You guys are very convincing [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Thanks again for the info.

Having a quad up in Alaska must be awesome. I can only imagine.

Do any of you ever miss not having a locker?

 

The only time I missed a locker was when my buddy and I were in 18-24" deep very very loose clay and had huge ruts made in it. I was going through the way he had been and decided to turn up to get out of the ruts, it didnt work well at all. Other than that I have never seen a need for the locker and I have already been in mud, water, sugar sand, over trees, over rocks, everything!

 

There has only been two times where I could have used a locker but then again it was only for a short distance (5 feet or so). A locker would be a nice option but before going there I would get many other things like:

1. winch
2. aftermarket tires (stocks suck and you will get lots of flats)
3. rack bags

Yes a locker would be good but it will not stop you from going where others can.

 

I completely agreew ith outrage. The locker isnt the first on a list for upgrades for me. I would definitely get a winch and new tires. I am keeping my stock tires until they are messed up but I will be upgrading to some 589's as soon as possible. Also on the winch, I am going to prpess my luck and try the cheap winch off of ebay and see how it holds up. They are like $45 and then another $45 for a warn rocker switch. They come with a switch but its big and ugly. Also sog, This is my first ATV so I was in the same boat you are a couple weeks ago in the sea of "my quads the best!" I decided on a vinson after visiting this site and highlifter forums daily for a month and reading through hundreds if not a thousand or so threads on all atv's.

 

iv put about 2000 miles on my 03 manual vinny, this thing is an amazing machine for anything you decide to do with it that day. I like the 5 speed for work better because towing a heavy trailer can be hard on a belt, the only time i have to use low range is when i put it in the back of my truck and use 4low park as an engine break. I like the 5 speed for sporting around because its way more fun running through the gears than just hitting a button, and its faster than a auto. thats my 2 cents.

 

To speed the research along, here are the online reviews that I know about.

2002 ATV Connection


2002 ATV Source -- http://www.atv source.com/manufacturers/suzuki/2002/vinson.htm

2003 ATV Connection Review of Manual Vinson

2003 Off Road.com Review of Manual Vinson

ATV Rider Magazine 7 Quad Showdown-Vinson beats bigger bore machines

2004 ATV Rider Magazine Long-term Update


ATV Television Review of the 500 cc Class Quads

2005 Off Road.Com Long-term Update

 

SOG,

I believe the Vinson manual shift is the most powerful manual shift quad you can buy. (Someone else reply if I'm wrong here). All the bigger bore quads are auto shift which in my opinion makes them less of a workhorse. Sure, some of them may have a larger towing capacity due to slightly more power, but if I had to use a quad everyday to do severe work, I'd be willing to bet that the simple manual shift tranny would have less problems than an auto tranny. They're going to break and wear out over time. As an example, in pickups, you can sometimes get more payload with an automatic transmission. But if you look at a truck with 100K miles that's been use to tow a lot, if it has an auto, it will no doubt slip and have slop in it,and probably need to be rebuilt at a hefty price. Not the case with manual trannies.
If you were considering an automatic vinson, then I'd say if money were no object, you should buy one of the big boys. But the manual shift vinson is probably not going to be beat for overall durability and it happens to be very sporty also.

 

there is one more powerfull the the vinson,quest 650 thumb shift wich is the same thingas a foot shift!