I'm lookin at a V right now, i have been riding utilites mostly, i was wanting to know from people that have one already how tough these are?

 

what are you going to be riding in?

 

I can't answer as to how tough it is, i haven't got to ride mine yet. Is there any good places down around Leitchfield area to ride. I'm in Louisville, not many places to ride without getting in trouble around here.

 

I'm riding in big open fields and trails. Yeah there is some pretty good trails down here, I ride on a big farm2,000acres in all i think.

 

I'm comming up to Louisville today, going to the U of L game, meeting all ther players too, can't wait, of course it couldn't be a trip without stopping at Hooters[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

V-Force ain't that tough. I know of three who have had the tie rods fold up on them, one causing a severe
accident with major injuries. The rider has been in a hospital 12 weeks yesterday.

 

Tie rods are definitely a weak point on the V-Force. It's kind of comical to me to say a bike "aint that tough" because of just some weak stock tie rods but I guess some people look at things differently. Other than tie rods I have seen riders out where I ride absolutely abuse the V-Force and never have a problem. One guy rolled his "V" 5 times off a jump in one afternoon without a single problem......other than his plastic. There were about 25 of us just watching this maniac......still don't know what he was trying to do. I guess the point is, even the Pro rider's $25,000 bikes bend, break and sometimes explode under the right conditions and they have the best of the best parts on their rides. If you ride hard enough something eventually will give. If the "V" was considered "not a tough bike" why are they so popular (and winning) in GNCC and BAJA racing?

 

If you are speaking in terms of reliability, it's as good as any. I've had suzuki, honda, and now the V. Very satisfied with the V. I don't mud a lot so I can't say much about that. As far as trail riding and reasonable jumping, it will put a big smile on most any rider's face.

 

700cc can be quite a handfull. Now if your braking tierods there's aftermarket tierods I sure... I ride the 650 and I can say that if you break a tierod it's because of something the rider did that they probably shouldn't of done... not enough experience is typically the reason although accidents happen and parts wear out.

 

Comical? A relative in the hospital for 12 weeks is FAR from comical.

Three out of three V-Forces with tie rod problems isn't exactly an indication of toughness, IMHO.
It only takes one subpar part to ruin a quads reputation. You won't get me on a V-Force with original
tie rods.

FYI, the rider in the hospital (my cousin) was riding a straight line in a bean field at 45 mph.
He hit a 6" rut and the rods folded. Not what I would call a rider abuse situtation. I was there.

And the GNCC and BAJA rides are no where near stock, tie rods or otherwise. I am not talking about
some pros $25,000 bike. I am talking the ones right off the dealers floor, without aftermarket rods.

Kawasaki has lousy tie rods, in general. Thin wall steel tubing with nuts welded on the ends. Cheap, and flimsy. My Rancher has solid steel tie rods, threaded, with 1/3 more the diameter of the V-Force rods.

I would say there will be lawsuits coming, if not already in progress.