just remember, don't get upset at the rocker shifter. you will get used to it. After you do all other shifters feel wrong.

 

I have not had IRS before but am really looking forward to trying it out. As far as the rocker shifter-at first I was going to replace it right away because I am coming from a sport quad then I thought about it and I'm going to try and get used to it I think it could have some real advantages. I'm going riding Sun., where I'm going there are alot of creeks to ride in and out of so I don't think I will have quite the temptation to hammer on it as I would if I were trailriding. I'll let you guys know how the first ride goes.

 

dirteater------- just watch where you place your heel going up hills. i was climbing a steep mountain side and i put my heal on the shifter and befor i realized what i did i was going backwords then i lifted my foot off the shifter and it changing gears did a big wheelie and i almost went over backwords, lucky for me i dident. neadles to say i've since cut the heel kicker off and i just turned the toe kicker up one tooth. and i think it works better now, and it is more comfortable to ride.

 

When I was riding today I can see how that could happen very easily. I had that happen to me once but lucky enough I was on flat ground so it wasn't a big deal. I like the rocker shifter I think I'm going to keep it instead of opting for the toe shifter. This is the first quad that I have ridden with independent susp. and I now know what I've been missing all this time. I have quite a few of break in miles to go but I can tell the ol cat's got some punch to er. I can't wait till I can get into it hard, just to see what it can do. Also I never knew that ground clearance could make such a difference. I would have to agree with whoever said there is no replacement for ground clearance, then you top it off with independent susp. and I think you're as close to perfect as you can get. In case you couldn't tell I had a great first time out on the 500.

 

IF your looking at a 500 i you will not be disappointed I use to have one which I miss deerly it went to the great insurance place in the sky after i nailed a deer and bounced in a tree but the driver walked away I used to ubuse mine on a consistent basis using it in the bush it looked like a minny skidder and would work like one and it would also play hard but it always brought me home never had to worry about that a lot of pleople I road with would say I was the man to beat there wasn,t much that could fallow me and my 5500 ac through the mud and swamps [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

SORY HOPE YOU DIDN,T GET TO EXCIDED WHEN YOU SEEN THE EXTRA [ 5 ] I ADDED BY MISTAKE TO MY 500 AND NOT 5500 WELL YOU COULD ALWAYS IMAGINE THAT ONE[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I have had a few quads and have ridden many and i can tell you that my 2003 500i manual is BY FAR quad that I have ever ridden in the really rough stuff. I had a sprtsman 500. Nice machine. Fun blasting up and down the trails. Not even in the same league what the goings gets rough though. Ditto for most hondas, Yamahas (havent tried any of the newer big ones though).

Here is an example. I pull all our quads around on a tandem trailer. Not the high snowmobile type but the lower 'vehicle hauler' type. Still, high enough that it requires ramps to load our bikes. We were loading up the machines the other day and and as a joke I thought I would try to load the 500 without the ramps. No problem at all. There was so much ground clearance that the bike didnt even touch the trailer. The honda would even think of it. Same with the big bears AND MY sportsman 500.

Secondly, there is a rock face that we quad up to watch the air show up here. My buddy drove his honda up and made it, bt had to get off the machine a dozen times because of the rough going. I made it up very easily, even trying harder routes to test the machine. All no problem.

Ground Clearance rules the serious bad stuff. Maybe the machine isnt the best on trails, but who cares.

 

Congrats On the AC You will love it!!! Be glad you didn't Buy a Vinson the speedo pod isn't pretty when they get flipped over On[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] parts were falling out of it when we took it up the hill for the guy. But he Was OK

 

on rough terrain you will want the irs its a life saver and makes the atv more stable in turns!!! you need something with a lock diff. to get through the mud and water so i wouldnt suggest the vinsion its got a bad 4wd system with just limited slip. ive read in the arcticcat broucure and they seem like they have lock diff. if they do theres your best choice!!!

 

oh by the way the manual on the 500i with the rocker shifter are a pain!!! there hard to use and really get annoing after a while i suggest the auto.!!! good luck