Hi all,

I've had a problem with my Eiger getting traction going up hills, particulary with loose rocks, since I bought it new. The back end will bounce and spin all over the place, kicking rocks all over as I go.

I've recently put 26" Mud Lites on. But, I still have the same problem.

I've noticed that if I sit farther back on the seat, it seems to be enough to help get better traction. Problem with that is...

#1 - On the steeper hills, you want to be leaning forward on the bike, not back

#2 - I can't reach the handlebars good enough to control the bike comfortably

So I guess my problem is that I'm too short and too light (5'8'' 160 lbs)

I've been thinking about putting extra weight on the racks just to help keep the back end planted. What about the tire pressure? I currently have them set to the factory recommendations.

Any other options?

Thanks all!

 

Running lower pressure will get you more traction, but will also make it easier to lose a bead or get a flat from the tire pinching. What about using 4wd?

 

Well, I don't plan on letting that much air out. Factory recommends 4.7 in the back. I was thinking dropping down to about 4.0.

4wd isn't really an option. Eiger has a cable actuated lever... Manual says to only shift during a complete stop. I usually do it coasting around 5-10 mph. Did it once at higher speed and it didn't sound good. Plus it is hard (at least for me) to reach over to flip the lever while moving. We often hit these hills at 20-25mph. (A lot of times we are on a power line or pipe line) Don't exactly want to stop or slow down and lose momentum (and tick off everyone behind me) to put in 4wd. Plus, then I would have to let off the gas to shift back into 2wd.

 

Pull off to the side of the trail a good distance before the hill, put it into four wheel drive, then go. The four wheel drive will pull you right up the hill, trust me, it's worth the few seconds to stop and flip a lever!!

 

Thanks for the replies guys! I hear what you're saying about using the 4wd. But, stopping/slowing down/pulling over just takes all the fun out of riding. :-) We ride the trails hard. It's not that I can't make it up the hills. I just can't make it up as fast as I would like to keep up with everyone else because of all the tire slippage and bouncing (meanwhile, I'm revving the #$%^ out of the engine to keep up the speed)

Like I said earlier, shifting my weight a few inches seems to make a noticable difference. I'm thinking about getting (2) 25lb weights and strapping them to the back rack. I'm hoping the extra 50lbs. will make a difference.

 

There is no need to stop or slow drastically to shift into and out of 4wd. As long as you're not running under hard acceleration and the front /rear wheels are spinning at the same rate, it will shift in and out with no problems. Best thing is to anticapate the trail ahead and shift into 4wd before you start climbing the hills.

Jaybee

 

Tires are going to spin under those conditions with any quad, and I can see why you wouldn't want to flip into/out of four wheel drive all the time. It's annoying. I'm not sure why you think sllipping and slidding is a problem, though? If I were you I would try letting off the throttle a bit. The eiger is a powerful quad and it will break loose if you are flooring it to the point that the tires are spinning faster than the quad. That is when you are going to break traction. I would guess that you are over-anticipating the size of the hill and feel that you need to gun the throttle to make it. I would simply lay off the throttle a bit.

 

I'm 5'7" 150lbs and get fine traction with my Eiger. Flip 4wd whenever as long as you're not spinning, I say, if you know you'll loose traction going up the hill, speed up prior to the base to keep momentum up.

 

rolsmojave3,

Since you're my size and not having the same trouble, I'm now really confused. Is it my imagination??? I usually hit these hills in 3rd or 4th gear (If I hit it in 4th, I usually have to downshift to 3rd). In 3rd the engine really sounds like it is winding out, in 4th, I don't have enough power to keep up speed)

Now, I ride with all IRS quads. I don't see them bouncing and spinning up these loose shale trails. But, they all say that my back end looks like it is out of control going up these hills.

 

not to be an a$$ or anything but you need to get an irs bike, by the sounds of your problem you need a polaris, with the awd system that spins all four only when it senses spinning ( 1/8) of a turn