Guys,

I'm thinking of selling my 96 Xplorer and 91 Big Bear and getting a big-bore 4wd.

I'd like to know from you AC owners how well the semi-independant rear on the AC500 works. Especially from those that have owned and ridden solid rear axle machines.

Thanks

Raul

 

Its plush to say the least. I have ridden all types of quads and the semi independent rear suspension on the AC machines is one of the best rides I have experienced. It works great at low speeds and even gives a good ride when travelling at faster speeds. In fact I had a friend who rode a Honda and I practically sold him on Artic Cat by showing him one simple thing, backing over a fallen tree diagonally and no tire ever leaving the ground.

 

The suspension works very well. Also my favorite, no maintenance. No grease fittings to fool with, very durable.

 

I can really tell the difference in the semi independent after having owned a solid axle in the past. It makes for a much smoother ride and it is more stable feeling off-cambers. It is not as flexible as a King Quads rear IRS, but very close! I really love my AC500!

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Rob Ervin 99' AC500

 

The ride is good, not like Polaris good, but but better than comparable rides from yamaha and honda. Lots of wheel travel make it hard to bottom out the shocks, and they are sprung heavier than Polaris for more weight capacity.

Now, the semi-independant rear end is practically awesome. Having owned others with straight up and down swing axles, I can say that I would prefer the semi-independant 10 to 1 over them It is a lot harder to get one tire off the ground on uneven surface with the semi-independant rear. There is a big dirtpile near my house that I ride over every now and then just for the fun of it. On top, it is uneven and a little rutted from rain. On the Honda 300, it kinda scares you because when one tire gets in a little rut, the tire on the diagonally opposite end gets off the ground a little. The AC 500 with the semi-independant suspension keeps all four on the ground, and feels much more stable. The first time I rode over this, I was on the Cat, it was a piece of cake. A month later, I had the Honda out and decided to go up and across it. I casually went up and then got to the washout spots and suddenly found that it wasn't as easy of a time as I had expected. I went back and got the AC and the difference was night and day.

Another test: As far as keeping all four on the ground in uneven terrain. The local polaris dealer had a Sportsman 500 and a Grizzly out front, both with a front tire on an automotive oil change ramp. Difference- The grizzly's back tire on one side was about 5-6" off the ground where the polaris still had all four planted. Curious, I went home and got out the oil change ramps, pulled the AC up on one and got off. Yep, all four planted firmly on the ground with the axle tilted just like it shows in the brochure. I tried the honda too, but the rear end is heavier than the front and instead of a rear tire in the air, the other front was up. Way up too! Thats my opinion on the semi-independant suspension. Not as good a ride as IRS, but a bit more stable and a lot less maintenance.

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*