What would be wrong with a all out utility magazine? Something on the order of a 4wheel&offroad for ATV's. No sport bikes, just good old backwoods wheeling. A magazine where they could test Snowplows, winches, mud tires and all the other gotta have 4x essentials. What do you guys think?? Aczr2k

 

There has been some chatter on the Highlifter boards about the need for just that. The magazine would discuss conditions and products, do tests and provide information about Utilities only! I for one would get a subscription right away. The ability of a couple of magazines to cover the whole field is not working!

 

When the editors of ATV Action commented on the new SP500, I don't think they complained about the extra power. They complained because the extra power was all at the upper end of the rpm range, and came at the expense of power on the bottom end. In a utility machine, they said, it makes more sense to have the power come on at lower rpm's.

 

I can't decide If zigy is trying to be sarcastic or not? He spends a couple of minutes telling us how his quad is better than all the others that he rides with, and then at the end, askes how he can improve his quad so he can keep up with the other brands? Are you joking around or what?

 

They also gave the Rubicon the win in the suspension department and it is just a straight axle with short travel, which all the others also had.Next time you ride with a person with a Sportsman trade with him for a few miles and ask yourself if your Rubicon rides smoother.Most people who own the new H.O Sportsman had the non H.O before and do not mention they are weaker on the bottom end.I,m not a Dirtwheels fan but when they said the SP suspension was far superior in ride comfort to the other bikes in there comparison I would have to agree.I never rode a Rubicon but rode many different kinds of straight axel quads and they are all hard to tell apart.

 

What every happened to the old tests where they used to drag race the quads for 50 or 100 yards?

It appears that the editors of these magazines wish to remove all objectivity from their tests and make things rider subjective.

Some of these articles are as bad as the one where the Rancher out pulled the A-C 500. Yeah right!
(Probably in ultra low first gear for 2.3 seconds)

But... the 500 auto is pokey... they are right on that one. Powerful but pokey.

 

It would be nice to see how all the bikes perform with stock everything in these categories:

1. Belgium Road Test - this is a great suspension test which tests ride, stability, and off camber maneuvering.
2. Hill Climb - Start from the same point, quickest time up.
3. Mud Test - Start from the same point, quickest time through.
4. Pulling Test - Start from the same point, see what pulls the most the furthest.

Of course these would have to happen in a controlled environment with each run being as close to exact conditions as possible using the same rider or group of riders, but I'm sure there is some organization out there that has the capabilities to perform such a comparison.

I'm sure that all the ATV magazines out there would pay for such a comparison.

 

ATV Magazine has done some shootouts on the large 4x4quads before. They were not as complet as I would like (like a pulling test, mud test ect.) Also like others have pointed out they are tested by sport riders that complain about floorboards, and mud guards on the fenders. If they come out with a pure dirt magazine I would definatly have to subscribe.

 

I think that the hunters, farmers, and general utility riders probably spend more money buying quads than any other group. They seem to be a little older and have more money to invest in thier machines and accy. They should have a magazine devoted to them. Just my 2 cents worth!

 

Bearhunter; your testing methods go back to speed & time, not the way to test a utility ATV, those tests rely on hp & tire quality. You cannot test Atv's subectively, I don't believe, because everyone, who is a capable all terrian rider WILL have individual preferances & thus lean to one brand over another. I believe the best all around off-road ATv would be the Suz 300, except for lack of suspension & brakes, Guess thats why I bought the Cat 300. My opinion only.