2014 501
I have a 2014 501,
awesome bike, seemed to be a bit touchy off the bottom end for me, I gear it up to 15/48 and it climbs on torque up rocky hill better for me without wheel spin and fatigue so much for the type of terrain I ride on.
It is pretty sure footed in the suspension , turns very well , does more than what I require. In the tight stuff , I find it is really at home , feels like a 250 4t bike. Changes direction very easily. The more you push it the more it feels at home and handles.
I find I use way less energy riding, I get sucked in to riding a bit to quick because the bike seems to just do it with ease. I have come off an older 550 and clocked 6-700hrs on those ,and have ridden the 570 a bit also. I am a reasonably experienced rider with bigger capacity bikes, so my opinion may not be the same an a less experienced rider.
Been a bit spoilt not having an air box for 14 yrs , so I find the air filter needs cleaning more regularly compared to my 550 and it took a few goes before I worked out how to get the side cover on properly. I threw out the big orange plastic thing that come with the bike, later learned it was a cover for the air box intake so you could wash out the air box,ha ha.
Many things have changed on the newer bikes that you are not even aware of. One of the funny things I noticed was the shape of the front guard, it really works well , not much mud and debris flys up, can almost ride without goggles.
I have clocked 65hr on it and all is good.