Once again, I'm confused.I'm trying to understand the numbers that appear for ground clearance. And once again I have to go back to the jeep world. Ground Clearance ( GC )is the lowest point, usually the pumkin, or rear end. You can put on body lifts, spring lifts, etc. but these only allow you to run larger tires, which is the only way to get more GC. In the ATV world, how is GC measured? I have in front of me ATV Action May 2001 magazine, the Arctic Cat 2001 and Honda 2001 Fourtrax brochures. ATV action does an AC 400 and Honda Foreman 400 shootout. From the brochures, AC 400 9.2 inches GC, Honda 400 7.3 inches GC. From ATV Action, AC 400 8.5 footrests, 8.0 skidplate. Honda 8.6 footrests, 7.8 skidplate. What gives? I was looking to the AC because of the 9.2 inches, but how is it measured? If you are going down the trail and a rock is in your way, I want to know how big (high) a rock I can go over. Thanks for your help.

 

I go by the ground clearance down the center of the bike for the very reason of rock clearance. What you might want to do is just take a tape measure and visit the dealers and see for yourself how the ground clearance actually works out. I did this once on a quad that had a claimed 11" of GC only to find out that actual GC at the rear diff. was more like 7", and 11" under the mid-area.

John

 

Get a tape measure and look for yourself. Never trust advertising propaganda.