there's pics of the trails I ride in my albums- 40 is too fast for these trails also, but it can be done, and I've done it or come close to it.

 

Hey, I average 90mph when I trail ride!!!!!

 

Dont forget the power steering! makes for a nice smoothe ride all day!!

 

It all depends where you are riding. We were riding yesterday, in the snow, on what was essentially a dirt road with packed snow from a trail groomer. There were plenty of areas where we could open the machines up for a half mile or more. Going up hill was the only place I felt the 500 Sportsman lacked the power to keep up. Mine may be geared differently because it is more work oriented than the 2 other Sportsmans I was trying to keep up with and my son's Renegade. All 500s. In Maine there were plenty of open trails where we were near Jackman that we were wide open and doing over 50 for long stretches. Mostly though, tight trails tend to make all things equal. It's on the long open stretches that I would like to have a little more top end. I had it pegged yesterday and it would not keep up on the uphills. I've noticed this at Jericho Lake ATV park and other open trails when you can go fast but the hill is getting steep. If you can live with that, the 500 is an otherwise fantastic engine that has done everything I've done with it.

 

You should probably get the tires on the Renegade before you try to trade it in...

 

I forgot. On the daily mileage we average over 45 miles a day on most rides. We did Jackman to Pittston Farm in Maine that was about 60 miles each way. 120 miles in one day. Most of those trails were wide open logging roads. (Picture a dirt highway and you have a pretty good idea). Yesterday, we went almost 80 in the snow. (GPS miles) I've had several days in the 50s, a few in the 60s, a couple in the 80s and the 120 mile trip. One of the 80 mile days was riding for over 10 hours in nasty terrain where getting above 15 was pretty rare. It's not hard to do over 50 miles a day if you have the time.

 

Basically, you are saying we are lying about our experiences. I can tell you, lying is not on my list of things to do. I fear God and don't think lying is worth getting my Lord upset with me. If someone asks an honest question I will give an honest answer. I've given the original poster actual facts, figures, and personal experience, and you're saying we're full of it. Maybe in your area there aren't some "open it up" spaces. With the exception of Maine and riding snowmobile trails in the winter here in New England it's much the same. But even on some of one car width trails I ride there are spots where I've gotten up to 50 briefly. I obviously don't do this on tight downhill corners or going over large rocks, etc. but there are places where it's possible.

 

Says, Mr. "I get to ride in the soft sand dunes!" You know we're jealous, Red!

 

Moose,

Honestly, I really don't doubt that you've taken trips longer that 60 miles... That wasn't the point at all. Perhaps there are many people that ride similar to Beergut who average 60 miles a day over the course of a month (which is over 1,800 miles monthly, or 22,000 miles in a year). Quoting Beergut:

I know that long trips are possible... that wasn't the point. The point was the speed at which some claim they're traveling... for example, this quote from Beergut:

This is what I call BS and if it bothers you that I am saying that, then so be it. It bothers me that some folks continue dispensing this crap regularly. And no, this statement is not directed toward you. I've read much of what you've had to say and I have no doubt that you are the type of person you say you are.

 

First of all lonE-

What I meant to say was I average 60 miles per "atv ride" over the course of a month- meaning I might ride 50 miles one weekend, 110 miles the following weekend and 80 miles the weekend after that.

And second- you're way out of line accusing me of lying about riding 40mph in tight wooded trails.
Your whole premise on why I can't ride 40mph in a trail is laughable- you have obviously never ridden a big bore, sport tuned suspension like an outlander / renegade 800 or any other big bore sport SRA quad!

Some day you'll graduate to a big bore sport tuned suspension- and you'll think back at your silly, half though, inexperienced, over-confident argument.

Contrary to what you believe- NOT all atv’s are created equal, and a trail does not establish any base line of atv equality. When an experienced rider is married to a high performance machine, he will outperform, out maneuver and out ride another rider who in less experienced at manipulating his atv on the same trail. Larger, higher hp motors enable the rider to manipulate the atv over and through obstacles easier than a smaller, less hp motor-
Had you any experience riding these atv’s or dirt bikes, you’d already know this.
I will own a raw forest and have no problem weaving and manipulating my atv over & around obstacles at 40mph (which is slow by some riders standards.)

What really pisses me off is you don't know who I am, and you have absolutely no basis for calling me a liar! Your first post on this thread directly insinuated that I (and moose) had no integrity, and instantly discredited our experience because YOU cant comprehend any rider navigating a trail faster then what you ride That's asinine! Like moose, I'm also a god fearing honorable human- and have absolutely no reason to lie about how I ride.

Maybe someday you'll grow up and stop believing you know it all-

Your cute little insipid tantrum about people "dispensing crap" and me calling you out on your **** poor attitude is (blatantly) directly related to your itty-bitty feelings being hurt because I gave my opinion & experience riding a 550xp (which you happen to own). My advice? Get over it. The only one here treading water and dispensing crap is you.