I am sure this has been asked before but I am interested in the 400i and would like to know how the machine is. It looks simple without a lot of sensors or electrical switches to break. I am looking for ground clearence,low maintence,and low end power.Don't care about speed and for the price it looks good. Are they good machines or are they junk like I hear alot about. Thanx for any replies

 

Can't answer exactly for the 400, but I have a 500i, which is identical except for the engine. Mine has been terrific. Most of my riding is across my farm, which is largely steep hills and rocky creekbeds. 300 miles on the cat, and nothing has broken, so mine seems to be living up to the i model cat's reliable reputation.

Ground clearance is great, the best you can get. I've scraped bottom, but it was a particularly nasty bunch of rocks. Got stuck only once, on a hillside, but it was terrain that would have rolled a lot of other quads. The ride is extremely smooth, feels like a Cadillac compared to my old big bear. You feel the trail, you just don't feel every twig on the trail. And you can fly over rough ground. The cat's suspension really soaks up the jolts, and keeps the machine controllable. Only problem I've had on hillsides is the mushy Dunlop tires, but I don't spend enough time on hillsides to justify spending $$$ on new tires. Bought the winch instead.

Power on the 500 is good, but nothing to write home about. Lots of low to midrange torque, I've never had it bog down on a hillclimb. I have dragged some pretty big trees with it, it pulls much stronger than my old bear. You won't brag about the power, but it won't let you down.

One of the reasons I got the cat was the simplicity. Manual shift, manual transfer case, simple analog speedo, couple of idiot lights. Not much on the cat that doesn't contribute to getting across the nastiest terrain, and that is why I bought a quad. If I want video games, I'll fire up the computer.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with it. It's capable in all respects, and outstanding on very rough terrain. Mean looking, too. With all that air under it, it reminds me of a mini-Hummer.

 

Thanx JohnO, I ride trails,in water that gets pretty deep and any type of mud that I can find. I am tring to find out if the 400 has enough low end to keep the tires moving in the muck. All my friends ride the big grizzleys but I am to cheap to pay that much so the cat with the ground clearance,IRS,and automatic is looking pretty good.If anyone with a 400i could tell me about the low end it would be greatly appriciated.Thanx