I have a 2003 Vinson and would like to know which would be better:

Pay the money to mod my Vinson to give it more torque or sell it and buy the new Kingquad?

I guess my question is: Can I get enough "power" from mods alone?

I'm looking at getting enough power to pull wheeles.

 

get the kingquad.... Its about the same weight as the vinson so im sure its gonna have torque.

 

Initial 'unofficial review' rumors say the new KQ is just as fast as the Prairie and TwinPeaks. So you know it's gonna pull that front end up easily. With the reduced weight of a single cylinder engine, there should be a better balance between the front and rear ends.

 

I totally agree but what do you think about the IRS? Do you think it will hinder the sporty feel at all? I know it will be nice over the rocks and such but how about sliding through corners?

 

Not downing the KingQuad, the front-rear balance on the Prairie/Twinpeaks is very close to 50-50. The whole purpose of the 90 degree V-Twin is to lower the center of gravity and center the powerplant better in the chassis. Unless the KingQuad has achieved a perfect 50-50 balance, which I personally would dislike anyway,balance won't be that much improved over the Prairie.

 

Yeah, with a V configuration, the cylinder is at a greater angle than a single, putting it lower down, but all that extra case, head, coolant, etc... the engine is significantly heavier. I can't really see how there would be any advantage as far as moving the crankshaft rearward in a V twin, though. You'd still need the same amount of space for transmission of power to the rear driveshaft. With the single cylinder, you have less engine weight, and since the KQ is supposedly the same dry weight as the Prairie, WITH IRS, then there must be some sort of weight-shift toward the rear. IRS is typically much heavier than a swing-arm type suspension since you need the frame to go all the way back.