i've got GATOR aid.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Thanks guys for the tech / rider information. I'm about to purchase a 400 auto. Artic Cat seems to have all features and is leading the way in features and price. It will meet my needs perfectly.

 

Independant rear suspension is stable and not prone to rolling like some suggest. The ride and increased ground clearance are huge advantages over the solid rear axel. IRS is the way to go.

 

i disagree
ACT suspension is the way to go
you dont get any lean stear with the ACT and you have obviously never ridin a Independent Cat on tall rocky terrain
the ACT flexes right over any rock in its path
if you try and take an independent over any tall rocks or on a harsh angle hill you will guarantee roll it. I know cause i have.
ground clearance will not take care of all your tall rock problems cause im talkin like walls of rock in the trail that are 14 inches high or more

 

i think the irs is better. because when your going over big rocks and ruts the solid axel quad dosent have the travel the irs dose so one wheel will come off the ground makeing the bike almost tip. where as my cats irs suspention just gives and keeps all 4 tires on the ground where they are needed. i've ridden with lots of other quads and in the rough stuff the cat rules.when the going gets tough the cat gets tuogher.and anybody that says the solid axle is better hasent ridden a quad with the irs in the rough stuff. or at all. the irs is the way to go.if they are not then why are all the manufactures going that way.IRS RULES & so dose ARCTIC CAT.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

what do you think i took to moab this year buddy an act and an independent
youve got it backwards the solid axle stays on the ground and you know it and the independent will always lift a tire
you know this i know this and anybody who has ridden one in terrain to hi for the independents ground clearance knows this
the shocks are way stiffer than the straight axles and you know it
and i aint baggin on arctic cat there the best 4x4's around

 

When my 650 LE gets here in September, I'll let you know which is better. The wife said I could keep the 375, so I'll be able to compare head to head.

My bet is that the irs has no drawbacks to the ACT, when the shocks are set at their softest. The ACT is setup pretty soft, so there is indeed lots of body roll. However, I have found it to feel less stable than it really is. I've grown to appreciate the ACT's ability to keep all 4 meats on the ground.

 

i have had both the act and now the irs. i thought the act was very stable and would be a lot less maintenance over the years. i bought the new irs just cause they don't offer the act on the 500 anymore. bad choice by arctic cat i think. i haven't got to try the irs much yet but it seems really stiff right now, about 40 miles so far. i don't find any difference in body roll but love the ground clearance.

 

i have done a lot of driving on both. The act is in my opinion is without a doubt the best solid axle suspension on a quad. but i wouldn't trade my irs for anything. The clearance alone is great, for mudding the ACT is not even close in mud or deep snow. As for rock climbing I think that they are so close that i wouldn't give up the smoother ride the irs has on the trails for the miniscule difference. Personally I have not done that much STEEP rock climbing but I do climb over ALOT of huge fencelines. And the ground clearance for climbing over the huge rocks is awesome!! i don't think that it is really worth arguing over, we all agree that Arctic cat has great suspension across the board!! again I think that it is one of those "it is all personal preference" deals! that is my thought on the subject!

 

Well I have a lot of expierence on the ACTs & IRS, I personally prefer the IRS for the ride & ground clearance. As far as sidehilling, I found the ACTs have far more body roll than the IRS models, at least is the pre 03 softer sprung ACTs.