[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]Well I picked it up Friday. First off the angle of the rear shocks has been changed to allmost straight up & down, when viewed from the rear. This causes problems with wider than stock tires. My 27x11 589s are about an inch away from them on level ground, but when the rear suspension does it's thing they rub. So I guess I will have to get some wheel spacers for the rear. I think that 1" will be enough, do they make them in this size and where at?
That is the only problem so far. The suspension is really soft and flexes good. The ground clearance is great 12.5" under front skid plate, 12" skid plate under floor boards, the floor boards are 14". I can't flex it much till I get the spacers so I don't know if they will rub anywhere else, but it doesn't look like they will. The new muffler sounds much better than the 01, and it is not as restrictive. The new seat latch is a pain in the a$$ untill you get the hang of it and bend it back after getting a little rough with it. It is slightly higher geared but I don't have any mph for you yet, break in. The moter seems quite peppy when you gas it the whole bike raises up. I don't remember ever noticing this before.
That's about all I got for now, I can't do much untill I get some spacers. I don't want to bend a shock. I'm sure that the mags won't like it because it isn't stiffly sprung and it has the body roll that I have grown to love. Most off roaders know that a jeep or 4x4 truck isn't going to handle like a sports car. Oh well that is a different subject.

 

Hey, congrats on the new machine. I am really curious about the top speed. Also about your remark on the throttle response. I think AC have made quite a few changes but I don't no where to get all the specifics.

Cheers Jim

 

I didn't notice the rear shocks when I took a look at them, I guess I'll have to check that out.

 

MudCat-
Congrats on the new machine! Got a couple questions for ya, but first and foremost-make sure you break it in properly! After that is done, how much faster do you think the new 'Cat is compared to the old one, and what are the speed differences, as well as how much quicker does it get to speed?

Next, in what aspect does the new muffler sound better? Quieter? Does it look like it will rub when your suspension is at full flex with the larger tires-after you get the spacers of course. Do you think this muffler would fit on an older 'Cat-like my '00 auto per say??? A less restrictive muffler will definately increase power. If this new muffler would work on my 'Cat, and be less restrictive, provided it isn't too expensive, I may tear my own muffler apart, do the "niteowl" trick, then see what I think. If I screw it up too bad, then I can always just buy the '02 muffler and call it good. I like how quiet my 'Cat is, don't want to sacrifice power for noise, so I think any aftermarket pipe or muffler is definately out of the question.

As for the spacers, give High Lifter a try-I know they carry spacers, but don't know for sure if they have them for AC-well, for the '02's yet anyway. If they don't, they should pretty soon.

Anyway, Best of Luck with the new 'Cat, keep us posted as to how you like it, and anything you may come to dislike as well.

Mike

 

Is this the swingaxle or the independant? Thats a good bit of clearance now on the regular axle. Hell, I think thats about where I am with a lift and 27" tires on my 99.

 

Guys, lets not forget he is coming from a 2001 auto to a 2002 Manual so his results will be hard to compare each model because of all the changes for 2002.

About the spacers, the only ones I know about are Durablue 1.5" or 2.5" rear spacers for Arctic Cats. You can get the 1.5" versions from High Lifter, but only James Lucky sells 2.5" durablue spacers for cats from what I've seen.

Andy,

Didn't you read my post about the 2002s I saw?? Where I measured 12.5" on the 2002 Arctic Cat 400 4wd (not the i model) and 11" under the "belly"-- skid plate between the foot pegs.

 

Yeah, I saw it. It was on a straight axle right? What did they do to make them higher? Whatever it was, it was an improvement. Like I said, I have similar measurements with the lift and tires added. You could really get one of these off the ground nowdays with the added stuff.

 

I ordered the spacers today, hope to get them by the weekend. As far as the muffler goes it sounds deepernot really any louder. The tires will not rub on it either. The frame has been widened in the rear and the muffler now is inside the shocks and it does mount different too. Yes I am comming off of a aout but I had a 98 500 man just 4 months ago, plus that was the same bike I have been riding for almst a week before mine came in. When I measured ground clearance the suspension was settled, when we let it off the jack from mounting the tires it measured over 13", But a push and some bouncing will give a truer measurment. The winch came in today too so I get to mount it tonight. I'll tell more when I do some more riding. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Andy,

The "straight axle" (ACT) model is the only other model there is besides the i model, that I said I DIDN'T SEE.

The new ones have 8.5" of front shock travel, and I'm betting they reduced the front weight too. THe front a-arms surely have more angle. I'm betting the angle of the rear shocks also helped the belly clearance.

What are you talking about with getting a tire off the ground? Power wise?? As in wheelieing??

mudcat47537,

where you get your spacers from?? Anyway, thanks for letting me know about your Manual, I didn't know about it/forgot about it.

 

Really? I thought they made a new 3-wheeler as well. Not really. No, I didn't know if this guy here had got a 500i already or not. I thought they were coming out in a couple months, but I didn't know if maybe they had come out sooner and he got one. I know you didn't see one.

About getting off the ground- I mean that the new ones are already up high, and you could really get a lot of clearance after a lift and tires were added to a 2002 model.