I am aware of that. I was being a smart s$$ and forgot the

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If you don't change your differential lube you are a neglectfull owner and the SPCA will come and take your kitty away.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] However the rear end lube (differential) need to be changed and you will be lucky only so long. When it does break it will very expensive. I always hold as suspect quotes about "I know someone who did........" As to getting stuck. First don't run in 4X4 until you need it. 2X4 always untill you get stuck, then 4X4 to get out. If you get stuck with the 4X4 use the locker to get out. If you get stuck with 4X4 locker you are a towed.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] just like anyone else. Usually if you get stuck it was operator error, you know, you should have been smart enough to not go there. Any machine can get stuck, I saw an M1A1 tank stuck once, he did have to work at it though. As to the Act keeping the wheel on the ground better than IRS does make any sense. If the whell are tied together with a rigid axle if on moves up or down it will effect the other. If an IRS wheel goes up the other one just follows the ground it is on and doesn't change because of the other side, it's called independent for a reason. As to the draw I guess we can agree to that, but I bet I could get you hung up on your ACT if you followed me on some of our solid axle eating trails.

 

Hey Nova flip a coin you will love either one

Enjoy

 

OK i'll try to make some sence of it for you bear.
the irs shspention will dig you down and when you try to rock from side to side it digs deeper and next thing you know your high centered.
the act suspention wont keep digging down and when you rock it back and forth most times you can get it through or unstuck fairly easy by having a few guys lift it out of its ruts.
you get that irs stuck and its stuck and there aint a man tall enuff to lift it out of the ruts it makes.
and its a lot harder to pull out of the mud because its hung up in the middle with 4 great big holes that the tires dug.
i had my cat stuck a few times and i have had my honda stuck a bit less but the honda comes out of the mud way easyer then the cat ever did.
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on saterday i was out riding with some friends and there was 5 hondas and 2 cats a 05 400 and a 04 650 and a 660 raptor and one 650 preire and i watched my friend with the 650 try to go up this snow packed hill and he got about a75 feet up it and he had to back down and turn around.
my other friend with an 04 400 honda went past his mark and about a hundred feet it past then he had to turn around.
my point is the irs digs down for traction where as the sra dont.

 

First off the ACT has to high center sooner as the axle is lower than the skid plate. You high center on the lowest part of the rig. Secondly, I don't have to dance with the IRS as it just keeps on truckin' at least mine does. I have been stuck twice with the 400 and both times nobody else even tried the hole. I have followed a Griz with mudlites and went where he went and nobody else followed, IRS or Swing axle or ACT. The reason an ACT or a swing arm won't dig down is it's high center on the rear axle. Are you physics impaired or something? Your logic to defy the laws of physics and I can tell you if your theory tries to slap physics in the face, you better rework your theory or physics will kick you butt. IRS can dig down farther than an ACT because it has more ground clearenceand doesn't high center as soon, but only a dummy just keeps hammering the throttle if he's moving down and not moving forward.

 

like i said you get the cat stuck its stuck.
and ya i followed grizleys also with my cat and and with my honda.
and 99% of getting through it is how agressive you are.
some mud holes you can just put through and others you need a little attitude.
i have had both quads and unless you are always riding where you need that much ground clearance its not nessary.
mine had 14 1/2" at the bottem of the hitch. (3 beer cans) and ill put the pic in my page if you care to look at it.
it might take a few hours to get it approved but it will be there.
and i hardly ever needed it and when i did it was because i was trying to get through a spot where everone else went around and it realy wasent nessary to go into it in the first place.
my honda gos everywhere my irs did and it has just over 10" of ground clearence with the lift kit and 26" tires.
and so what if i rub going over a log or feel it drag once in a while i still go the same places everyone alse dose.
when i first got my honda it felt small and i wasnt to sure about it but after i put the lift kit and tires on it i actully liked it better.
it just a matter of preferance not my quad is better then your quad.

 

Guys, I have both. The IRS won't get stuck as quickly, but the difference isn't as great as has been stated here. I'd say its about a 10% difference, not counting the locker on the 650. That takes it to a whole different level.

I have put both machines on an articulation ramp, and believe it or not, the ACT has the edge, even when my 650's shocks are on the softest setting. On paper, the ACT has less travel, but on the ramp, it has a slight edge. Overall, I'd give the advantage to the IRS, but not by a huge margin. I have no doubt about this: The ACT is by far the best solid rear axle rig out there. Nothing else even comes close, and I've ridden along side all of them. Through the rocks, the ACT is better than any IRS I've ridden with except the other Cats.

The ACT may be the best value out there. If it had the locker on the front, the difference would be even less.

Just my 2c worth. I've run them side by side for over a year now. I love them both. I believe ARctic Cat is #1 when it comes to suspension design. One more thing: The ACT has a slightly smoother ride, too.

 

I won't get into the fray about which is better; IRS or ACT, but no one has commented on resale. I bought both my machines on e-bay. Both were "unused," a couple of years old at the time of my purchase. The first one was a shot in the dark as I had never owned an ATV. I ended up with an AC and liked that AC so well I wanted another.

As I shopped for the second bike, there was one, clear fact that stood out; resale of machines with IRS is significantly higher than those with ACT. At least several hundred dollars and more, depending upon the age of the machine.

Given both sides of the IRS/ACT issue feel so strongly, if Nova doesn't have a clear idea of which type he wants, at a minimum resale should at least be considered.

Jim

 

thats why i only got $7250 CDN for my quad when i traded it in and it was 1 year old
with 28" gators hand and thumb warmers windsheild and a winch.
witch cost me when i got it was over $10,000 CDN befor taxes.
the quad it self was $8600 plus taxes then tires over $600 and winch $600 installed windshield $160 and everything else that was on it.
great resale.
ya ok.

 

Mudblaster,
A basic truth is that mods and add-ons are important...but only to you. A dealer isn't going to give you much, if anything, for them. Don't believe that - just do some MAJOR engine mods and see what the dealer gives you when you trade. I'm not saying you shouldn't do them. Just have realistic expectations of your ability to retrieve the money you spend. Like I said. Those mods and add-ons are only important to you.

The dealer is only looking at what he can get for your bike when he sells it. Remember, he has ALL his profit tied up in your trade. If he can't sell it, he's holding the bag and he's not about to do that and stay in business. If you take that deal just to get the machine you want, well, after it's done you feel a little bit used. The dealer gives you wholesale and sells your trade retail for that year and model - with a little wiggle room for himself. The more mods and add-ons, the fewer people want that machine. Fact of life.

Even more so are the Honda dealers. They know they have a product with a reputation second to none and people will pay top dollar for their product. You won't get them to budge. There are exceptions of course, but by and large it's the way it works. I've been through this - I'm an old fart and I've been there, done that.

We were debating the merits of ACT vs. IRS. I noted that the prices bidded on Ebay were significantly higher for IRS. Ebay is retail. Your Honda dealer gave you wholesale. Could have you gotten a higher price on Ebay for your AC? Probably. Would it have been as timely? Of course not. Would have it been worth the hassle? Well, only you can decide.

Bear is almost my age and can vouch for the fact that in the end it's not how much money you make, it's reducing your overhead.