I've always been intrigued about where the number come from. I've read where sleds typically lose 40-50% of their hp when measured at the track. I'm betting atv's will lose 25-35%. There is also the situation with measuring atv hp using "some of the dynos out there. I looked into this last year when FMF told me, and I'll quote them "our pipe for the Polairs 400 gains 1,000 rpm over stock and makes 10 more hp". I asked how much rpm did it turn and where it made hp. They said "the stock 400 turned 7,000 rpm and with our pipe it now turns 8,000 rpm". At first I thought that wow, this is really something. In fact, this same information was posted on their web site for quite a while last year. After thinking about it for a moment, I realized that the numbers had to be bogus because no stock 400 will turn 7,000 rpm, even in a dream, and I seriously doubt that the same engine with just a pipe would turn 8,000. But their dyno report showed exactly that. With a little digging I found that "some" people run their DynoJet 150 dyno with "no load" and just spin the tires which will give you absolutely false results, but they are results and that is what we are told. So, before you go believing numbers that can can be compared, I suggest that the only true measurement be done by the same dyno, at the same time, under the same conditions. Also dynos and all dyno setups are not created equal.

<A HREF="http://www.godigital-design.com/96Polaris.html">Schultz Motorsports</A>



[This message has been edited by Jack (edited 01-08-2000).]

 

Chris Picciotto,

The car I drive daily has a CVT transmission. It's a Nissan Micra (not sold in the US, too small), and it's pretty fun to drive. It "only" has 75hp (enough for what americans would call a super-compact ), but Nissan has CVT transmissions in bigger cars over here in Europe, for example on their 136hp Primera.

And Fiat launched last year a Punto (city car also) with a CVT transmission also.

Pedro

 

sandman you are right about not seeing many 400l at glamis,and also I agree with you about most banshees at glamis are tricked out and not stock,but there are a few 400L's out there that will suprise alot of banshees,last time I was at glamis all I had done on my 400L was a hpd pipe and clutch kit and trust me I race anyone who pulls next to me on the hill,and at that time I raced a few almost stock trx250r(had pipes) and beat them up comp hill and got beat by a few to,and raced many banshees and got beat by all of them,I havent been to glamis or buttercup since I did the rest of my engine and clutch work but Iam going next month,I also ride at wells hot spring dunes in SE Arizona,and have been there since my engine build up and have put a whoopin on many a banshee and even a 370 banshee that was very tricked out,the "hill" at wells is very short..like 150yards so I now at the big hills at glamis the banshees will "reel me in" with there killer top end but it will be fun,I think stock banshees are going to be in trouble and even with pipes my be in some trouble but I know my sport 400 will not touch the "real hill shooters" of glamis but hey I can live with that after all glamis is filled with 400ex's and 250R's to entertain me for hours.

 

look at the Dyno chart at HPD the Full Race setup puts out around 73 HP but on race gas. Id say that is on par with even highly modified banshees, the problem is weight, so losing the battery, steel wheels, oil pump, starter, oil tank, and floor boards helps. Most people never mention the roller clutch kits, these are the way to go on a High HP engine on a 400, but launch way too hard for woods riding or other tight twisty areas, I have approx 60Hp on my modified sport and will launch past a piped banshee because of wheel spin and his sloppy low end, I can stay ahead until he pulls the upper part of 6th gear. But overall the banshee is more designed for the mods and a 400 is not intended for this or it would have been lighter and better suspension. Yes you can beat banshees and most mildy modified banshees can beat mildly modified 400s. End of Story.

 

Two things: as for the supposed ineficency of the PVT, once the primary clutch in engaged, there is no slipage. Do you get smoke out of your PVT on every ride? Does the belt wear out after every second ride? I can believe a couple of percent loss through the gear box, bearings, chain drive, viscous loss due to lubricants, etc...
An automotive type of transmission has a torque converter, where most of the HP loss is, also there is a lot of rotating mass to accelerate and decelerate, running the pump, etc. all of that eats into efficency.
Second; from what I have seen from dyno sheets, the Banshee has a "peaky" torque curve, the polaris, being a larger, single cylinder engine, will tend to have a flatter curve. That allows the heavier quad to accelerate as well as the lighter one. I just wish that Polaris would build a round tube frame out of 4130 Chrome Molly tubing and drop some weight out of it.
BTW Chris, Chrysler also built the first gas turbine powered passenger car ( Early 60's ), also the first electronic fuel injection on a production car ( 57 300 392 ci ) and the first one to make MORE than 1 HP per Cubic Inch Displacement (1956 300, 354 ci @ 355 HP ) a year before the 57 283 FI Corvette.

 

Hey fellas...dont know how this applies but I wanted to say it anyway..LoL.

My 1999 400 Sport, has aftermarket douglas rims, and Holeshot tires, DynoPort Pipe and Silencer, and a Hot Seat Billet head at 10:1. Thats all.

Didnt cost much for the whole package (under $1000)

My younger brother just got a 2000 Banshee, bone stock.

We dragged "over" 300yrds+ side by side.

(I weigh 200lbs, he weighs 130) He's TONS lighter overall.

In this drag, I get the holeshot easily, I win the race easily until the Banshee takes 6th gear in the powerband. The Banshee then passes and gets 2-3 lengths on me, and for the rest of the race...thats where it stays.

So, although I get beat in the longer drags on very loose railroad ash dirt, I am satisfied that I can hang with that thing with all my extra weight.

So, I have a Big quad that fits me good (a little big), and alot heavier, but with less money into it, I can basically run the same speeds and have some nice acceleration. However, too bad that the weight was the "only" downfall. I love this quad, and am keeping it, but I also have a Raptor on the way. So, Ill have both. 2 totally different worlds..thats for sure. Im sure Ill enjoy.

Later.

 

Capt. Nemo,
If I'm not mistaken the 354 & 392 were also Hemi's right?