Vampires will only tear up driveshafts if used improperly. You can not try to ride wheelies, rev it up and then shift into first, things like that. This applies to any ATV. The vamps grip sooooo much that when normally the stock tires would spin they grab and it puts alot of pressure on driveshafts. It all depends on the rider.

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

Mudman1,

I have nothing against you but this honda broke after big big tires were installed and after being ridden hard for a yr. Polaris breakdowns are usaully said to be on stock with no extra pressure or anything. And some of those breakdowns happen only a after the first week or riding the polaris.

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

400EX,

Where on the front of the Honda is a U-joint?? I just had mine down to the bare front diff. and didn't come across any. Ya think I overlooked them???

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Shane

'97 Honda 300 4X - Vamped, Locked, & Lifted

 

I am thinking about buying vampires for my 93 Honda 300 FW. I think I want 24-9-11 and 25-12-11 size Vampires. I ride in Mud, on hills, on dirt, in the woods, trails, and grass or brush. Mostly in snow, mud,on hills,grass, and woods. Do you think Vampires are right for me or not. I live in Wisconsin so we have a little bit of everything.

 

MattH,
I think you would like the vamps. I live in a louisiana and ride in some hilly stuff in mississippi. So far my vamps have performed well in all of the terrain you listed, except snow. We almost never get snow in LA. I have the same size vamps on mine that you were thinking about for yours. They work great and actually are easier to steer than my stock tires.

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

I have a pair of 25x13.5x10 Vamps, 25x9x12 Super Swampers and 25x10x12 Kenda Bear Claws I’d like to part with. Tread wear on the Vamps is 1/16”, the Super Swampers are a little less and the Bear Claws a little more. You can contact me at wdsman@bigfoot.com

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FloodRunner, on the Wisconsin River

 

mattsibley,
How about the power you lose with the Vamps, would it cut back on the size hills I could climb or the mud I could go through or is the power loss not that big of a deal. Do the Vamps slip when climbing hills or doing other things. Will they tear up my yard really baddly or not. And about the snow I see no reason they won't do good. Oh yea, I forgot to tell you that I have 23-8-11 and 24-9-11 Kenda Rampage tires on now. Thanks for all the info.

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MattH 93 Honda 300 4x4

 

The vamps slide slightly when hauling butt down a gravel or loose dirt road. Other than that they are great on all terrain for me. You will still be able to get up hills just fine. 1st gear never fails.

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Matt Sibley

1999 Honda 300 4x4 Vampires and 2500 lb. winch

 

Shane West, I interpreted the man's comment about the front U-joint on his Honda 2WD thus: the driveshaft between the engine/transmission and the pumpkin (rear axle gear housing) has two U-joints, one located forward, at the engine/transmission, and another at the rear, at the pumpkin. The "front" U-joint he mentioned refered to the former.

I'm not familiar with Honda 2WD ATV's, so I could be mistaken, maybe their driveshafts have only one or no U-joints at all; however, I thought the poster meant the forward U-joint on his driveshaft.

Tree Farmer

 

A side note:
If you are going to run Vampires, especially the 27", and you have to power to put thru them, Put steering limiters on the front end.
This will mean that you can't turn as sharp and you may have to back up once awhile to make close corners. But, theire-in lies one of the worst problems, you turn sharp, and pin the throttle, and that Vampire grabs a root in the bottom of that hole, SNAP!!!.. Back to the shop for a new front axle. This isn't just a Polaris problem... I've seen Honda 450's and Grizzlys do it too...
As we see more and more PVT/CVT transmission quads... we're gonna se more of this happening.. A Vampire spinning 5 MPH and grabbing a root just makes for an uncomfortable shock. But, With CVT/PVT you can get some pretty good wheelspeed going... then that Vampires grabs, and there you are... having some kid on a clapped out Kawasaki 185 towing you back to the trailer.