’t really strain the ATV, except in rare cases. This is probably why he still serves me faithfully.

Stealth 500 review

Today, this particular model is one of the best ATVs in Russia, because it has satisfactory characteristics and an affordable price. The ATV also destroyed many stereotypes about low-quality Chinese technology, adding many improved characteristics to the new product. The negative side of the model is that it is considered a copy of the more famous representative of Japanese technology - Kazuma Jaguar.

The characteristics of this vehicle allow it to be used for any purpose, be it simple city travel or extreme off-road adventure. With its small size and modern appearance, other riders will consider you a worthy competitor. For the best off-road performance, it was decided to make certain details, namely to completely synchronize the power unit, suspension, transmission and install operation in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The presence of arch extensions will help you get through the most difficult roads, which in turn prevent dirt from getting into the wheels.

The equipment of the Velomotors company is represented by a large number of motorcycle equipment, so we recommend that you look at other reviews of the Stels Flame 200 and Stels Delta 200 motorcycles.

Appearance

Just looking at the photo, you can be sure that the Chinese have created a truly aggressive representative of their class. At the moment, most of the parts are hidden under plastic, so the manufacturer decided to present three colors of the ATV: red, black, green. For a certain surcharge, camouflage coloring is available as an option. In addition to excellent design, plastic acts as protection for the main parts.

Excellent comfort is provided by a comfortable seat with two levels. In this way, you can put one passenger on the stealth 500 gt ATV; reviews confirm the excellent passenger seat, which allows you to separate from the driver even with quick starts and sharp braking.

With the current price of the ATV and its technical characteristics, the Stealth atv 500 has practically no competition. At the moment, the approximate price of a new vehicle is about 170,000 rubles. Perhaps today the cost has increased (taking into account the ruble exchange rate) to 285,000, but still this price tag is in some cases even ridiculous.

But reviews from owners indicate that despite the low cost, the Stels ATV 500 is a high-quality, reliable and powerful model. Few people note its shortcomings, so 500cc is worth buying for those who want a real adult adventure. But it’s also worth paying attention to the fact that the manufacturer’s official website does not offer this model for stealth ATVs. But don’t despair, you can find a new model at dealerships and other motorcycle stores.

Technical characteristics of Stels ATV 500

The utilitarian new product has received enviable characteristics, because first of all it is worth highlighting a reliable power plant. With a small overall price tag, the Chinese were able to install a 499 cc engine producing 30 horsepower. To better overcome obstacles, water cooling and an automatic transmission were also installed.

As a result, the ATV will be able to reach a maximum speed of up to 85 km per hour, and even then an electronic limiter is installed on it. Most likely, by removing the part, you can increase the speed by +10 km/h. Other equally important advantages include the presence of disc brakes, independent suspension, excellent equipment and alloy wheels, which are fitted with hard tires with a diameter of 27 inches. With such characteristics, the Stealth atv 500 ATV can compete with other utilitarian representatives.

If you are interested in ATVs from Velomotors, we suggest you look at our review of another representative - the Stels ATV 400 ATV.