I have a '01 Big Bear 400. It is show-room stock and has never caused me a minutes trouble. I would recommend this bike to anyone in the market for a utility atv. This past weekend tho, we has a club ride on a river near my home. My Big Bear did ok, but it was so obviously outclassed by some of the other bikes on the ride. What I want to know is what are some things i can do to bring my bike up on par with the others?

For example, I'd like to go to bigger tires, but how much bigger can i go? Any other tips you can think of?

Thanks,

Keith

 

I have an 01 big bear too and i have 27x12x12 blackwater xt's on mine, i really beleive you could fit 28's under there but it would be a stretch, and also i lost alot of low end power with the big tires and when i ride down a dirt road its hard to keep in a straight line because of the tires.

If you do get the bigger tires, i would get a power kit and a different exhaust

 

Hey fellow big bear rider, I have 26" kenda bearclaws on my 2000 big bear 400 and there is virtually no loss in power, but you can tell a difference in top end speed. I also have just installed a warn 424 select. This made the bear handle much better on the trails and with all the power going to the rear wheels, you can get to top end quicker and have even more power when going up hills.

 

im concerned that the more aggressive tires might damage my front differential. is that a real concern, or will the machine handle it well?

 

I have had my bearclaws on mine for two years and have had no trouble at all, my riding style is pretty agressive and I even use my big bear to pull a bush hog with on my farm. I have had the bush hog stuck in briar thickets with all four wheels spinning, and have even had to back up to pull it through the briars and have never had a problem. I think because I put on 26's instead of 27's or 28's, that I retained a lot of torque and it hasn't been as bad for the gears or differentials.

 

ive ridden with big bears and other large atvs. it held its own on the trail but its slow in top speed and wants a 6th gear.... lookingto a pipe and filter, maybe a jet?

 

It's definitely not a speed demon, but after putting on my 26" bearclaws, I can now out run my friends on their ranchers. I'm not going to modify it any more right now because I use it for work around the house. I'm going to wait until next summer and probably get a wolverine and put a 424 select on it. I actually just sold my kfx400. I loved that bike, you can't beat the smooth ride and handling of a clutch job, but all my friends ride 4x4's, and where we live the terrain is really rough and has lots of mud holes, so it is more suited to a 4x4.

 

bigbearrider, I know this is a really old thread but you've answered a question I've been trying to find the answer too for a long time. I think I'm going to get some bearclaws for my 2000 BIG BEAR 4x4. I was just wondering if you remember what size width you put on your machine. I can't find 26x8x12 size for the front of my machine. Did you use 26x9x12 on your front stock rims. Any input would be appreciated. And how did your 424 select work out?
thanks!