dude if a locker is that important, just buy a detroit gearless locker, for 300$$ and call it a day. you will still have less invested in it and it will be alot more reliable than the others. i mud mine alot!! in rack deep water consistantly, with no problems. yes sometimes i got to work it due to low ground clearance ,but as light as ranchers are it isnt a problem at all. if i was a hard core mudder(90% of the time, or entered mud bog compitions), i would most definatly own an artic cat, which is by far king of the mud. there are some/alot of them with 20 inches of ground clearance or better. no matter what you get , just have a good time. which im certain you will.

 

Acpower, you brushed over the question regarding the artic cats brakes...all artic cats that i looked at have one hand brake lever and one foot brake pedal...Both brake mechanisms engage all 4 brakes at once...can you confirm?

Thus the problem with rollback on steep hills. This was a deal killer for me with artic cats

 

hey dufrane, how about you find yourself a cup of shut the hell up. i dont see any helpful information from you at all so stfu. they dont engage all 4 brakes at once. hand lever = front and foot pedal = rear i believe. i know it doesnt lock all 4. if you would read my post i described in detail what the problems are with everything else, maybe your jealous of my knowledge or maybe youre sad that youre wrong and AC is better than what you own. if he wanted to decide himself he wouldnt have posted a thread asking ?'s. so mind you business if you have nothing knowledgable to add. k thanks.

 

oh sorry for the last thread Dufrane, i didnt know you were 12. "my 500xt will and does out perform a grissly 700" last i heard its GRIZZLY not grissly. go back to school n00b.

DEE DEE DEE!

 

Geez. I seen that coming a mile away.

No fighting...just hook the chain. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

still laughing here. great responce acpower. it's just to easy to get somebodys goat on here. batlegun try this babbittsonline.com you can get all the specs on all the brands there. also the have some really good prices. so check it out. bet you never thought looking for an atv could be so much fun. lol

 

I've been riding and researching several atv's also. The Polaris AWD and Can Am Viscous Lock 4wd systems can be riden and steered while in 4wd or should I say awd? You must lock and unlock the AC and Yamaha 4wd before and after each obstacle, you can't ride around locked in 4wd!
With that said the AC and Yamaha will be able to slowly crawl over while the Can Am and Polaris will need to spin a tire 1st to get 4wd.
So if you want to do mostly slow rock crawling get an AC or Yamaha!
If mud and fast trail riding the Can Am or Polaris awd systems would be a better choice. Your tires will allready be spinning and steering is easier when not.
The Can Am and Polaris 500's for example will be faster than the AC or Yamaha 500's. You say speed isn't important but every time you round a corner with all your buddies you want to be able to keep up when they punch it.
The Polaris Sportsman 500 has been around a long time and parts are reasonable, Can Am not as available.
Polaris is mostly American made, AC uses Suzuki engines?!?
Most auto atv's have a belt, Polaris has been doing this longer! the cvt system is easily adjustable with springs and weights.
The Polaris awd system only needs to slip the rear tires 1/5 a revolution to lock the front, thats not much, and it releases when you let off the throttle so you can steer.
I tried every ATV I could get my hands on and I bought a Polaris Scrambler!
It's sporty with awd, can't rockcrawl with it though, no low range, got a Jeep for that. I can slid the Scrambler into a turn with awd and when I punch it it will straighten out and pull like a beast! Just wish it had low range! Can Am Renegade 500 does!

 

I'm not afraid to navigate the woods alone. I never leave the house on an expidition without a map, compass, and gps. If my buddies leave me then they'll all go hungry because my slow *** will have all the food, beer, and camp gear so they can ride like idiots. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

I have mentioned that I am not a risk taker anymore. (Funny how I can say that in the middle of a combat zone???)

I agree that the popo and the can-am are very tempting rides, but I am still looking at what i will do most with the machine. low end torque is key. I want to choose when the 4wd is in or out, and speed is a secondary lux that I will sacrifice (slightly) for the previous. Besides, I find it hard to believe that if everyone had the same riding capabilities, that the can-am, poloris, yamaha, suzuki, ac, or honda would leave anyone in the dust (well, maybe the canam). I think all of these machines (in the same class) will perform closely. I mean common. You think the polaris would pull away from the y, ac, or suki like a race horse from a donkey? Let's be fair.

I'm dangling the chain...who wants to back up their pride? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Just kiddin...ya'll keep em going.

 

It's hard to tell want you want or expect from an atv till you get out and ride!

Most atv trails are on the easy side and 4wd and low range are not even needed!

The only time I wish I had low range is when I try to run Jeep trails. I just have to ride 5mph or faster. Most people don't like dragging there machines 1 mph over rock piles.

Most poker runs or atv parks are aimed towards the sport riders, fast easy terrain.

As far as the Polaris awd systems go, you can control it with the throttle and use the awd ability more. 4 tires pulling 100% of the time is better than 2 tires pulling 100% of the time, unless you run with 4wd locked in.

After reading all the posts it's funny how many don't even know the differance between locked and awd and 2wd and posi! By the way the Polaris system is a true locked 4wd system, the hubs lock and unlock as needed so you can steer. All 4 tires do lock solid!
Can Am locks 3 solid and the 4th when the other front spins 10 or so times, not really a locked front end.

Rally cars are awd!

The only time you need solid 4wd lock is rock crawling! How much of this are you going to do?

Yes the awd system will out pull a 2wd easily.
I can slide into a turn and power out with all 4 tires pulling while the 2wd are spinning tring to find traction.

Best thing is to try a couple differant atv's out and see which system suits your riding style. What do your buddies ride? Are you going to ride an atv! or just sit on and steer one?

 

Rick...while you spouted consistant and good information, you obviously didn't read my post.

I'm going to try to be a diplomat here even though your post came close to pissing me off.

As I just stated in the previous post, I do not plan on riding like a bat out of hell. I want the ATV for work first, then play and if I sit on the damn thing for hours making sounds like a kid playing in the sand box that's my buisness. I have not rode any of the ATV's listed so I have no clue. The polaris may be the best one but how would I know? I just know what I know about 4wd and what people have said in these threads. I appreciate the information, but please don't insult me in my own post.

If you would have read my previous post closely, you would know my intents for whichever machine I buy. And I also know the final decision will be made by the test drive and the dealer price.

The only ride I have completely ruled out is Honda even though I know they are a good ride, just not what I'm looking for. And your post did not convince me that a AWD or whatever you want to call it is the right choice for me. Most of the trails I know ARE jeep trails. There's nothing smooth and easy about any of it. Rocks, deep ruts, logs, etc. So when I get done using it to improve my land, and decide to take an expidition, I will not drive fast. I will drive slow and take in the beauty
of the American landscape. I'm not in this to be a dare devil. I'm in this to enjoy my time and improve my families lifestyle.

Thanks for the post, but please...take it easy on the rookie guys like me.