I took me three rides to teach the wife how to shift the manual (now her AC 250), and she had never ridden a motorcycle or anything other than a car. Biggest thing is learn to do it slow before fast and most of them won't wait to learn the slow part.

 

Bear- you made me think also of the trauma of putting my brother on a manual AC and his son on the ES. What a bloody nightmare that was! After giving up on the nephew I switched him over to my 500 polaris. THAT he could operate until he found himself wheels pinched between logs and he thought if he used full throttle long enough - it would jump out of the pile of logs I had told him to stay out of. Well, that was a $50 belt gone up literally in smoke.

Nothing is perfect.

 

I find it ironic that the only serious auto sport quad is often bemoaned due to its auto tranny, while in the world of utes, a lot of riders put down the auto clutch, manual shift models. Can't we all just get along?

 

Geeez Scooter - If we all agreed we wouldn't have any reason to be competitive. Without competition we would all sit around complacent and happy with what we had. That being the case there would never be any reason to improve on a design and making things better is one the principles that our forefathers wanted for this country and I think it not being very American to not uphold the American ideal of having something better then what we had before and wanting something better to leave to our children and I don't think I want to sit here and listen to you bad mouth the very fabric and thread that has woven this country into a place where those who want better don't have to feel as lesser Americans because of what they want for their children, their wives and daughters, for their Country and God - and to do it with American pride and courage and honor.

OK? Scooter?

j/k lol

 

I'll be honest. I really liked the Cat 375 auto I had and found that it got about 17-20 MPG which isn't too shabby. I didn't have to think about shifting just throttle and go! I put 3500 miles on it and sold it. Original belt. If you just want to ride and not get too technical about what gear you're in. Go for the Auto, you'll enjoy it. The best thing about it is the Auto Tranny in the 400 and 500 is nearly bullet proof.

I'm sold on the AC duramatic auto and wouldn't have anything else.

Good luck in your decision!

 

I'll say this much. If manufacturers had both a manual and auto version of all of their quads (or at least popular models), then this wouldn't be discussed that much.

 

well as it works out the choice was simple I just went with the 05 650 V2. didnt have much choice on the tranny. but just the same thx for all the opinions