My Honda has the smoothest transmission there is.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it but I think the 850 idles too low, around 1100 rpm. The 550 idles close to 1500 rpm. If I hold the 850s idle closer to 1500 the engagement doesn’t seem to be so harsh as it engages at about 1700 rpm. I'll figure out how to set the idle up and see if that helps.

Does anyone know what the correct idle speed should be for the 850?

The ADC on the 850 worked perfect (as it is intended ) the first steep loose hill I descended and didn't work the rest of the ride. I tried running in 2-wd until I was ready to descend a hill and then switched the ADC on and tried everything I could think of but it never worked again.

I think these two Touring’s don’t like me.

The 550 goes into the shop Tuesday so they can try to fix the ADC and get the 4-wd to quit staying engaged on its own. I have 1500 miles on the 550.

After riding the 850 for only about 15 miles I can tell you that I prefer it to the 550. It's nice when climbing a steep hill and you need a little more throttle that it's there. And it is a lot quieter and smoother than the 550. It might just be because its quieter but I think it rides nicer too, maybe the extra weight from being the 850.

About once a week when I start the 550 and take off it is really quiet and I don’t understand why it is only like that about once every 50 start ups. After I shut it off and restart it its back to being noisy, very noisy, too noisy in fact.

Last week I ran down a short stretch on the HWY and the 550 ran extremely well for some reason and I hit close to 60 mph. That’s the only time I have got anything over 50 out of it on the same stretch of road that I run all the time. Weird. With its intermittent quiet running and the one time ran great it makes me wonder if there isn’t something really wrong with it.

 

noisey engine - YouTube

The camera is mounted on the front of the ATV with the engine behind it so the engine is even louder than it sounds.

One day I'll take a passneger with me so I can see how difficult it is to talk to them over the noise.

 

I'm not sure if they offer a 2012 X2 850. Was looking around for a 2011 X2 850. I haven't heard about anything for the 2013 year models coming out either. So, for now, the 2011 is where I'm headed. I'll know if things work out in about a month. Other than messing up my transmission I'm very happy with the 500 but would like more power for winter riding.

 

I think this 850 is a little thirstier thaan the 550.

 

Gave it a bath and it's ready for its Dr appointment in the morning.





The blue is starting to grow on my a little.

 

I like these half covers for the summer too. Rocky Mountain ATV $8.

 

After putting only about 20 miles on this 850 touring it is going to be very difficult going back to riding the 550. I'm thinking about asking Doug to trade the 550 for something that he wants and let me keep the 850.

The power comes in handy in more places than just snow like climbing a steep hill its nice to have all the power you need at the end of your thumb.

The 850 has a nice sound to it too.

The 550 has taken me everywhere I have wanted to go but the 850 just does a nicer job getting there.

There seems to be a huge difference between these two machines and its more than just power.

The 850 is quieter, smoother and it seems to have a nicer ride and I can't explain why - yet.

 

After chatting with Doug this morning he told me what makes the 850 ride soo much smoother is that he disconnected the sway bar which I already knew.

Imagine that - now it really does have "IRS".

It makes for a different ride and feels less steady a high speeds in the corners but it does ride smoother and I'll see what difference it makes in the more aggressive "technical" type terrain.

When the 550 get back from the Dr the sway bar is history.

 

I think I might order a couple of those. That would be ideal for Northern Maine riding where there is often rain in the evening that comes off the hills to the West.

 

Other than the brand and wheelbase I don't think these two ATVs have anything in common.

When you let off the throttle on the 850 it actually slows down and the 550 doesn't when they are in 2-wd. I don't drive around in 4-wd ADC on the 850 because it does slow down rather than just coast when you let off the throttle.

The 850 is quieter and smoother with a far better ride too. When I get the 550 back I'm going to disconnect the sway bar and see it that helps.

I will figure out how to raise the idle speed on the 850 too. I'm convinced that’s what makes it hard to start in the AM, affects shifting the trans between gears, causes it to backfire, causes a slight stumble right off idle and the harsh clutch engagement. 5 things I'm hoping correcting the idle speed will cure. 5 issues the 850 has and the 550 doesn't.

Oh, the other thing they both have in common is the ADC doesn't work on either one of them.

Two completely different ATVs.