The only quads i have had before have had manual tranys. Does an auto take the fun out of it. I know you don't have the help of the cluth on wheelies and such but otherwise is it more or less fun. I am asking this because i want to buy a scrambler.

I used to prefer Manual trannys over autos. After having ridden an auto now for about 8 mos, it has grown on me I must admit. There are still areas where a manual is better, like wheelies, very deep water crossing, and drag racing. However an auto is better at hill climbing, mudding, and pulling. At least thats been my experience.

Rick

Hey physco~
I started riding in 1989 on a Yamaha Breeze. I've been on Polaris quads since then. Riding a Polaris takes a different approach than on a Banshee. The Tranny is Wider, and you don't have that clutch lever...it is now your 4 wheel brakes. The rear foot brake is still there, just doesn't work as great as you manual clutch quad. What I'm getting at is: OF COURSE THEY'RE FUN! The Scrambler does not feel as fast as a manual because the tranny is constantly pulling and the RPM's do not drop between shifts. You do not have the surge as you would shifting into the next gear. Pulling wheelies is definitely possible from a standstill, but more difficult once in motion. I have to say that 97% of my riding has been done on an auto tranny Polaris. That other 3% is on my TW200...which is a manual tranny, 5 speed. Sure, I enjoy the shifting. It is fun to rev the engine until you want to shift it! But when I jump on the Polaris, it is still just as fun! The auto tranny is always predictable...you know when and how it will engage. Throwing a clutch kit on the Scrambler will make the machine engage and backshift quicker. Adding a Roller clutch will make the machine feel like an auto-clutched quad. There is no hesitation before the clutch hooks up, and backshifting is always right at the punch of the throttle. Now, if you get a 4 wheel drive, you'll be able to experience all 4 wheels pulling, and enough power to turn all 4 wheels at a decent/rapid speed! Buying a Scrambler is a win-win situation. It is by far the ultimate trail machine built. Throw $300 in parts on a 400 Scrambler and you have near-Banshee power. You can have the true 4 wheel drive of the Sportsman 500HO. You have the long legged suspenshion to soak up all the bumps and small/mid sized jumps. And best of all, when you do race any of the true sport quads(banshee, raptor, 400ex), you do not look bad if you lose. You're on a big, slow Polaris. But when you do beat one of them, you can be very proud and they will be very embarrased. Also, All those horror stories you've heard about Polaris quads...forget about 75% of them! Just so you know...they do not burn up a belt every ride...the clutch belts will only slip if you hit a couple feet of water above 30mph, and the 2 stroke engines do not need rebuilding every year! Your quad will last as long as you maintain it. Same goes for Polaris, Honda, Yamaha, everybody! Polaris has the reliability thing under control, and should not scare you away from their product! Yeah, I know...I'm long winded. But that's the truth and you will not regret buying a Scrambler!

Hey Grizrick~
I agree with your post, except for the drag racing. With a roller clutch, there is no lag time beofre clutch engagement. You can gt a stronger, more consistant take off with an auto quad. You do not have to worry about letting the clutch out too fas, too slow, or missing a shift. Now if Polaris would just go on a diet....:)

I bought an Xpedition 425 because the auto tranny scared me a bit. After riding with some friends who happen to have belt trannys, I see that fear was unfounded. The 425 is a great machine, but my next one will have a belt!

I have a Honda manual shift and Polaris auto. If you feel you NEED to shift, the suto may not be for you. For about any other situation, except maybe for wheelies, the auto is as good or better. In mud & snow, you don't have the problem of too high a gear & bog down, too low a gear and rev out & spin. My 400 Polaris doesn't FEEL much faster than the Honda 300 up to 30 or 35 MPH because you don't get the speed surge with every shift, but run them side by side, and I don't have to go much over half throttle to keep up. Don't worry about the auto. Just remember to cross water at a fairly slow rate of speed, with steady throttle, and the belt won't drown out much sooner than any other bike's engine. The new ones really are snorkeled pretty high up, and sealed pretty well.
Also keep in mind for mud & snow riding, if you get stuck, you can spin the wheels backwards much faster than on a manual shift machine, fast enought to clean mud out of the lugs on the tires. This saved me from having to push/pull myself out several times.

yes, especially for lazy people like myself. i like creature comforts and an auto provides me with plenty.

Phsycorider, I personally love the auto's. There are pro's and con's for both of them but the deciding factor should come down to rider preferance and nothing else. The way I see it is either you want to change gears or you don't. By the way, ten of us went riding the other day...nine of us had auto's. Must be something to them if you ask me.

Hey Guys~
There must be something to them! Polaris came out with the first auto quad in 1985, and since then every manufacturer has copied the CVT tranny(except Honda). Polaris recently passed Yamaha and is now the number 2 ATV manufacturer. They must be doing something right with the auto's if everybody else is copying Polaris!

I've riden manual clutches for ?? man along time. I've raced 3-wheelers, motocross, and quads. All with manual clutches. 6 months ago I bought a SC500 4x4, and am really impressed with the auto tranny. I've have no problems with it, heck I even put a plow on my bike, and it still hasn't failed,(they say not to put one on the SC500). I personnally don't miss the manual, you push you go. The biggest thing I like about it. I have a 10 year old daughter who loves to ride. But could never get the hang of a clutch. But since I've gotten the SC500, heck I can't keep her off of it. She goes her own speed and doesn't have to worry about over-revving the motor. So as you can tell I'm an AUTO-NUT. I can't say enough about them. I just like them.