The rear end of the "i" series are MUCH different than the ACT suspension on the 375, 400, and 500. Your bike will handle the larger tires like a champ!

Congrats on your 400i by the way!

EtherNut

 

Ethernut,
I went out and placed the 400i rear right tire on a 10 inch ramp. The tires relative atitude to the shock does not change because of the individual shock suspension. Therefore, I think on the i models, a wider and taller tire could be used.

I then decided to try the opposite corner test that others have done. To my surprise, one of my front or one of my rear tires would come off the floor when I had raised opposite front and rear tires to 10 inches. I even tried sitting on the fenders to get the suspension to flex so that all four tires would be on the floor.....no go.

This really surprised me at first. However, my quad only has 55 miles on it and I suspect that it is still very tight. I have the suspension set on the lowest or cushiest setting all around....contrary to what CHUNKYBOY stateshe uses.

Then someone on this forum mentioned that the ACT models have better articulation than the i models. "What" I said? Can't be. But then I remembered sitting on a 400 ACT model on the dealers floor, and I could get quite a bit of body lean by just shifting my weight back and forth...and that was a brand new 2002 model. I know for a fact my i model is much more stiffer than I imagined it to be, as I had not test ridden one before I bought.

I still am not sorry I bought an i model. I wanted it for hunting, crawling through bush and beaver dams with fallen logs and holes etc at all angles. I suspect the suspension will be awesome in that situation.

So come on guys with i and regular suspension models! Give me some more information and ideas. Chunkyboy for one, was your i model as stiff as I am describing at first?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying any of these suspension systems is better or worse than the other, but I am sure that inquiring minds of perspective buyers, and people who have already bought, want to know. All I know is compared to my old 86 350 Honda, it rides like a dream. I had my two daughters riding the AC through some hummocks (little hills with bigger holes) and I could hardly hang on to the Honda, while the girls just breezed through. One thing though, I think the old Honda has more power and grunt lower down than the 400. That's just a quick impression, as I have not had the AC throttle past half way much at all.

Later gang.....

 

ethernut,

Thanks for the good review of the DD's, I appreciate the info. That looks like what I need, something to get an extra grip in snow and mud, and does well on hardpack as well.

I'll probably end up getting 27's, but haven't decided on 10" width all the way around, or 10's and 12's. I have a '00 model, so either should fit. I'm also deliberating whether to buy an extra set of wheels so I can swap back and forth between tire sets (keep the 489's for yard work and such).

Funny thing you mention the off-camber performance of the 375. I have a small trail system that runs through my timber; I know these trails like the back of my hand, so it's a good way to compare different quads. Anyway, the first time I ran my father-in-law's 375 through the trails, I was surprised that the 375 felt alot less stable than my 500 in off-camber situations. Not a huge difference, but definately noticeable. Some of it is the increase in GC on the 02's, but another factor has to be those 8" front tires. I'll bet wider, stiffer tires on the front of the 375 would indeed help it out alot. I sure didn't think much of the stock Dunlops, I would have upgraded tires a long time ago if I had those Dunlops as stock! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

As for top speed, I've personally tested the 375 on asphalt at 55 mph indicated with a GPS showing 48.4 MPH or something like that.

 

Tcat, I think the lack luster off camber performance of the 375 is mostly due to the 8" width dunlops in the front. If you measure them, you'll quickly find that they are actually narrower than 8" and are more like 6.75" wide. The rear dunlops are supposed to be 10" wide but I got more like 8.75" when I measured them. What a ripoff. The 6.75" tires up front with weak sidewalls coupled with the increased ground clearance of the '02 has got to be a bonehead move on AC's part.

Another thing, if memory serves me correct, Arctic Cat used to put 10" titans all the way around on the 500's. If your 500 is older than '02, that would add to the off camber perf some as well.

Good luck on your tire decision!

BJBlombert, It is my opinion that the "i" series DO articulate better than the ACT. I dont know what the other guy was thinking...

You have a great quad!

EtherNut