That bolt is there only to be taken out to clean out the muffler. No, it shoudln't affect spark arrestation--hasn't on mine. look, if you want it to have more power, not be so rumbly at higher speeds, and to bog less take it out--if not, you're missing out.

Happy Trails, Shawn

[This message has been edited by cisko61832 (edited 08-20-1999).]

 

Yes it has the power to pull through the mud, you will need to get some good mud tires(sur tracks or mud machines)and a winch because you will get stuck sooner or later, thats half the fun of riding in the mud!!

 

I own a bear tracker it will get you through the mud just get some good mud tires.

 

The thing is, don't hit the mud with the revs down--be in the upper mid range at the least. If the revs are on the lower side, it will bog almost instantly and require a downshift to get the power going again. Thats why I said remove the bolt from the muffler--it adds a bit of power, makes it less rumbly sounding in upper 5th gear and it bogs quite a bit less. ONE THING THOUGH!!! IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, the bolt on the bottom of the muffler comes out by turning CLOCKWISE--which is opposite of how stuff in normally loosened.

Shawn

 

I will try to keep this story to the minimum. My brother purchased a Bear Tracker about 2 mos. ago. I have had the chance to ride it about twice and was impressed with the top speed, about 45 with a 170 lb. rider. In the mud, you really had to keep the rpm's up. I felt it was underpowered, UNTIL I sank my 450ES and got water in the oil, so I needed a tow home (through tons of mud), well I was impressed, we had about a mile to go from where I was stuck and to my absoulte disbelief, it pulled like a champ (I had to jump off my bike and push about 15 times) but it did the job. It really is a trooper. The one thing that I would like to see changed is make third gear a little lower, that way you could go through the moderate mud without too much rpms. Other than that I think that it is a great bike for the price and would buy one myself.