if they put a heavyer belt tranny like on the sleds, you would have to sit with both feet on the same side of the quad. the sled trannys are wider and therefore can handle more power.

 

Snowmobile transmissions also engage at over 3400 rpm with a vengance. Quite a difference from a machine that has to engage at smoothly at 1200 rpm. Snowmobiles also have the luxury of spinning the track freely whereas the ATV is most likely maintaining traction a higher percentage of the time. Snowmobile/atv drive train comparisons are not valid.

 

What is the one underlying feature that endears the Sportsman 500 to it's owners?

Quite simply the plush ride provided by the IRS and mudding ability.

If the Yamaha employs the 660 engine power will be equal, if a Viscolok front end is utilized or a locked front end made available (i.e Kawasaki Prairie 650) What is left? IRS.

And... if IRS is offered it will be one up on the Prairie 650 and on equal footing with the rumored Polaris 700 twin.

Yamaha has made a concerted effort in the past 3 years in cycles and ATVs to becoming #1

It's a great year for ATV lovers and great things are happening.

 

Jeff?

Where exactly is Eau Claire, AB, US

It is not in Alabama AL, Alaska AK, Arkansas AR or Arizona AZ. Doesn't seem to be in Alberta CA either. I'm not familiar with Eau Claire AFB either.

 

Sled's don't put the same torque on a belt as a big 700 lb 4x4 would, the 4x4 weighs allot more and has less give than a sled which is spinning the track on snow which has way less friction than dirt. If the 700 is having belt snapping issues I bet it would not if they rode it in a few inches of snow were the wheels can easily spin like a track can.

 

I am a die hard Polaris guy, sleds and ATV's had other sleds and ATV's none have been as good to me as the Polaris machines. The 660 Grizz would weigh more than 606 lbs if it is going to have a really good IRS setup. but with a 660 liquid weight will not be a problem.

 

i dont know what the heck is going on with the state thing, it should say eau claire, wi. (dont beleve me, look at an atlas, it is about 90 miles east of miniapolis, mn. i must have been really out of it when i typed the state.

 

thor, I have to agree with you...the next few years seem like they will be great for the sport!

 

ledebuhr1, I blew a belt on my 2001 XCR 800 several weeks ago(was doing about 90 when it happened). So unfortunately the big XCR isn't immune from blowing belts as well!

From my experience, belts will blow on automatic transmisions, it just happens! I blew one last year on my 2000 Xplorer 400. The only way to really stop it is to be easy on your machine. So to sum it up, stay out of the mud and go slow. For some of us, thats a hard thing to do!

Mitch
2000 Xplorer 400
25" ITP 589's
ITP Magnum Aluminum rims

 

i have never blowen a belt. on my atv or sled