Welcome to the AC contingent! The ZR500 Carbed is one sweet sled. As for mods, go with it stock for a little bit. I bet you will enjoy the clutching from it being box stock. But the first thing I would recommend you do is, rejet the thing after 1000 miles or maybe 500. Typically AC's come from the factory very rich. I leaned out my 00 AC 500, by two sizes on the main's and she really came alive. Cleaned up the burble around 6000rpm's.
Last season I added a D&D clutch kit, it really improved the back shifting, and maginally improved the acceleration. A good kit for the money. And now I added a D&D quiet canister. It removed about 5 lbs, and added a healthy sound. The little AC 5's just need some rejetting to be awesome performers. Then late in the season or next summer, then add the clutch kit, or can, or both.
But stay away from Black Magic stuff. Everyone I know who has used their stuff, has hated it. The twin pipes for the AC 5's really limits your riding (it makes the sled finiky, and suseptable to temp changes) and the pipes also split in the seams. D&D makes sweet products that last! (IMHO)
Enjoy you new sled!
Mike
2000 Arctic Cat ZL500 - D&D Racing Can, D&D Clutching, Re-Jetted It, 120 Woody's, Various Appearance Acc.
Edited by - wacky_woodchuck on 10 Dec 2001 13:19:45