The latest issue of All-Terrain Vehicle will be landing on your doorstep and on newsstands any day now!
This issue features our annual BEST IN CLASS Awards where you’ll see who took top honors in a list of prestigious categories.
You’ll also read about Suzuki’s new 450 KingQuad EFI and get the scoop on our 500 class shootout where we put 4 of the top players in this popular category to the test.
Plus, get all the info no the 650i Brute Force, Honda Rancher 420 EFI and Husqvarna’s HUV.
We recently got an informal ride and appraisal of a new ATV brand sure to stir up some interest in the industry.
CF Moto from China has been building thousands of motorcycles and scooters for the Asian market for years. The company’s new 500cc 4-wheeler is an impressive effort, to say the least.
Available in both single passenger and 2-up configurations, the Moose offers independent A-arm rear suspension (the first we’ve seen on a Chinese-built ATV), double A-arms up front and specialty equipment like a low range sub transmission, selectable 4WD and a locking front differential.
Based on what looks mysteriously like a Grizzly 660 chassis, the trim and plastic work is clean and well executed. Although there were some details in the paint and welding that didn’t look as nice as the competition’s, we have to admit, this is a very good effort and it’s bound to turn heads in the showroom.
What’s it like to ride? Well, the engine is a carbureted 500 SOHC single with decent bottom end power and the CVT, although not as smooth operating as some of the more evolved systems out there, still worked nicely. Also, there was a bit more vibration due to the motor mount system not having the kind of damping we’ve grown used to.
All in all, though, the Moose has decent pulling power, runs really nicely on the trail and is a competent handler. Certainly more tweaking will take place in the future but at a super low-price, we smell bargain here.
For more information call 1-877-463-3940.
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By: Mike Lester
Our team recently visited Husqvarna’s US headquarters in North Carolina to evaluate its Utility Vehicle. You can read about all the details in Volume 8, #2 of All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine, but we saved the ride specifically for this website.
We loaded up the truck with both the gas and diesel powered Husqvarna HUVs and headed about 1 hour outside of Charlotte NC to Uwharrie National Forest for a day of riding. Under a cloudless, sunny sky and enjoying near perfect temperatures, we put them to the test.
We like to test under real world conditions and tackle the kinds of conditions our readers are experiencing so that what we print in each issue is honest and based on the truest limitations of each unit. Husqvarna had absolutely no problem with this whatsoever, confidently suggesting the more difficult trails for us to ride.
I spent a good part of the day with the diesel. It boasts significant power and can easily take two up steep inclines and over seriously gnarly terrain. I recall at one point, being mostly vertical while the HUV still gripped tightly to the rocky floor and pulled us up and over without a cough.
The solid rear axle wasn’t necessarily a bonus over the deepest bumps and moguls but over smoother portions it handled stutter bumps really well, feeling more like off-roading in the comforts of a pickup truck.
Uwharrie offers excellent trails for the off-roader that range from smooth dirt roads to rock covered hill climbs. Journeying through the National Forest is made easy by well-marked trails navigated with simple-to-use trail maps available at the local outfitter. Daily trail passes are also available here for a minimal charge.
Husqvarna’s HUV handled our abuse very well. Although we think it’s best suited for farming, ranching and the job site, it’s good to know that if inclined, you can take the HUV for a good off-road boot and it will hold its own.
Pick up the latest edition of All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine to catch the full article about Husqvarna’s HUV.
Visit Husqvarna.com for more information.
Over at BRP the Can-Am brand appears to be gaining immediate acceptance. We’re shocked to hear the revived handle flowing from the tongues of consumers after such a short time in the public eye. Clearly, this is another home run for the BRP crew led by visionary CEO, Jose Boisjoli.
While the sticking of Can-Am logos on Outlanders is more a marketing move than an engineering breakthrough, we think the marketplace may be about to get a full dose of the real meaning of Can-Am.
The much rumored (actually fully disclosed but officially denied by BRP) launch of its assault on the 450 Pure Sport market is very, very close. Why do we think this will be significant? First, there’s Rotax. Look for a mind boggling 450cc mill that’ll jolt the normal, testosterone stimulated mind.
There’s no doubt this new Can-Am will have ji-normous power. The company is bent on competing head-to-head with the big guys in the ATV market. Look at the Outlander 500, 650 and 800, all at or near the top of their respective classes, doing battle with industry icons that have been there for two, three and four times longer than BRP.
We expect a full-on intro and press launch in early 2007. Stay tuned.
Press Release –
Patent-Pending Semi-Automatic Clutch
Off-road enthusiasts have asked for a winch that will make the recovery job easier and Ramsey has answered the call with the all new Ramsey Patriot 9500 UT.
The same company that has provided a tradition of performance to the Professional Towing and Recovery Industry for over sixty years brings the Ultimate Technology to self recovery winching.
The Patriot 9500 UT will set a higher standard in self recovery. The Ramsey Patriot 9500 UT features a semi-automatic clutch that is faster than conventional self recovery winches.
When used in conjunction with the Ramsey Patented Wireless Remote you will have an unstoppable power.
• Patent-Pending Semi-Automatic clutch reduces winching steps and saves operator time
• Sealed motor, drum, and gear carrier assembly protects the winch from the elements
• Sleek overall winch design that delivers more structural integrity and good looks than ever before
The Yamaha/Honda power steering war seems to have cooled somewhat after Honda announced it was the first to bring Electronic Power Steering to the market while Yamaha was simultaneously pulling the sheets off the 2007 Grizzly at a PR event.
However, Honda has announced it has a new 2007 model with Electronic Power Steering and will formally intro this 450-500 class ATV shortly. What is not clear is whether Honda will include a locking differential on this and other models.
Seems sort-of futile to add power steering and not include diff-lock. That’s where Yamaha’s EPS really shines.
Polaris claims the X-2 500 EFI Sportsman with its ability to morph from two-fer to cargo hauler capability has captured big sales among all other mid-range 2-up ATVs.
We think Polaris is onto something big with the transforming X-2 platform. Look for the versatility inherent in this design to spawn a competitive response in the near future.
You’ve been telling us that when you spend hard earned dollars for an ATV, it’s all about getting as much bang for the buck as possible. The X-2 offers extreme versatility not available anywhere else at this writing.
Suzuki’s intro of the all-new KingQuad 450 EFI is significant from a number of standpoints.
Have you ever noticed many of the Japanese ATV manufacturers build a completely new and different ATV every time they enter a new segment?
Conversely, the domestic OEMs traditionally build one platform and insert multiple engines into it.
The KQ 450 breaks the mold of the Japanese new product mindset.
The 450 is the virtual twin of the KingQuad 700 except for a few minor tweaks and some suspension calibration.
Suzuki claims others are to follow.
Press Release –
In its racing debut in the Best in the Desert series Las Vegas 300, a 300-mile desert race, BRP’s Can-Am™ Renegade™ extreme-terrain quad took second place in the Pro class.
Can-Am X-Team/Epic racers Josh Frederick and Anthony Baker finished the challenging event in 4 hours and 29 minutes.
The Renegade model is the world’s first extreme-terrain vehicle, delivering the performance and edge of a sport quad with the capability of a 4×4 quad.
The first of the highly-anticipated 2007 Renegade quads will be rolling into dealerships in early December.
“This was a great event for us, we went there intending to shake down the Renegade we will use in the Baja 1000 and came away with a podium finish” said Bernard Guy, ATV Marketing Director.
“The Renegade was just the right vehicle,” said Frederick. “You had the power of the Rotax® 800 H.O. EFI engine and control of the RS-Type independent suspensions, although the sloppy conditions kept us from reaching top speeds and really letting the Rotax V-Twin breath.”
The Renegade quad mates the best features of the award-winning Outlander™ 800 H.O. EFI recreation-utility model with a host of performance equipment such as race-tuned long-travel front and rear suspensions, and high pressure gas [HPG] shocks.
It is 42 pounds (19 kg) lighter than the Outlander 800 H.O. EFI model for great acceleration and precise handling.
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