Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Belt Drive ATV? Am I going to regret it?

I dont have issues, with belts on my Polaris 6 X 6 unloaded. Loaded heavy in big mud pulling a trailer it will have issues!
No momentum and stuck will burn a belt quick! Most people will not see that kind of use on there wheelers, much prefer a convential drive over a belt in those conditions. Best to let
others pull my trailer in those conditions, and I am in lo range!

I'm far from a Polaris fan, but I will say they must have done it right with the Sportsman 700. Everyone I've seen has been abused and kept on chugging.

my o7 polaris 500x2 weighs 1000lbs and i haven't changed the belt yet. 1400 miles

Klikitarik,

Lots of Grizzlys here in WV. Rough country. I have two, an '05 660 with 2700 on the clock that has been rode hard and put away wet as well as a 2011 450 EPS.

In my limited experience belts have not been an issue.

Here's where you want to ask.

www.grizzlycentral.com/forum

That is on my really, really, really, want list.

i have a rhino 700. No issues with the belt. Just recently replaced the sheave with a machined sheavea dn greaseless rollers, with a heavier spring for the secondary, and a severe duty belt. Did the conversion myself in ab out an hour. Changed the whole response of the vehicle.
You will be fine with a belt drive.

I have a 07 450 Grizz, and have not had any problems with the belt. If you use low range at speeds under 10 mph you should have 0 issues.

I have an 08 Grizzly 700 EPS with 8200 miles on it and not one issue with the belt.

Klik,

I plow a 110 yard long driveway with my Polaris Sportsman 500 (2000) and have since 2001. Original belt was replaced when the seal in the belt cover was replaced last year, but the original is a good spare. It didn't need replacing. Water in the belt case has to come from a leaky seal or else the air intake which is on the side of the gas tank. Again - no issues in 12 seasons. Mine pulls moose out of swamps, across clear cuts, fire wood logs, tree length, trailers with soil for yard work -- name it, mine has pulled it, or pushed it with aplomb.

that's pretty impressive...

It's all good to hear. I know Hondas and know how rock-solid they once were. Our newest bike is a Suz 400 which we've run for almost a year and a half. It has 13,000 miles, many of them quite abusive which is why it's been crapped again. So we're running the old 98 300 Honda TRX presently. 30-40,000 is certainly low for a mileage estimate on that old rig. Much like the one before it, there is has been no reason to see the inside of the motor, something which certainly changed when the engines were turned transverse in the frames.

I guess the new rig - it's an EPS since they didn't have other models- will probably get a good workout. Hopefully I'll be able to report back in a year or so how it has worked for several thousand miles. Thanks for all the great input.

Finally got the machine on Saturday and run it for a few days. It's certainly a machine which feels different to ride, more stable, less bumpy with a load approaching 400 pounds than with only my 'scrawny' 210 pound frame on it. I'm still getting used to not moving my left foot. My brain is so accustomed to reacting to the engine rpm; I want to shift this rig all the time. Engine sounds do seem loud with an added whirring whine in the mix, presumably the fins on the clutch sheaves. I love the way engine brakes. It seems ideal for rough terrain; perhaps a bit less on the level would be nice. We're overdue for the first oil change with 250 miles on it, so I'm going to have to make an order. Then I can go hunting with it. This machine seems very solid. I have great confidence that it will do well.

Any pics of the new one Klik.

Yeah, inquiring minds want to see.

I have a hunting spot that has settled this debate for years now. Over a hundred river crossings! and (lots of floating).. Never seen a Yamaha or a Polaris make it Yet! Seen them make it part of the way!!! Belts just don't hold up with prolonged water crossings. I watched a brand new Polaris not make it across it's "very first" water crossing without the belt slipping (dead in the Water). It had 3 miles on it!!

Hondas and "old school" 89'-02' King Quads will go ANYWHERE!!!

Two weeks old now, exactly 532 miles on the odo...



Not as keen on this rig for road use as compared to one of the geared tranny types, but it sure works well on the rough; nice seamless low gearing is perfect for whatever. Having always been a solid rear axle guy, I wasn't sure I'd like the IRS design, but I was fooled there as well. Works great; I had no trouble walking across this boulder patch without ever putting my foot down. (Oh, and the EPS works great. I didn't even think about what that would have felt like to negotiate with standard machines until I was already across and realized there had been no work involved on my part.) It feels very solid, not light and nimble like the Suzuki Eigers feel. This beast feels like it is firmly attached to the ground.

Good looking machine Klik.