Rider expertise is important but I just spent a week riding with other 4x4 400cc+ quads in Canada- there was one guy on a 250 ozark 2x4- I spent more time pulling this atv out of mud then I did practically riding- it was distracting and a bummer having to deal with it around every corner!

Speaking from experience, I've owned smaller atv's 250-350cc, and I've been stranded in trails up north because the motor didn't have enough hp to turn all 4 wheels in the mud- it would just torque out, there really is no substitute for hp if riding somewhat aggressive trails.

So, while small 2x4 atv's are ok for easy non-technical trails, I'd actually prefer not even ride with someone on a 250- 350 2x4- pulling someone out once or twice is one thing, pulling someone out 5-6 times means get a bigger quad or ride alone!

 

Funny, I don't remember any of that, all I remember is the sweet handling, the ability to powerslide at speeds I never thought possible, the ability to get air off the smallest little bumps, the lightness, the nimbleness and oh yeah, now I remember... the ride was great, it would float over rocky rutted trails easily. The only complaints I would have would be the stock tires would fold over in the corners and the front end would hit off a rock or something before the rear did. Good tires and heavier front springs would fix that. IRS is overrated, Doug Meyer thinks so too.

 

Respectfuly disagree- Speaking from experience also- rode sport quads for 15 years before going over to IRS for the trails and never looked back.
Everthing you describe above was the experience I had on my Brute force 750, outty 800 & outty 650-
The mechaincs of an SRA alone = a rougher ride. One side goes down, the whole bike tilts along with the rider- unlike an IRS, just that axle moves leaving the atv & rider level- which is what you want in a trail. Not to mention dealing with a low carrier housing that'll get hung up on everything- add some armor to that carrier and now you're giving up another 1-2" of clearance- you'll have to go with bigger tires to get any decent clearance, and bigger tires = more side wall rubber which = less stability especially around corners. Been there / done that. Everyone know's SRA is great for sand, flat track & motocross- IRS is best in the trails.

Who's Doug Meyer?

 

That is Doug from ATV Television.

 

ATV TV!
On DTV or cable?

 

I rode my son's Polaris ATP and my Polaris Sportsman X2 back to back and I've got to say that the IRS Sportsman X2 is a much better ride than the solid axle ATP was. Both were 500cc engines with frames and springs set up to tote 400 lbs. in the rear. Both had the McPherson front struts. Tons of axle hop on the ATP where the X2 was soaking it up. With exactly the same tires I didn't find much of an issue sliding either machine on Titan 489s. I'd give the ATP a very slight edge over the X2. Just my own observations.

 

hey moose- make up your mind

 

ATV Television Home Page and on You Tube.

 

There is no doubt IRS rides better.. If i ride a SRA for the day I'm beat to **** but.... For donuts,jumping, just overall messing around the SRA is more fun for sure.. plus with IRS the maintenance is a bit higher I've already dusted 3 CV boots this summer alone its getting old fast.. but then again my friend rides a VINSON 500 SRA and he has to eat a couple asprin and smoke a joint every few hours on the trail to deal with the bumps ..so thats about the same cost as my new boots LOL

 

There are SRA quads out there that ride very nice though. The Rubicon, and Kawasaki Prairie 360 both ride great with a solid axle..