i chose my manual shift for the durability factor. to ME there isn't any "inconvience" is shifting! i see alot of good, and bad in auto trans ATV's!

one reason i'm glad i didn't get one is this. last time we went wheelin we had to "hang out" 2x for about 45 to let a grizzly owner drain and dry everything out!

on the down shifts you don't have to let off, and upshifting (with practice) can be as quick, or quicker than an auto!! i can hold my ground VERY well next to the 2 GRIZ 660's i ride with! you'll get used to "what gear" your in, and need to be in when riding, it took me about 2 hours out of 7 on our first trail/mud ride to get a handle of the gear selection for what terrain we were in!

at first i DID want an auto. i come from the mud drag racing world where manual trans trucks are the ones pulling the trailer to the races, and the auto's slam threw 4 gears in 300ft of mud to win!! after trying a couple of auto's, then driving my friends manual eiger, i totaly changed my mind!

now my friends wife refused the offer of a manual eiger, she chose an auto Wolverine, and she loves it. my friend of course can't stand it........one gear, and it winds up pretty high while cruising too! it took my wife alittle longer to get ahold of the gear concept, but she cought on rather quickly, and says she will be more than happy with a manual shift!

 

I would choose an auto over a manual ANY day. I had a manual, and will never look back. Reconranger, referring to auto owners as "little girls" or "dumbing down" is a good way to get on a path for removal, AGAIN

 

99% of all utility ATVs Made are CVT so that tell you something right there. The do not eat belts and do run easily for 2000 miles before a $50 belt change. Its easier to count on one hand the utility quads that are not CVT and none of them are tops in there class.

The highest powered ATV made is only a 65hp 4 stroke thumper . They use CVT drive on the 07 ski-doo MachZ and its "170 hp" stock!!! and its a high rpm 2 stroke at that.

Polaris,Yamaha,Can-Am(ski-doo) and Kawasaki were using CVT drives on high powered machines before the first ATV was even invented,so its not some new invention that needs studying.

I ride with a guy with a 500 Honda gear shifting Utility Quad and I have a belt driven 500 utility quad. I can out accelerate,pull(due to my low range option) and go faster in top speed than he can. If anything I think his machine is slipping somewhere.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Maybe I am "old school" but I like a manual. I ride with several "auto" quads and they are ok, but to me not being able to shift takes a lot of the "fun factor" away.
And if CVT's are far better in performance, as someone stated, then why do 99% of sport quads have manual ?

 

On Full fledge sport bike the precise gear and power band is a must so they like the shifter,even more precise for racing is a full manually with a hand clutch. For general ridding though shifting is more of a unnecessary chore. They new improved sport Wolverines and brand new Suzuki top of the line 700 King Quad are CVT. The recreational ATV are all switching to CVT and there must be a reason for it?

 

Yep,,,,,,The reason for it is sales.
They can appeal to a wider market if they can make the easier to ride for the inexperienced rider.
A manual shift only could be intimidating to the inexperienced new prospective buyer.
And that could mean a sales loss.
I dont think anybody can deny that sales is the #1 priority of any manufactor.

 

If you look at mud running contest and load pulling contest with very experienced riders who mod there ATVs until its unrecognizable the top 9 0f 10 ATV winners spots will be on a belt driven ATV guaranteed.

Evern the shifter models dropped the hand clutch of its dirt bike relatives to make the ridding of ATVs more simpler, well belt drive just takes that simplify one step further. A 800 outlander is belt and far from a beginners ATV or dull. Snow machines is my favorite sport for years so CVT is just old news to me.

I bet a experienced ATV rider on a 100hp+ 100+mph sled(those are just average) will feel like his hopped up foot shifting race ATV feels dull in comparison.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

there are alot of discussions reguarding the same type subject.........Ford vs. Chevy........Gas vs. Diesel, and so on and so on!

there are advantages and DISadvantages to BOTH models! "SALES" related production, hard to belive its JUST that reason, due to the fact different areas sell more of one type than anouther. take into account central LA area sells majority of manuals.........thick mud/clay, sandy water = torn up belts when sunk!

i don't belive that auto's are a "beginners" bike or a "girly" bike. the majority of it is "PERSONAL PREFERENCE!!" some of us feel more comfertable with an auto, some with a manual, some have more fun with an auto, some with a manual, see a pattern here!!

as for "performance"..........last trip we took i was crusing beside a friend and his 660 Griz........we did the "play revs" before he stabbed it..........i stabbed and down shifted to 3rd at 30mph and never dropped a 1/2 wheel behind him.............ALOT DEPENDS ON THE DRIVER!! in mud racing i've raced trucks with more HP and more added goodies, but all that does no good if you arn't familier with the vehicle, track, and what to use to your advantage! they may have a $10,000 truck against my beefed up rust bucket, and 6mo worth of racing, but after building my truck and racing over 180 races in 6 years (and still counting)..........experience has a big part in anything you do!!

other factors play a part in auto selection too. for instance my friend is in the process of replacing his wifes Wolverine 450 auto 4x4 belt for the 3rd time. he bought the bike with 27" mudzillas, the bike is geared for a factory 23" tire......to much tire for that belt to handle. yet his neighbor with a 450 forman auto 4x4 pulls 27" mudlites with no problem, and no belt problems! the final gear ratios between the 2 are totaly different.........the wolverine is a hybrid 4x4 built for speed, the Forman is built for utility (low end) work. anouther guy we ride with went from a 25" tire on his 660 Griz to a 29" ITP 589 and still has plenty of power to go around! if you do alot of puddle diving, or if you cross a deep creek or 2 you run the chance of getting water in the belt housing, and if it's sandy water, say byby to that belt (witnessed that 1st hand). yes there are mods to accomodate this issue, so that is a good thing too!

with a manual, i don't wory about the water issue, you have lower cruising rpm's and more of control/option factor! comparing the racing bikes to utility isn't really a fair comparison, that's like comparing a top fuel dragster to a tracktor pull truck! for the race bikes you slam threw the gears to get to the end fastest, if it were an auto, you'd wind up and be done! 1st on my Vinson is like granny low on an old ford, i can leave in 2nd with 2 people riding, and clime hills and hit mud holes in second and 3rd! when hitting a hole in 3rd, and i start to bod hit the shift lever and BAM it grabs second and starts digging! from what i've researched and experienced you don't have to let off to down shift (at least i don't) so there is no loss of momentum (same as an auto would be)!

all together most auto's and manual's are very good performaning machines, different situations, and differnt factors will be the determining factor in the purchase of either one! majority of manuals will be slightly less than the auto option, so pocket book will also be a factor too!

PERSONALY i like my manual, my wife is getting used to it, and when the time comes in the later part of this year, i'll get her an auto if she wants one, or a manual...........that will be up to her since it'll be her bike!!

 

What is the cost for a DIY change of belts? Low prices and highest priced?

Can an average mech replace the belt without any special or expensive tools?


In my area for the used ATV market is the Honda foreman/ranchers or the Kawi Prairie. I'll probaly go with the honda since they are slightly cheaper and lighter.

 

A belt cost $50 and a trained monkey can change one in 20 mins.