Old thread- but I'm bored at work...

Can-am can not be touched when comparing enging braking!
I've owned all the latest big-bore sport utilities (seriously)
Honda (rincon) had the worst EB by far, barely slow you down at all on a decline and not at all on a flat level surface, second worse goes to the brute force 750- noticable, but not very effective. My King Quad 700 was also not too effective. The polaris sportsman was ok on 2x4 mode, but would chatter / slap and skid down a hill and it felt very uncontrolable- scary at times. The trophy goes to can-am, the darn thing would actually stop on a steep decline (or close to stopping) I usually had to gas it to decend. On a level, flat surface it would slow down 50% instantly releasing the throttle. Just like a jet ski (for those of you who have ridden one) you almost go over the bars when releasing the throttle- well, the outlander 800 feels the same!

 

I think Polaris makes the best belt drive engine braking, but my PoPo 500 H.O's engine brake doesn't seem to be working as strong as it did when it was brand new tho. With my KQ 300 I just drop it too first gear on a hill and it puts its way down :P

 

have you ever been on an outlander 800?

 

Ya i've been on an Outlander 800. I just think the 500 H.O PoPo's engine braking is set perfect.

 

Best EBS I've ever had is my old Cat 500i. It has a 5 speed manual transmission. Put it in first gear, low range, it just creeps, and doesn't unlock.

Added advantage: low range works in reverse. If you have to back up with a trailer, that's real nice to have.

I sure wish someone would make a 700+ big bore with a manual transmission. As far as I know, that Cat 500 or the 'zuki 500 is as large an engine as you can get with a manual trans.

 

who wants to think about shifting and working a clutch on a technical trail or when you're buried in 3 feet of mud by the time you find your gear you've already lost your grip and momentum- especially in mud or up a rocky riverbed. It's all about balancing that big bore power and transferring it to the ground as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Honda Rincon 650 & 680 gives you the option to shift gears electronically 1-3 or use it fully auto- and it's not a cvt. Other then that, all the other big bores are cvt. I heard some talk somewhere of can-am dropping the cvt for a more traditional tranny like the Honda in the future, but I don't know how legit the rumor was...

 

I wasn't very impressed with my popo's EB- I never knew if it would kick in or not, it was unreliable and offered zero EB'ing when in 4x4- unlike the outty, which was always there as soon as you dropped the throttle regardless if you were in 2x4 or 4x4, and it stopped you dead nuts on a hill- I don't think I used my brakes half the time as I did on my honda or popo. And- the popo was infamous for the noisy drivetrain chatter, especially down hill. I always felt like my diff or tranny was falling out.

 

The whole thing comes down to preference too. The Yamaha's I had held you back more than the King I have now. I don't consider that a better engine braking system. Just a stronger one. I like tha King's system better because on medium sized hills (most hills I use) I don't have to hit the throttle going down hill. Seems to just right for the riding I do.

 

yeh- blipping the throttle going down a hill is a little strange... but think of all the money in brake pads you'll save

 

My PoPo's EB works good on any hill in 2wd or 4wd. My AC 650 V2 engine braking worked "ok" till the acuator started acting so I took the actuator fuse out. The AC runs good down hills without a engine break anyways tho. When its going to fast downhill just give it a quick tap of the throttle and the primary kicks in slowing the big 750 pound beast down.