[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]Hello Boys & Girls,
First i would like to thank you Pechmial & Farmr for welcoming me to the forum. Being the
proud owner of a SP 600 i have a question about the rear wheel only engine braking. In the high desert country in Ariz; on BLM land , we have some long steep & sometimes loose trails to contend with. I've only rode a 600 Griz. out there & it had great braking on the slopes. I've
read on this forum where guys have seen the SP's come down the hills a lot faster than they wanted to, sometimes ending up in a heap. My question is about technique. Do you feather the 4 wheel brake? Is it an advantage to have the front wheels turning freely? Come on guys,
lets hear your input on this. In low range it seems the rear wheels lock up too hard on lesser
slopes, but i've also read where the rear wheels lock up pretty hard also, in high gear, sometimes resulting in a slide that brings the rear end around. Your replies will be appreciated
Regards,
Jerico1

 

We ride some pretty steep trails down in Tennessee. I use the same technique on the Sportsman as I did my Scrambler. The Scrambler does not have EBS, but I didn't want it to free wheel either. I always use high gear, and I use the hand brake (sparingly) and feather the throttle just a little. This keeps the EBS from locking the back wheels up, causing it to slide around. You actually need to speed up to slow down, if that makes any sense. You don't want too much throttle, don't want to go flying down the hill. The only trouble I've had with going downhill, is with rock ledges. There are alot of those on the trails we ride. When I first started doing them, I would stop when I came to the obstacle. That is a bad habit to have. I never flipped it, but having the back wheels come up like that will make you pucker. Now, I like to come to the ledge slowly, and use the momentum to carry me over. Sometimes a short blip of the throttle is necessary. You'll get the hang of it. Practice, practice, practice.

Scott

p.s. Welcome to the forum...too

 

Yes, use the hand brake, as much as seems necessary to keep your speeds under control. If the rear wheels seem to be locking up, feather the GAS (gently) to keep them turning. With a little practice, this technique really works well. While the other machines have 4 wheel engine braking, and don't need the driver to do this, I personally don't have any problems with it. Once you get the hang of it, I think you actually have better control. For example, if you come to a short, but very steep section of downhill, you can ease up on the handbrake, and let the rear wheels do the work, without worry of the front wheels 'digging in' and flipping you over forwards.

Farmr

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]Thanks a heap guys, your replies answered my questions & confirmed some of my own thoughts. Very good advise on using a little throttle to keep rear wheels from sliding. We have the rock ledges here in Ok. also. A little intimidating sometimes , going up or down. I have the Rawhide tires & they really give me a good grip on the rocks. Maybe too much when you're wanting to slip the rear wheels to engage AWD. For instance hanging on the ledge at an angle where if the front wheels weren't pulling, you could wheelie over backwards with a loaded down 600 on top of you. Farmr , you had some good points in that regard. I checked my rear shocks & they were set at the lowest point , but not for long. Oh, by the way, any pheasants up your way? Predator 03, i know you have pheasants in Mich., i grew up there.
If i'm not being too nosy, where do you live, what town? I'll understand if you don't say.
Happy Trails,
Jerico1

 

Oh, there are a few. A while back, something almost eliminated the pheasant population, but they are on the rebound now, and actually getting back to where I wouldn't feel guilty letting someone pop one or two.

Farmr