on my 500 i have the shocks set on the 4th stiffest and i think it rides great evan on the hard pack roads it rides good if you thinkits stiff see if you can soften up your shocks maybe there set to the highest setting. i have gator 28x10x12s on the front and 28x12x12s on the back and i run with 3psi in the tires and i can do a 30 mile ride and feal like i could do 30 more. out here in BC we have a million logging roads and 2 x that in trails. and we ride all sorts for terrane and so the ride is allways differant. i like my shocks set where i have them because it dosent dive when you let off at speed and in the mud there pushing down more and giving me better traction. but any how check your shock settings maybe you can soften up your ride a little.

 

What do you guys think of the Rear Suspension System on the Bombardier Outlander Quad? It seems pretty solid. It doesnt provide quit the travel or ground clearance as the ArcticCats or Polaris, but its lighter, Less Body Roll, Less Moving Parts, & Lower Center of Gravity. So what do you guys think? I like the ArcticCats, but there alittle heavy.

Stats (Some may not be correct):
ArcticCat 10" of Travel 12" G/C Dual A-arm No Sway Bar 650lbs
Bombardier 8" of Travel 9" G/C Trailing Arm Intergrated Sway Bar 590lbs
Honda 8" of Travel 10.5" G/C Dual A-Arm Sway Bar 606lbs
Polaris 9.5" of Travel 11" G/C Dual A-arm Sway Bar 715lbs
Yamaha 9.5" of Travel 11" G/C Dual A-arm Sway Bar 610lbs

 

Kodiak01, Don't fool yourself into thinking that the extra weight of the Cat's is a bad thing. I for one believe that it is one of the strong points about the bike. The extra weight gives you more traction in many situations such as pulling heavy objects and mud riding (in certain conditions). As far as the Bomb is concerned I like what I see but I would definately need to ride one to form a better opinion.

 

My 500i is a little over a month old and I have 159 miles on it.

The shocks are set at 4 and the ride is starting to soften up! I love the IRS, Very very comfrtable. My A$$ stays planted on the seat and not bouncing like im on a horse. i notice this on other quads..As far as other IRS syytems I think any of them will have a better ride than the Straight axels

 

Reading all your responses I get the impression that the shocks/springs have to 'breakin' for awhile before the ride gets better. Maybe someone can helpme out on this one. On my 98 Sportsman, when you pushed down on the rear rack, the suspension compressed, say 3 inches or so (about) but it was VERY smooth action. On the new Arctic Cat Independant Suspensions, the suspension hardly moved at all doing the same "test". And I checked, the setting was on the lighted setting too. Is that because it is new then? Is there anyone out there that has a indepenant AC who noticed a big difference from new/in the showroom to a year or so old? My friend has a 2002 375 with ACT and it sure seems softer than the independant machine I tried out on the lot.

Incidentally, My Sportsman 500 was used when I got it, 500 miles on it so I didnt have a chance to check it out when it was new but I did check out the 2003 sportsman and they seemed to be very stiff also.

NWThunting

 

More than likely the bike you tested was set on the stiffest setting which would be 5. When My bike is set on 5 it is very very stiff and will not hardly budge

 

The Cat springs have to be stiffer because the suspension works without a sway bar like on the Polaris. I noticed the Polaris suspension will sag more than the Cat with the weight of the rider, resulting in a loss of ground clearance.

 

Also a loss of suspension travel, I would think.

 

Suspension should sag up from 1/4 to 1/3 of the travel so that the tires keep contact to the ground. If you suspension is not compressed at all, one tire may lose contact with the ground completely after hitting a bump or so I have been told.

 

I would have to agree. It seems to me that each suspension system is designed to have different amounts of sit-in etc, so the whole system does what it is supposed to: keep tires in contact with the ground as well as offering a good ride and good handling techniques.