i was at the local AC dealer today and i asked him how much power loss is caused by the automatic transmission on the 06 400 and he said that it is 15%! can anyone tell a difference between the auto and manual, on the 05?? big diff or not?

 

My 2005 400 manual will out accelerate and out top speed the autos without any problem. Better than a bike length to 40 mph and about 4 miles per hour on the big end. Autos always suck more power than a manual, but 15% seems a really high number to me. I would guess closer to just about 10% or just under.

 

bear, have you found a solution for the high reverse yet?

 

Well, it is known how to fix it. The hold up is getting those necessary parts. The removal of the original gears and the subsitution of the lower ratio gears in a simple pull it apart, make the change and reassemble everything. The price of the parts isn't even out of line for the low volume of the parts. When it's done, the world will know, I promise. The wife and I rode monday and I stuck the nose of the bike into one of those places where I couldn't go forward and the thing just didn't have the ***** to back up, so I used the winch. The wife used a different line and drove right thru, but I couldn't get backed out for a chance at a different line. Being the leader sucks sometimes.

 

Yeah this 400 auto. is barely faster than the 300 manual I used to have. I'd say the automatic definitely sucks a lot of power before it reaches the rear wheels...just like on a truck or car. Manuals rule...but sometimes, like in my case, you don't have much choice. The wife likes the auto.