ATV experts show me your know how

[RonaldLarson]

If you are really into quality and features

You should not consider anything until you have all the facts.



Arctic Cat is definitely a big hitter. Best suspension, best engine, best features, superb longevity. I ride a 300 4X4 that is now nearly nine years old. I have replaced the spark plug. I have plowed deep snow, dirt and ridden hard on some awfull trails. You should order their DVd online and check them out. You will be the smart buyer!



No, I don't work for, sell or own stock in Arctic Cat.



Ron

 

[rbattelle]

It seems like they're all going to liquid-cooled engines. I think I'd much prefer an air cooled engine. Can anyone comment on the reliability/maintenance on the liquid cooled engines?



-Ryan

 

[Dieselnut59]

The diesel Sportsman was only available as a 4x4 and only as a '99 and '00 model. It was a great idea with bad marketing and timing. Arctic Cat is rumored to be the next diesel ATV. They have a military version now and a civilian version to be released next year. Polaris has more talks of re-introducing a diesel, especially for the Ranger utility vehicle, which uses the same gassers as the ATV's. An engine that would work in that would work in any of their machines. I would buy another Polaris.

Belt slippage is only a problem if water gets into the housing. My '99 has the "old" housing design but I "upgraded" it by installing more clips that hold the two halves of the housing together. I don't have problems with belt slippage now and if water got up high enough to wet my belt, I would be more concerned for water getting into the engine!

 

[RonaldLarson]

Liquid cooled

Engines that are liquid cooled in ATV's are equipped so, for fear of, or prevention of overheating. Seems pretty obvious, eh? Well, think about this. Why would a builder supply liquid cooling if they did not expect the engine to overheat during normal use? Why does one need 650 or 750 Cc

's to have fun? Normal use, in my experience, is climbing really bad grades, with sane speeds, over rocks, boulders and through ditches and water, and just seeing the country. My Cat has an oil temp warning light that has never illuminated. That tells me that: A: it's not working too hard B: it's adequately powered for my use ( I weigh 200 pounds), and C: what do I need more power for? Now I ride hard, not crazy, and enjoy difficult trails, not attempts at self destruction at high speeds. NOTHING is more dangerous than an ATV which is overpowered, because the rider is the judge of what is safe and what is not. If we continue to end up on the casualty list of ATV riders who get off on trying to kill themselves, we will be legislated out of our riding areas and our sport!

Nope, ain't no need for water cooling.



OK , off the stump.



Ron

 

[rbattelle]

I'd prefer the air cooling for simplicity's sake. Since I don't intend do ever do anything at high speed (have no interest in going fast), I guess sacrificing CC's for air cooling might be worth it. I just don't want to end up with something underpowered.



-Ryan

 

[DBogo]

i would still go liquid i dont even think theres many 4x4 utilitys now that are still air cooled

 

[rbattelle]

Can anyone comment on the relative merits of manual vs. automatic transmissions for ATVs?



-Ryan

 

[midlife crisis]

Overpowered atvs? Huh? Puleeze. There is an equal amount of inexperience, stupidity, over-zealousness, and lack of safety gear on small cc bikes. As I write this I cannot think of one member from my group injured on a sport bike, at any speed.



Ryan- I prefer a manual. For the (often extreme) hill climbs, and fast trail riding I do, I just dont trust an auto to shift for me. I know where I want to be rpm-wise when I hit the bottom of the hill.

There are a few auto-sport bikes. . usually they are at the back of the pack. Example-The Kawi 700 KFX is an auto. . not regarded as a good, fast trail/track bike. When I get really old and get something with racks, chances are I will still want to shift. Kinda like some folks on this site. .

As far as water cooling. . You want a bike that will not be subject to having its radiator clogged, whether it be snow or mud. This is the only issue my "brothers" have encountered on their wc machines.

My motto-. . "Dont let the grey hair fool you. There will be 6 feet of air under me until there is 6 feet of dirt over me... now try and keep up".

 

[RonaldLarson]

Puhleez?

yes, I think that if you are a real trail rider, overpowered is a hindrance to pleasureable riding. Power is useless on the average trail, and can actually be a problem. Traction requires torque, not horsepower. You don't need power to crawl over boulders, you don't need power to cross a creek, and you don't need power to drive gravel roads. You want low CG, gearing and torque. My 300 will absolutely keep up with any overpowered ATV I've ridden with in normal trail riding. . My 300 has three ranges of axle ratio, selectable with a lever. In "super low", I challenge anyone to creep over boulders any more safely or under more control. Is it really important how quickly you go from stop to 35 MPH? I don't think so, and anything over that speed on an ATV is inviting casualty. By the way, want to compare gas consumption against your big bore?

Big engines are all about ego, and ego does not belong in trail riding. The amount of ATV crashes has congress looking at more regulations. We don't need more regulations, but we do need more reponsible riders. Encouraging people to buy big bores does not take into consideration their riding experience, and starting smaller sure helps the learning curve.

By the way, if you want to see what a real trail ride is, do the Tizer Lakes Trail out of Helena, Montana. Don't bother bringing your gravel thrower!



Ron

:-laf

 

[midlife crisis]

You have obviously never done any hill climbing with a short take off. My big bore gets great economy. The bike only weighs 350 lbs! I rode over 140 miles in two days last year and only refilled once... stock tank. I'll bring my gravel thrower to places you wont believe. I hate to confuse you with facts. In areas where I may be at a disadvantage with traction. . momentum is my only option. This is where power,finesse and experience kick in. IF you were any kind of rider, you might know this... Inviting casualty? Get a clue...

 

[DieselMinded]

Common Guys Cant we all just get along, :-laf



For one if artic cat was so good why dont they use there own motor ??? Even tho the Artic cat with the Kaw motor is a better bike then the Kaw its self this still confuses me. The kaw motor is one of the most proven but I guess they cant make a good bike yet???? Artic cat has a heavyer Payload then bikes with twice the CC's and I beleave it has a resse hitch instead of just the normal kind ... . all great points now the Cons ... ... Motor is set in the frame wierd and center of gravity is all wacked up Seen more flip overs on the artic cat then any thing else ..... NO 2 the heal toe shifter Personal prefrence there but I like keeping my foot on the peg.



Now about the bigger bore bike Im agreeing with MC witch everyone should because with the right gearing and set up a sewing machine motor can pull a train I have put the ol '02 King in super low diff and with the fully indepenmted suspention I have pulled backward all of my buddies bikes your talking the polaris,,,,hondas,,,and even an eiger ,,,,and yes a yamaha also,,,,,650 I beleave ... . CC is not all thats there cracked up to look at the cummins ... . 5. 9l VS 7. 3l Its all in the gearing and set up ... get a good design then throw on a big cc motor then your talking ,,,but with big CC if you flip it on you your hosed with my bike I manage to slide out from under it.



If your trail riding FAST dont get a independent rear end bike PERIOD!!! your buddys will womp on you ... . you cannot throw the rear end around corners it will grip and pitch you in to the biggest tree close . .



Now if your Trail Riding slow with rocks and the likes you cant beat the fully independent suspention . Nobody with solid axels will come close ... same as dropping chains tthose big Bore bikes just spin back and forth on top of the terrain and my little 300 independent really gets down in the terrain and finds traction some how let alone me having so low of gears you will never use them.



I havent rode a fully automattic big bore so I cant comment between a manual and an auto.



I needed a bike to pull a 4x8 trailor full of fire wood up out of the woods and I picked the bike that was best suited for what I planed on useing it for most ... . but it has its areas of set backs same as any other option . .



I have taken the time to match up the big bores and I have then on my computer with tech facts prices and all



i have



Polaris

honda

suzuki

yamaha

artic cat



All info'ed up

the folder is only 278 KB if anyone is ionterested in the info I have collected PM me with your email and Ill gladly send it to you



NOTE the KING wasnt out yet when I assembled the info Created 6-2-04 but still has some valuable data on the big bores



DM

 

[DieselMinded]

BTW liquid cooled is the way to go!! plowing snow with mine and I get the over heat alarm and have to run it up and down the drive way frezzing to death so it will cool down ... I wish mine was liquid cooled and EFI my bike is also cold natured BIG TIME . .



the new King Quad is EFI and Liquid cooled but Ill be jumping from 300cc to like 700cc and losing gears and more than twice the price tag



DM

 

[scootergmc]

Arctic Cat now has their own engine. And Kawi does make good motorcycles. I know. My 636 ninja tried to spit me off more than once.

 

[DieselMinded]

All of my research was done on 6-2-04 alot may have changed since then.



DM

 

[DBogo]

im sorry but arctic cat still uses suzuki motors

 

[scootergmc]

Im sorry but re-read my post. Arctic cat now has their own engine. I didn't say they didn't use other manf. And FWIW they also use Kawi engines.