I've been thinking the say way on the HDPE center skid plate. I understand the aluminum is stronger. I think the HDPE plastic will "skid" better over rocks where the aluminum may gouge. Heck, most of my machine body is made out of plastics anyway. My only concern is interference with my hard to remove snowplow plate bolted to the frame, and increased maintenance headaches. The Can Am is pretty hard to do basic maintenance on as everything is so tight together. I figure most ATVs are the same way. I'd hate to have to take a skid plate off to change the front differential oil.

David

 

After looking under my friends Can Am I doubt that I would buy a skid plate for one.

 

Almost went with plastic. That's the thickness you need for bashing into rocks. Glides over rocks better than aluminum too. Steel is good but rusts. Only thing I hesitated with the plastic skids is how they would do when we are out in winter riding where it could be 15 degrees.

 

It was a bit complicated. I ended up running mine right over the snowplow mount. So I lose a whole 1/8" of ground clearance.

 

I miss judge rock sizes and occasionally hit one bigger than ground clearance. BAM! I need a front skid so my machine can take such impacts. I want to protect that frontal area below the winch. I'll find something.

David

 

First ride after getting the new quad and adding the Ricochet skids, I got my money's worth out of them. I had the stock springs cranked up but was still bashing into rocks that I thought I should have cleared. Hit some very hard. Ricochet's front bash plate held up well considering some of the hits almost threw me off the quad. Second ride had the heavy duty springs installed and it went much better.

 

Thanks Moose. I'm leaning toward Iron Baltic plastics, but will consider the Ricochets strongly. I wonder if the heaver springs help a lot too. I noticed I hit rocks I thought I should clear. Maybe my "soft riding" Can Am just happens to compress due to a bump or something just as I approach the rock. Stiffer springs would maintain ground clearance a bit better seems to me.

David

 

The stock front springs are very soft in my mind. The heavy duty ones set at the softest setting is about the same as the highest pre-load on the soft springs. Just a seat of the pants observation. Rides so much nicer with the heavier duty springs. I like the more sporty side of riding. The heavy duty springs help a great deal in that department.

 

The ground clearance on my Brute Force sucks.

 

That was one of the the things that puzzled me when they came out with the new model in 2012. I remember the older Brute had more clearance. But the ride on the old Brute was, well, brutal. It was one of the worst riding IRS quads out there to me.