You are right that the hydraulic drive thing may be the ultimate answer here! Just keep things light and leave off all that farm tractor stuff.

Most folks are just casual trail riders. They just want to trail ride, but have a backup plan if they happen to run into something nasty, like light mud or snow or something semi-technical. We are not talking rock crawling here or stump pulling, nor are we talking about a motocross machine. This would be the machine for the majority of riders. Specialists could still have their pure sport bikes, and good old boys could still have their utes.

 

There's an old saying; "Once a man, twice a child.". I'm 68 and seriously entering my 2nd childhood.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I share your desire for a sport ATV that has the full fenders of a utility atv. My Polaris Expedition is serving me well, but I wish for something with just 2 wheel drive, light steering, but I don't want to be full of mud if I have to cross a stream. I've been over all the specs and have rejected the Rancher 2WD and the other 2WD utes because they don't have sufficient large suspension travel. Since I'm in my 2nd childhood, maybe a Honda 250EX would do ("a begginer's sport quad") but then for a few more dollars I could get a 400EX (reverse and electric start), but I'd have to put a winch on the front and maybe move the battery up front to avoid throttle mistakes and subsequent wheelies, heheheh. 'Course, I'd like to have 4WD capabilities when in a pinch. I've ridden a Recon and can't stand the suspension when it is pushed, so I continue to just look and wish. Just my thoughts.

 

Exeditioneer-Forget the 250EX if you don't like the Recon. It is based on the Recon, and while the suspension is a little better, it is stiff for a sport bike. I personally find them both a kick to ride if I just want to do a fun ride around camp, but on a ride that goes on for hours, it would get old real fast. The 2wd Rancher is fun too, but like you said it has utility suspension.

Something like 400EX might be a good choice for you???

 

There are some very good points discussed here! I sold my 400ex last year after tons of trail riding and XC racing for 4 years. I think that they are one of the best fast trail machines to be had. With Maxxis Razr 2's all the way around (22's in the rear) they will go nearly anywhere with a little skill. Momentum is key, and the traction in those tires will surprise you time and time again! I ran those tires to make passes on stuck riders in races on lines that seemed impossible. Now it is no 4wd, but to have the suspension to take big jumps over logs and creeks, and the great handling was key to getting though nearly anywhere. Please note that getting anywhere on a 400ex requires lots of body english, and reasonable skill......It's not a sit on the seat all day affair by any means.

I am slowing down now, after some close calls and some rough accidents, and am planning to get my manual shift 4x4 Rancher in the spring to putt around on, some light trail riding, snow riding, and to use when pitting for some friends that still race. I don't intend to be going fast or be attempting hill climbs with it. Basically, what it is intended for. My racing days are over.

As for the hydraulic front drive........Great idea! Now should it be (A) a central driven unit like a differential with travel sensitive CV joints that may reduce the amount of allowable travel, or (B) individual driven units on each front wheel with braided hydraulic lines feeding them eliminating CV joints........And if so, what make it NOT be locked like a differential lock?.......... as this is a sport machine not needing at go through 3 feet of mud.

 

Oh, and should it be a zooted up CVT like the V force, or a manual clutch?

 

I was thinking of having the diff with a limited slip because like you said if it drove each wheel it may be hard to steer and because a "locked" front end is really not necessary on such a machine.

I do not really have a preference in reguards to CVT or full manual with clutch--both have their benefits in different situations. Just no auto-clutch manual please, I think it is the worse of both worlds. I said YFZ or 450R initially but really would be just as happy with a Z400 or 400EX based machine, the engines will no doubt be better for slow 4x4ing.

 

How about an adapted xr650r or Raptor 700 motor..........Not much more weight, but lots more torque.

 

Sorry to kick this one back to the main thread, but I ride my ute like its a sport, and i'm certainly paying for it. Unless I'm wrong and Bombardier is just junk (no, seriously, I take it back, it IS junk). I keep replacing stuff on mine. The belt wore out and my intake manifold and carbuerator mount broke on the last ride. Now, my buddy on his rappy stays behind me, to wait and see what i think of extremely steep hills at off camber. That way he can decide if its worth the risk. My opinion is you simply can't ride a ute the same as a sport. I mean, its not just the speed difference, its little things breaking all the time.

Mine is bigger, and weighs 850 lbs. Its also wider, but I can usually accomodate motorcycle trails with some tree vandilism. I'm tired of it breaking and i want a wolverine, warrior, raptor. I think sport quads can go just about anywhere a 4wheel drive can. I sure do like the 4wheel drive though, wow, the difference in fast corners and hills is awesome.