I don't think the manufacturers have really caught on that there is huge market potential here. In fact, if these machines were developed to their full potintial, they would be the major part of the market, and big heavy utes and full on 2wd sport quads would be niche market choices.

But for now, if the Wolverine at 516 pounds is the best they can do, this market is never going to go anywhere! I think the manufacturers may be getting some false negative feedback here: They don't really build anything in this class, so nobody byes anything in this class, so they figure there is no market interest for anything in this class.........

Somebody is going to have to do the hard, expensive, R&D work to get a truely sporty ride and keep the weight down, or this class is never going to survive!

For me, the Rancher (which is only 9 pounds heavier than the Wolverine!), is my only practical choice. With light wheels and tires I have the weight down some, and at some point I'm going to strip off the racks (~50 pounds) and get some aftermarket suspension. I can probably come in at around 450 pounds.

 

lets pool our money together and make one! ha. ya right but it would be cool. i agree with you on alot of things, especialy with 4x4/sport someone has to make a real jump into the market all we have now is wolverine and scrambler. we need other companies to step up the future is now!

 

Uhhh...Bombardier is coming out with the 800cc Rengade...it's a 4x4 automatic sport quad...it weighs ~600lbs but it looks really cool and who cares how much it weighs with Outty 800's engine. Now that would be one fun ATV!!!!

 

its also upwards of 9k...

 

You get what you pay for....and with the Renegade you'd definitely be getting the best of both worlds...ecspecially with that engine--An 800cc V-twin is sick!!!

 

Actually, my quad is 700lbs, and i have no complaints about it. I actually like it alot! And at 700+ lbs, it still has more torque, and low-mid range power than alot of lighter sport quads. So i would have to say, if it stays the same i wont complain, if they take my exact machine, and trim 100lbs off of it some how without sacrificing anything i have now, great!! And one more thing, if a 500lb machine and a 700 lb machine line up to pull off with weight, you know whos going to keep the traction and move it farther without spinning. The heavier quad.

 

Sorry but I cant find any way to think of a 600lb or larger machine as "sport" anything unless were talking about something besides an atv.

To be honest I cringe when ever I see a new rider or worse yet a friend who is new to the sport buying and then learning to ride one of these all terrain versions of an SUV. Maybe not everyone gets it, but these things are serious overkill for the overwhelming majority of their owners, and the added weight combined with the higher center of gravity creates a two folded problem.

The first one is that the higher ride height and plush type suspension set up a false feeling of stability and safety. This alone sets the stage for disaster to a new or inexperienced rider. I mean just think about how it must feel to go out and drop a ton of cash (over 9K) on a 700-800cc class machine and be totally wrapped up in all the hype etc.

The second is how the combo of the plush suspension and higher cg contribute to a less stable machine than a true sport atv, and how all of this effects handling.

I dont like to even get into anything negative on these forums that could have a spin put on it by the "anti's" but it just seems that the majority of the bad news I hear and see involves one of these larger and heavier 4x4 util machines. I cant say what the percentages are or produce documentation as to what is a cause etc, but I do know what I see and can only try to understand the reasons why.

Now dont misunderstand me people get hurt on everything from their kitchen floor to school sports, and everything in between, but it just seems whenever I read about another rider being injured or worse most times it involves one of these machines. I guess it could just be the false sense of security, or large amount of new riders getting into the sport, but I also am pretty damn sure that the extra 300-500lbs rolling over or pinning a rider isnt helping matters any either.

Sorry if I offended anyone, but I am just tired of hearing about families having to deal with trajedies that I believe may not have happened on a different machine etc.

Here is a link to another example of what I am talking about LINK

I cant know for sure how the outcome would have been for this guy on a different machine, but I know the described situation would not have happened on one similar to my own, but also consider how differently I have operated the larger 4x4's I had rode in the past compared to any sport machine as well.

 

We already discussed the Renegade in other posts until everybody was totally nauseated, so I won't get into it here, but 600 pounds is as heavy as any of the largest Japanese big bore utilities..........

Got to compliment the Japanese companies for agreeing to not build anything over 600 pounds. Guess the North American companies can't manage the R&D effort necessary to keep the lard off their machines. AMERICA HAS A WEIGHT PROBLEM, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE!

So. Calif. is sport bike country, so in my area the big heavy utilities seem to for some reason appeal to frail senior citizens. This is the group least physically able to handle the weight and size of these machines, and the group (along with little kids) least likely to survive a rollover.

 

These 700 lb machines arent called sport quads, they are called utility quads. Who wants a 400lb machine to pull a 1,000lb trailer on their farm? And i love my ground clearance! I can straddle the large rock in the trail, while the little EX that could has to find another route to avoid bottoming out. I was given 13" of ground clearance, but also was given a wider stance to compensate for it. Im no more tippy than the other guy. The Renegade is a sport 4x4, and a nice quad. But I need my quad for the tasks at hand, and would vote to keep these things around for people who need them

 

The Renegade is NOT a sport 4X4! It's just a utility with the racks pulled off to make it a little lighter.

The Wolverine is NOT really a sport 4X4 either, just a feeble first attempt, but an attempt just the same so thank you Yamaha..

Something in this class, would not be made for pulling stumps or plowing snow. It would need descent ground clearance, but does not need to be a tall towering top heavy beast. It will need good suspension, and be as light as the engineers can manage to make it. That will cost $$$$!

The utility community just lives in this world where the paradigm is that it has to be 800cc's, have the weight and bulk of a Jeep, and be a top heavy roll-over death trap. What gives guys??????? Only a small segment of the market really needs a (work) machine like that, but that's all the manufacturers offer, so that's all anybody can purchase...........