Foulix,

You have made some great points, absolutely.

However, until the technology is there is quads, I'll take the zero body lean.

 

One more thing. (promise?) There's more than one way to skin a cat.
There are several different types of independent suspension. We automatically think of double A-arms when we are talking about this, but a trailing arm set-up might work better in a long travel situation, especially for landing big jumps and power-sliding. The arc formed by the a-arms narrows the track at both extremes, which can adversely affect handling. The arc formed by a trailing arm is more in line with forces incurred in a big landing. The same would be true in a powerslide, body roll would have less effect or lift on the other side.
What this would mean is replacing one big swing arm with two little ones. These trailing arm suspensions usually include several additional links to keep everything in check. This might be the way to go on a sport quad. This would also be easier to retrofit to an existing frame.
And it would make using a single chain drive without a jackshaft possible, since the "differential" would be clear of the A-arm mounts.
That's a problem with a chain driven double A-arm set up. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Hey Silverbear,

Where did you pick up your Alum A/Arm Protectors and Bash Plates? I just picked up a 02-Grizzly a few weeks back and have been considering these accesories. I checked the yamaha sight and didn't see them. Got any recommendations on good deals on aftermarket parts.

Brad

02-Grizzly

 

You boys know your stuff, and those are some good points. I would like to point out a few little things though. First off, I think the trailing arm would be the best all around idea for a suspension on most quads, and can't wait to see it. I do however love my swingarm on the Warrior and would not trade it for anything at this time (trailing arm isn't out.) Due to the dynamics of IRS when you are taking big jumps, yes you can usually absorb a harder landing, and a swingarm will usually kick really bad one way if you land crooked, but IRS has the tendancy to roll like a Cadillac on a country road, which severely messes w/ the steering and leads to allot of wrecks w/ people one IRS machines (quads or cars) for the first time. Trailing arm would reduce this, even though it would still be present, due to the arc the arm would travel, and would be WONDERFUL when it came to slides, compared to IRS. Another tid bit on the IRS machines, and off camber hills... two things that you can do to help is either stiffen the suspension so you don't have body roll, or loosen the suspension enough that leaning up hill will keep the body straight while the wheels lean. Both these come w/ some decent down sides to them, but they are just some more options.

Good-day.

 

Lets just say that lots of these IRS proponents aren't going to chase down and run over any number of wild critters other than maybe opposums on an open country chase. "Sloppy" suspensions are for crawling and comfort. In the meantime, I wanna buy a paticular IRS quad bad this year. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I'm fully intending to make an adjustable sway bar, or at least quick disconnectable.

 

Jahm~

Rode my wife's Kodiak a bit this last weekend, and damn that thing is comfortable. I actually think it's more comfy than my Grizzly on normal riding stuff. But, even though it's a real low profile, I still think it would tip before my Grizz. To be fair, though, this or next weekend when I do some flex pics, I'll try some test on the two and see where the tip over point is. (That is if my wife lets me...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] She may come in the garage and shoot me on the spot if she see's me wildly jacking one side of her quad up to tip over angles)

Fourlix~

Impressive post, obviously you have more than your alotted share of information and really should give more to us other guys. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Keep the awesome info coming.

Simonbls~

I got the armor from a Yamaha dealer in Sandpoint, ID. He gave me 10% off list price. You can't find them on Yamaha's site yet (at least I haven't) but your dealer should have a "2002 Yamaha ATV & Accesories" catalog. That stuff is on page 28 I believe. (mine is in the garage, so I can't tell you for sure right now) I'm not normally a "metal is better for skid plates" type of guy, but these looked so cool, and I knew they couldn't be worse then that stock cheap plastic we get on the quads, so decided to give it a try. So far, I'm impressed. My son checked out my rear bash plate this weekend on a snow covered downhill. He was trying to stop, and slid right into me. Not a dent. I'm pretty happy...course so is my son. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] I'm probally going to go ahead and order the aluminum front grab bar guard as well, sense that rear bash plate took such a hit, and held up.

As for good deals on after market parts, I would definately goto East Kentucky Motorsports for any wheels, tires, winches, bags, etc. (http://www.4atvtires.com) and Highlifter (www.highlifter.com)has quite a bit to offer the ATV enthusiast. They are a little spendy on some things, but they do offer quite a bit more then others, and I think their quality is good too.

Elrancho~
If you come up with a quick connect system for a anti sway bar, let me know. That would be interesting, the best of both worlds.

SilverBear

 

I have to agree with TrailRaker on this. How does IRS give it a higher center of gravity??? Lets see, compare it to most quads with about 10" of claimed ground clearance. Well, thats 10" at the frame. Right below the motor. Same for the 660. Only difference is it doesn't have a low hanging axle to kill its clearance. There isn't a lot of weight involved here. We are talking mostly the motor when weight is a factor, and it sits just the same as it would in a straight axle quad. The rear differential is higher, but not more so than the engine, and it is also centered right where a swingarm would go down. Is it something you can notice? No. I can't notice any difference with my 660 than with my old AC500.

Now for the sportsman, there is a difference. The engine sits rearward in a ways, and the rear gear housing is high and heavy, and also is in the *** of the quad. I don't see this hurting the center of gravity as much as I see it adding to the weight in the rear, thus making the front end light. It is also a tall quad with over 5 gallons of gas positioned fairly high. This could lead to being able to call it top heavy, but it didn't keep it from winning each and every shootout from its inception till the 650 Kawasaki came out now.

 

ChecK out this LINK!! Here is a trailing arm I.R.S. race quad with a XR650 Honda motor. This is a Russ Ramsey experimental desert racer with 17" of suspension travel. Scroll down to see the really good pic of the rear end. They are using the swing arm pivot as the jackshaft, with two chains, one to each rear wheel. Now that would look really good on my DS. I would imagine each trailing arm is fabricated from aluminum, AWESOME!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]
IRS Desert Racer

 

Fourlix,

That's a pretty sick set-up for a sport quad, I'd give my left nut to try that thing out. Doesn't look like there's a anti-sway bar either.

I would say that I would prefer the IRS set up that I have on the Grizz for utility machines... looks to me that with the trailing swing arms, you don't keep the ground clearance advantage. The lowest point is still the end of the swing arm (same as a solid axle), although you do have the gap between the two arms.