I want to buy a new ATV for my wife. She rides a Suzuki Ozark right now and complains about home bumpy the rocky trails are. I would like to move her into a fuel injected machine because we ride at high elevation. Our Bomb 800 and Polaris 800 are way too much for her. Here's the question: IRS or solid axle? IRS can get squirrely but is a smoother ride. Solid seems more stable on some off camber trails but ride is stiff. I am looking at the new Rancher.

Any suggestions?

 

How about the King Quad 450?

 

IRS has a smoother ride , but if you go with the solid axle make sure you get the one with the double shock's on the rear ; it will give you a smoother ride than the single / or ( mono ) shock design quad ! Even the new Rancher 420 EFI (if i'm not mistaken has the single /or ( mono ) shock on the rear ! I do know for sure that the IRS system in it's stock form give's you more ground clearance than the solid axle ! However the true test is to let her test ride them both , and then let her pick the one she like's best ; after all she will the one who has to ride the quad ! williebee

 

If you want a fuel injected machine but want to keep the size down your options are limited to a 500 Polaris Sportsman, Can-Am Outlander 500, and the Suzuki King Quad 450. These all have fuel injection and IRS which will give the smoothest ride by far. I've ridden both solid axle and IRS. IRS helps in the ruts, over obstacles, and over the bumps. A solid axle is definetly better in doing powerslides in the corners because IRS tends to keep the wheels very planted. Hope this helps.

 

thanks for the advice. I have looked at the King Quad 450 and it appears to be the same overall size as the 700 King Quad so it will probably intimidate my wife. I have an Outlander 800 and it is the exact same frame and size as the 500. I am in the same boat with the Sportsman 500 (already own the 800). There aren't a lot of choices for the smaller size machines and EFI. Thanks for the help.

 

There are sport quads busting out 50' of air and landing like they are on pillows, and they have only one shock in the rear. Where do you get this need for two shocks thing????

I have a new Rancher 420, and I ride it exclusively at high altitude. We have had it to over 11,000', and the FI is superb. The Rancher is well suspended....for a quad in its class. See if you can find one and take a test ride.....

The IRS quads I have ridden have not been a positive experience in nasty, off camber situations! I can't imagine ever actually needing it myself. Just give me the stability of an SRA!

 

Have you ever rode a quad with dual rear shocks? Try it , you will see a big diference at crawling speed. As far as the single shock sport quad reference, I agree at racer's speed the single shock is soft. But on a utility at slow speed especally with gear on the racks dual shocks rule.

 

If you can wait two days, Yamaha will announce their 2008 lineup on June 12th. It is rumored that their Grizzly 450 will have fuel injection for 2008. It has IRS, adjustable shocks, and auto CVT. Check Yamaha.com after 9:00 PM PST for new model details.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: reconranger Just give me the stability of an SRA!</end quote></div>


Ditto

 

SRA is the way to go...

And your wife should not be scared of the size of a King Quad 450. They are the same size as the 700, but the 700 is one of the smaller big bores on the market. It has a nice low center of gravity and handles very well..... Of course the Honda 420 is not a bad choice at all......