I'm sure you will be happy with your new Yamaha.

They have a sprag in their clutch and some say the enginge braking is a bit too much. It too can be worked with the throttle but the big thing is when YOU put the ATV in 4-wd it is in 4-wd until you dis-engage it and you will like it decending steep hills.

 

ive delt with engine brakes on big trucks all my life an there great an save brakes an save lives but when them rear wheels do lock up an turn sideways its a skerry bad thang an hope god with you when it happins!! control of what a machine can an can not do is a great thing to have!

 

I have a 2011 500HO Touring with the EBS and it took me a little while to decide if I liked the EBS, but after riding for a year in the mountains of western Arkansas, where the terrain of the day is steep with lots of loose rock, I've learned to really like it, after learning to use a mix of throttle and brake with it. Combined with the longer wheel base of the Touring model, I believe it's hard to find a better atv for steep off camber riding.

 

tea, ehh?

is that what you utah boys are call'in it these days?

 

I would have to agree with you there, but I haven't ridden everything either.

I find this 2012 550 Touring EPS to be exceptionaly stable and very aggressive with the right tires on it.

As far as the engine braking goes I think it's a pretty poor system.

After putting 16k miles on a Honda Rubicon the others just don't seem to work all that well.

 

I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression

 

Doug and I went out for a ride Saturday and he has a set of Dirt Commanders on his 850 Touring.

Some of the trail had a couple of inches of snow in the shaded areas and whenever the trails transverse side hills Doug's machine wanted to slide down hill, the tires appear to have little lateral stability, similar to the Grim Reapers.

I had no problems staying put with these Carlisle Black Rocks. Doug asked if I wanted to try more tires and I said I wasn't done with these.

Probably the best compliment I can give these Black Rocks is there's nothing I don't like about them.

I'm surprised at how aggressive the Black Rocks are in the snow with only 1/2" lugs but it makes sense when you look at the foot print they leave behind. They handle great too.

2/11/2012 1 - YouTube

 

Great thread man- love the honest truth to a review about any product!

 

Thanks Ramman1 - I appreciate that.

I hope thats how everyone sees it.

 

Probably just Ramman (no offense to him). The rest of us are highly insulted and won't talk to Specta anymore.