What is it? What do we, we as in the ATV industry, have so far...we have IRS, differential lockers, smooth rides, power and good looking ATVs. What can we expect to come next? Honda is making breakthroughs with trannies, lets hope the Rincon 3 spd is a good solid tranny. I don't trust the Rubicons.

I think lighter weight machines with smaller more effecient motors. I don't think EFI will ever come to the sport/utility area because of all that can go wrong and the cost associated with it.

So wouldn't a 500lbs 400i that puts out 25 hp be nice? I sure as hell know it would be.

Or if we keep on going along the same route we are currently on we are going to have 700lbs machines like a 650i that only puts out 20hp. I sure as hell don't want that but if its the only thing available then so be it. I would like to hear some comments, suggestions and ideas.

 

the Rubicon transmission has been in development for well over a decade, and it is light years more reliable than any other CVT on the market.

I forsee EFI coming next, and also adjustable (compression/rebound) front shocks (on sport models). Besides that, techonology cost will keep things where they are for awhile. It is really a "manufacturing breakthrough" that you are waiting for...

 

I see multiple cylinder engines much like snowmobiles or motorcycles. How about a 400 twin with IRS, locker, and a lighter frame something like a smaller 700SP only wearing the Cat bodywork. There are plenty of great motorcycle engines out there, why couldn’t one be developed for a quad much like the Kawi 500 twin Mojave prototype that was featured in a couple of magazines awhile back?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Electronicly variable suspensions. Snowmobiles have suspensions with variable rate shocks, either manual or electronic. I see this moving into ATV's. Along those same line look for EFI, or direct injection...they are already out there in watercraft and sleds.

-jeff b.

 

EFI and electronic do-dads are fine on sleds and watercraft but on quads its a whole different ball game. Quads go through more punishment than anything, mud, sand, snow, water, rocks, etc. Once you have to many electronic components on the quad things are going to break down somewhere and if you break down on the trail your going to be SOL. Now I can see EFI and electronic do-dads working on a sport machine but not on a utility machine.

But some manufacturers will still go ahead and try and make it work. I can see Polaris doing this, they already have crappy reliability so why not add to it.

I guess there are two ways we can look at this:

1) the manufucturers build what the public WANTS, ie. huge power, big bore motors, bragging
rights

or

2) the manufacturers build using their brain, what the public NEEDS, ie. lighter quads, smaller and efficient motors, even more reliability and options. I'm not saying this is all we need but its a start.

Its nice to have wants but how far can the industry go until you need to realize things are getting out of hand? Its almost that time to take a step back and start refining older or new technology to work better.

 

Brent,
<<So wouldn't a 500lbs 400i that puts out 25 hp be nice? I sure as hell know it would be. >>

you probally can get that now with jetting, airbox, & ignition work, maybe a pipe....

<<Or if we keep on going along the same route we are currently on we are going to have 700lbs machines like a 650i that only puts out 20hp.>>

I don't know about that, that sounds kinda heavy & under powered...

I for one DON'T expect the bike companies to give me EVERYTHING I Want, give a real good base so that it has more all around appeal, (once again a Marketing decision) & then I can pick up about 20% more improvement by jets, pipe/airbox...probally a little more with ignition & cams..

I got 7 more Hp & 7 Lbs of torque out of a 650 yamaha street bike by jetting mods, so it can be done easily.. for about 85 bux..

The 4 wheelers are sort of like a cruiser in the bike world, folks want good looks, & function, & rideability without sacrificing reliability. There is a lot of things that one can do to get more performance out of an existing machine before the reliability issue comes into play, for most 4 wheelers it would not be terribly expensive if you could do the things yourself.

I would like to see the improvement in belts...make them more wear resistant..

but for each thing gained, there would be a trade off..performance/weight/handling/features/price...etc...

so the only thing I know holds true is still this..if you stop for that last look when you leave your bike, yep..you got the right one..

the government powers that be are affecting the performance of these 4 wheelers, becuase the emmisions are all lumped together, from jetskis, mules, dirt bikes, outdoor power equip, generators, snowmobiles, & street bikes...then the manufacuter tries to make improvements on emmisions in some of the other areas..like to cut down on emmisions for off road things, the emmisions are tightened for the street bikes..it's a vicious cycle...

I have 2 street bikes, both of them have been modified for more performance..
who knows about the prarie..yet.. it is still breaking in..but if I need more power, I'll do it as well...

Not wanting to re-engineer the quad, or the bikes, just want to make it perform to its potential.

 

I think that electronic fuel injection would be good.No different reliability-wise than electronic ignition.Heck, Cat's already got batteryless EFI in their sleds, and it works well.Not really any more complicated than carbs.

I would like to see more sport 4x4's available.I think that would be a good focus point due to the fact that most people buy a quad for the sole purpose of trail riding.

Just my 2 cents(and thats overpriced!).

 

Its true we can't always get what we want but the way technology is moving forward everyone is incorporating all the bells and whistles. So when they introduce the next breakthrough all the mid range quads will have it all but lacking the new stuff. Its never ending. Oh well.

I guess I'll just play with my kitty and always hope for something better around the corner. I just wish the manufacturers would come on these forums sometimes and give us little hints and stuff like that. You know should us a little piece of the puzzle every few months. Ask for feedback from us. But that might be to much to ask from them.

I just don't want to see quads get to technologicaly (is that a word) involved. Computers don't belong on a quad, electronics do but only to a certain degree. I can see it now, in 10 years our quads will be electric, battery recharging, 1000lbs monsters. What can you do. I just like to rant and rave sometimes. This is one of those sometimes. Plus I'm bored at work.

 

Brent,
<< I just wish the manufacturers would come on these forums sometimes and give us little hints and stuff like that. You know should us a little piece of the puzzle every few months. Ask for feedback from us. But that might be to much to ask from them.>>

NOT meaning to sound negative, but I subscribe to Bike forums, with 8000 members that ride & discuss the Yamaha star line of bikes 650,1100,1300,1600..& the manufactures won't even sneak in to see what we are wanting..we get an ocasional dealer..but no manufacturer that has been the case for over 2 years...the list price on the 650 is $5800...(about midrange ATV price) the tour 1300 is $16K....so I really would'nt expect much support from them here... (I REALLY HOPE THAT I'M WRONG)

The bike forums come up with a LOT of member improvements that we share to help comfort & performance..all of them free for the taking..I'm glad to call them my friends..

I DID look at a Cat before I got the 650..but the salesman telling me I did'nt NEED anything bigger than a 500 put a bad taste in my mouth..I come from the belief that the customer is the best one to determine his needs NOT a salesman....

 

The manufacturers could learn a LOT of stuff here.There are a lot of intelligent Ideas and insights (myself excluded) on these forums.