Can a sport quad handle the trails?

[mb1]

Originally Posted by hadster

I would not try to sell you on Can-Am after my experience with them, however have you seen the Can-Am Renagade?? They have the "power, speed & looks" that you want, not sure about the weight though, plus they have the 4x4 to get you through the tough spots. If those are not to your liking then yes a 2wd will be the way to go.

Yah those are savage, it's the $9k I don't like. I can get a same year Outlaw 525IRS for $6k. 700xx aren't on the used market yet, so I haven't seriously considered them either.

[Bruteskeg]

you know i think you would be alot happier with a 750 brute something along them lines... maybe not but they go good.... not like a sports quad but will give emm a runn , and you will have 4x4 .... The only advantage to havin a 2 wheel drive quad i see is when your stuck they aint as heavy to push out but the 4x4s walk al over them in the skeg and mud ....... if you like dry trails wear you dont have any real obsatcals get the 2 wheeler...

[AJW]

I've had both the sport quad (LTR450) and the 4X4 (Honda Rancher 420). The sport quad is fast and fun to drive when the conditions are right but in my opinion you need to have a bunch of buddies with sport quads to make it fun.

We went to Athabasca area and there's nothing but mud and muskeg up there. The trail starts off nice and dry and then huge patches of mud with no way around. Of course all the buddies with the 4X4's are in heaven, but if you're the guy on the sport machine, it honestly truly sucks.

I've since sold both machines because the LTR was too much work to ride where we like to ride and the Rancher was just too slow. I'm now in the market for a big bore 4X4. They are fast, fun and you can go through just about anything (with the right tires).

The independant suspension on the Polaris might be ok for a bit but you'll still get stuck.

If you have to have a sport machine get some decent tires for it, they make a world of difference but I still found it annoying... I'd recommend Maxxis Razr2's (very aggressive and worked great) or even the 3/4" tread Mud-lite's on the rear.

[Foxstar45]

Sport quads have no problem on trails in vega, brule, bruderhiem and anywhere that has a sold base. I have a SRA sport quad and wouldn't trade it for anything including an IRS. They have more ground clearance but you aren't riding a sport quad to get pushed into ruts anyways. Part of the fun is keeping the wheels on the high part of the trail (beside the ruts) and an IRS isn't going to go where the guys on 4x4s want to go anyways. a 350lbs sport quat with a solid rear axel corners better, jumps easier, and handels the whoop sections better than an IRS. And for anyone who says a Renegade or a BF can hang with a sport quad is nuts. Put some whoops, a corner, a jump in their way and those guys are grabbin brake when we're steady on the throttle!

[Bruteskeg]

lol you must be ridin on the easy trails in vega if you dont need 4x4 to get to emm

[Foxstar45]

Easy trails... Maybe, I havne't encountered actual mud holes. Mainly just surface mud, ruts, hills, whoops, sand, some shallow water crossings, cut lines. That kind of riding is more my thing. But as stated before, if you are buying an IRS to ride with 4x4s looking for mud I think you would be dissapointed, the extra ground clearance isn't enough to make it through much mud or skeg.

[mb1]

Originally Posted by Foxstar45

Easy trails... Maybe, I havne't encountered actual mud holes. Mainly just surface mud, ruts, hills, whoops, sand, some shallow water crossings, cut lines. That kind of riding is more my thing. But as stated before, if you are buying an IRS to ride with 4x4s looking for mud I think you would be dissapointed, the extra ground clearance isn't enough to make it through much mud or skeg.

I spent a lot of time getting stuck in the mud when I was growing up, and the long washes necessary to clean up afterwards, and that part of it doesn't really appeal to me anymore. I just hope I can stay out the mud for the most part and have a good time. From what I gather the IRS is supposed to have a better ride than SRA, and the extra clearance won't hurt. I'm not looking to set any records so I think for me the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages.

I had a CRF450 a few years ago, and supposedly these 525's will give them a run for their money with the right rider. sounds like fun.

[Bruteskeg]

i would go for the 525 outlaw thats what your talkin about right... It looks like a nice fast trail quad.... more suted for bush trails then your regular old 450r or what ever. If you dont wanna play in the mud as much im sure they would be realy fun machines.

[87' Banshee]

Just try to make your way around the big mudholes.

[insaneZ400shane]

just look to the gncc in the states.....sport quads are it. but im no hardcore "mudder" either.
450r killer on the trails stock
ltr450 killer, just need ltz400 hubs to narrow it a bit
400ex killer, needs +1 to +2 arms better front shocks
z400 killer, needs +1 to +2 arms and beefier axle better front shocks, i got ltr450 on mine
yfz killer if your a pro or a good mechanic it tends to need to be wound out a lot
raptor needs arms and needs to be lowered for more stability tons of power
ds450xc killer stock bike
polaris, ho hum, killer on straitaways
how i ride and i usually go to the red deer creek areas is that i ride around for a bit and pick out a good route then thats my "race course" and i just practise going faster and faster, its a blast. i run 23" xcts front and 22 bearclaws back, but will be switching to 22 knarly xc's once my bike is built. sport bikes are not meant to be going through muskeg and crap, a crossover like a wolverine, or scrambler, or if you have 10g in your back pocket the renegades 500 or 800 would be good for a bit of both worlds. recycle, buy used, lots of good buys on kijijii.

[Landrew]

Let me know how those 22" knarly 's work out. I have 22" Bearclaws on the back of my 04 KFX400 and I they climb up anything but are a little bumpy and heavy. Problem is they probably wont wear out for a 2 or 3 years as I normally ride a YZ450F bike.

Do the 23" xcts fronts help with clearance and re-balancing the machine after adding 2" bigger rear tires?

I was quite surprised how well a sport quad goes through lightly muddy trails and climbs. I have a (-1 front and +2 rear) sprocket to climb and combat the ratio of bigger rear tires. I went up some steep slow climbs that a grizz 550 in diff lock had to try twice. Very capable machine


Any tips on the LTZ/KFX 400's to work better on the trails? Power, reliability?

[psullivan]

if you want a quad that will push and not want to steer in the corners buy a 700xx if not then dont. the xx is fast once you get it going but you wont like the way it will handle compared to others.

[insaneZ400shane]

yeah im changing my gearing too, was going to run a 13/42 but dont want to be b ouncing off the rev limiter all the time, so im just going 13/40 hope to have much better low end. it is like "re-balancing" the bike with the 23 up front, has way better turning with them, they have some sidewall grip, and more clearance. im getting some +1 arms and hope that they will help with stability as well, if i had the money i would get some 4-1 offset wheels, but maybe nxt yr. hey hey a kfx, we're like brothers lol. im extending the swingarm 1.25 and getting a better axle x33pin durablue. im not sure if i can afford the new tires now but hopefully, or maybe mid season. im getting a tire machine so that i can do my own tires. would have loved dto put in a 440bbk/eddy but will have to be happy with stock this yr. i have some small engine mods like hotcams, drze kit. i would love to get a better linkage but never have money when i see them on sale, they go like hotcakes. nxt yr im for sure getting the linkage with a revalve job to my rear shock but at 240lbs the shock will be fine this year. got a used set of ltr450 shocks to go with the new arms so my front end suspension should be good to go.