This subject was a little off topic on another post but I would like to get your thoughts on this subject as I see it, it is rather important.

Grizzjeeper, ( excuse me for spelling your sig wrong on the other post ) on another post had told that a new feature on the BF could be mandatory on other quads in the future as well. The feature is no 4x4 in reverse!!!!!!! Has the manufacturer told anyone about this or are we supposed to live with just more medaling in our fun past time? I have a lot more questions but so far no answers. This is one area where getting stuck in 4x4 sure would be nice to be able to get out of the situation with 4x4. I can't see having to winch out of every hole where a person can get off the machine and usually the quad will back right out the same place it went into, in most cases of course.

People who buy a 4x4 want it for being able to get to that fishing spot or bringing out that big buck. Getting stuck is just part of the fun but not always can we go forward. I believe 4x4 in reverse is just as important as having reverse. For most of us in Canada we will not see a BF until September so I am anxious to see if 4x4 in reverse can be eliminated. I wonder if the new CDI from Dyna will eleviate the situation. Prairiewrench, I understand you have access to a BF and a Dyna CDI can you help in determining if the CDI will get rid of the 4x4 off in reverse??????

I would like to here from rest of on your thoughts!!

 

Ok, Im not 100% clear on this. The new BF doesnt have 4x4 in reverse, or is it a coming thing? Or is a rumor

 

Far as I can tell people who have the BF do not have 4x4 in reverse. If this is a new thing on the horizon I want to know now as this will influence my future purchase on a IRS quad. So far Kawi has been right up there on my list but I am not going to spend thousands of dollars to find out it will not go backwards in 4x4 especially in the mud!!!!!!

 

maybe this is a way of getting people to "Tread Lightly". If they know they can't back out of a sticky situation, they won't go in there to begin with. But, then there are those who will go anyway and just winch themselves out.

It's hard to say what Kawi's reasoning was/is behind such a move. I personally think it is a mistake. There many areas where 4x4 in reverse would be beneficial, not just mud holes. Someone will be sure to come up with a fix if what you say is true.

 

Actually, to correct things. If you are in 2x4 and get stuck, the BF won't go into 4x4. If you are in 4x4 and put it in reverse, it will stay in reverse. It just won't shift from 2x4 to 4x4 in reverse. If you get stuck in 2x4, you have to put in in 4x4, go forward (or attempt to) until the 4x4 engages, and then put it into reverse and you have 4x4 in reverse.

I am not really sure why Kawasaki did this though. I can't see the safety benefits in it.

 

Alltoys

Sorry about the confusion I caused, Magnum is right, 4x4 does work in reverse you just cant switch from 2x4 to 4x4 while in reverse. The article mentioned an incedent where a kid who was under 16 was on a prairie 650 put it in reverse and put it in 4x4. He gunned it and the rear wheels were spinning then the fronts locked in throwing him over the handlebars and giving him a neck injury. Apparently there have been other mishaps with various brands on this. Its unfortunate that because someone doesnt know how to ride we are all punished. Kinda like the new Jeep Rubicons where the lockers only work in low range and only engage under x speed... (it is defeatable) cause there will be some moron traveling at highway speeds going around a corner and try to lock the axles....

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I have a P700 and BF and I think there is still some confusion how the 4/4 works. I have a sand hill just in back of my house, after reading the post by alltoys I ran up the sand in 2wd till I was stuck, I was completely stopped and pushed the 4wd button. I then pushed the throttle till I spun the rear tires about three complete revolutions backed off the throttle and the 4wd kicked in I didn't have to go foward one inch, just spun the rear wheels. The P700 did exactly the same thing. I did have 4wd in reverse with both quads.

 

Dell, do the same test in reverse.

The BF wont engage 4x4, and you explained why there was a saftey issue, if you hadnt let off and it tried to engage the front axle something may break if they are not rotating at the same speed. You may not have to move forward, its how the sleeved shaft is aligned. If the teeth line up, the collar can slide over the shaft, if not there has to be some change in either rear tires slip or fronts slip.

 

Grizzcheeper,

Thanks for the clarification on the 4x4 engaging part. I have had problems with my Kawi in the past where it wouldn't lock in immediatly when shifting from 2 wheel to 4 wheel drive when in the mud or tire slipping terrain. Once I get off the good road I put mine in 4x4 then there is no dought it will engage as it is in 4x4 after a few revalutions of the wheels. I guess that means I can put the BF close to the top of the want list again, phew that was a close one!!

 

Toys, check out this website. BF. It shows they have a BF in stock. $10,900. Yeah------right. I didn't even come close to that price for my 650 O.T.D. with a winch.