I would appreciate comments from any vinson owners.
Im looking at a Vinson and really like it, but I havent found a dealer that will let me test ride one yet. I've read that there is a problem with the gear selector and that it is hard to shift from Hi to Lo or Rev. I asked 2 different dealers about this and they both gave me different answers.
The first guy told me that if you applied the foot brake it eliminate the problem.
The second guy told me that you should not apply the brake, but "rock it back and forth" when you shift and that will eliminate the problem.
Is there a problem with the gear selector? Is it hard to shift?

thanks.

 

its not a problem. sometimes it doesnt slip in real easy, if you rock it a bit it slips right in. i have had my vinson for a few weeks, and i love it.

 

I just picked up my Vinson (GREEN) Saturday and I am going on a all day ride today at a hunting lease nearby. I tried it out in the yard for about an hour and It is a wonderful machine. Never rode a automatic before, but I really liked it. I did discover that a 3/4 throttle blip and a turn to either side slings the rearend around like a sportbike. This thing has gobs of torque, and I can see getting my self hurt if I am not careful. I will give a full review on my my first ride when I get back. I always wanted to do that! I will allso put it on E-PINIONS ATV section.

Macgiver is correct about the shifter. You just don't force anything and it won't break. gently rock front to back as you move the selector and it slips right in. I think the breakage comes from people just forcing it.


Man, I can't wait to get this thing broken in.

One last thing. Unless you like having your retinas burned out, get the GREEN Vinson. That Yellow is very much the screaming yellow they say it is.

 

Thanks for the info. I really look forward to getting mine.
Do you know if Suzuki or anyone else has a radiator guard for the vinson?

 

Yes, there is a problem!!!!!!!!

I picked up my Vinson yesterday. Me and a friend bought 2, a green and a yellow. Suzuki does not have a recall on this, but my dealer decided to install shift kits in all outgoing Vinsons. He said that previous Vinson owners had Damaged the shifter assembly and made it unable to ride. He also said that this problem is nill on some of the machines, and very bad on others!!!! Dont buy a Vinson unless the dealer installs the shifter assembly for FREE!!!


BlackIce

 

My wife and I just got a vinson 500. I got home and backed it off
the trailer and could not get it in forward (Hi) with brakes applied
and after trying for several minutes, I had to reach down to the lever
on the side of the transmission and force the lever back and forth
with my hand. It was very hard and impossible for my wife. I figured
it was just a little tight being new but after 2 days riding it almost
never lets you go from (hi) forward to reverse or from park to Hi or
park to reverse. It constantly requires that you reach down by hand to
the side of the transmission case lever with one hand and the other
hand on the shifter. Sometimes if you shut the engine off then turn key
on(without starting the engine) it will let you shift, but even that is
sometimes. I will see this week if suzuki stands behind its bikes. I
always owned hondas or yamahas. Besides this major problem, the bike
is great. I took my wife and I everywhere.

 

I had narrowed my choices down to a Foreman 450ES or a Vinson.
Hearing people talk about the gear selector problem is the only reason I havent bought the Vinson. I like it better, but the gear selector problem worries me. What if you're in a tough mudhole and need to rock it fwd and rev, but cant shift from Fwd to Rev easily? It makes me wonder why there hasn't been a recall. I also wonder if I should wait until the 03's come out to see if they have a different system, or just buy the Foreman? Im starting to get a headache!

Thanks for the info.
Az