By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I was just pondering this the other day. Seems like the power to weight ratio of a high-end Max is the same as my Chrysler minivan, i.e. nothing exciting. Is the Max IV with the 25hp really that boring? Seems like the quad riders are right when they say the Max is a riding lawn mower. I've been pondering getting a Max in the near future, but I don't want a glorified lawn mower.

By Al on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Don,
If you like to ride fast, the AATV's (no suspension) are not the first choice. They do, however, go across ponds and swamps like nothing else with wheels. They can probably go up just as steep a hill as most 4x4 quads. I would say, if floatation and passenger space is not important, then get a quad.

Al

By Scott Philipps (Argosrus) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

with the 26' tires they will do about 35 mph

By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hmmmm, if they go faster with the big tires, then they must have a considerable loss of low speed power. Makes me wonder if they can climb. Quads usually climb short steep hills with momentum as they don't usually have either the power or traction to "grunt" up a hill.

Another poster told me that the Max is a "finesse" machine. Fine. But you need a lot of low-end power and traction to "finesse" your way up a steep hill.

I guess I'm still worried that the Max is a riding lawn mower. Too bad I can't find one to try out here in Oregon.

By Fred Sowerwine, Montana's Max Dealer (Fred4dot) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Don, Check the RI site for dealers. There are two dealers in Oregon. Find one with a machine with 25 or more hours and one who knows how to drive it. The Max (any engine any model) will climb most terrain up to 45 degrees at just above an idle (1/4 throttle). With most conditions you can stop mid hill and continue the climb without spinning a wheel. The machines will slow down going up really steep with a big load, but I have never had one power out. If it is really soft (dry sand) you might spin out and not have enough traction to climb, but in most conditions a max will climb like no other machine - the Argo Bigfoot will come closest to being able to follow a max II or IV with the aggressive tires. The 25 hp max will spin out and loose traction long before the 16 or 18 hp motors will. My favorite Max is still the 18 hp Briggs engine in a max IV with the 26" tires. I guarantee you - its no lawnmower and IMO there is not another machine made that even comes close in ability to the 25 hp Max IV with a skilled operator and the 26" tires.

By newmax on Unrecorded Date: Edit

to bad you don't live closer to nh. I have a ma Iv with the 26" tires. I also have a gps and mine will go 20 mph max. that is on a flat tar road. I have been up many steep long hills and stopped right in the middle of them and started back up. I have also been through many mud holes where the quads go around. there were no tracks going into or out of the mud holes except mine.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

don you might want to get videos from people who have them and see if ther lawn mowers or not for your self !
you may find several brands of vehicles on the same videos too! they all preform better than lawn mowers but i beleave imo =in montana, heh heh heh
i beleave a 23hp briggs with a rev kit is better than a 25hp kohler in a max IV,
bin ther n saw it myself,

By Al on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Don,
The AATV's do have low end power, and surprising climbing abilities. They have better traction than a quad, so do not need as much momentum. I suggest you get a ride in one, or better yet, find a place to rent one. Again, If you want a high speed thrill, get a quad, but if you want floatation, and passenger space, the only choice is an AATV.

Al

By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks for the info folks. I appreciate all the thought material.

By maxiv20hp on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I own a 20 HP Max IV and i say that Max's are some of the strongest atv's out there as far as low-end toque and power is concerned...just my opinion-you would not be disappointed

By Don Abernathey (Dla) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Where can I find some videos of Maxs in action? RI used to have some on their old website, but no more.

By Paul Fleming on Unrecorded Date: Edit

As a new owner of a MAX IV I'm really glad to read the above comments about low end hill climbing performance. That's what I bought it for. I'm 30 years past wanting to go fast.

By bigredwolf on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hello Guys,

I saw in one of the notes that some body a while back was looking for a video of the Max's in action. Brandon Price has and sells a video of the Max's, from what I hear, it sounds like one heck of a video to watch. His user I.D. on this site is "Maximum off Road" I do believe.

Regarding the hill climbing capability of the Max IV units, well I own a new Max IV 950T unit, with the new Kawasaki 27 HP loiquid cooled engines in it. I can assure you, it is definately nothing like riding on a lawn mower. It will do about 35 MPH no problem! It will climb 45 degree hills like there not even there. I took it out back behind the house, and took my wife with me, and we climbed some hills out back that are at least 200 to 300 feet high, and a 45 degree angle, with ruts all the way up, and I barely had to give it any throttle at all. You do not even need to get a running start for momentum at all. We climbed those hills just like we were riding on flat terrain. It has some awesome power, speed, and torque! Its has more than enough speed for me for off road riding.

By david berger (Davidrrrd) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

hi big red, dons just looking for the free videos, he is well awair that john shwab and i sell aatv videos with all the action anyone coud want, he just dosent wish too help suport our endevers, its more work than some think and can destroy equipment we have too replace out of pocket, but even without dons help we will continue to bring them to thouse who will suport our eforts, in the decads too come more video will servive from our era about our hoobie and sport than did from the erly days, i realy wish more servived from the 70's than just marc stobinski's raceing days,
im shur pleased that they did,
dose anyone else have some home movies from the 70's?
if so and if your willing to share them with this and future generations they need to get into circulation, please let us know, im shur ither of us could help,

By brettbbonner on Unrecorded Date: Edit

The principal use of my MaxIV 600T with 18HP Brings and 26 inch tires is hunting in some awful gumbo mud terrain. Last year, no quad was able to get to our duck pits. We park the quads near-by and use my MAXIV as a taxi. My friends leave their quads at home now if I'm going.

Quads are great, but for what we do, the Max seems better and continually impresses folks. In my new lease, we have lots of small lakes to fish. I can fish all of these lakes without a boat and do it expediously.

The machine goes plenty fast. It has lots of power and runs out of revs (at 31 MPH-GPS if the governor is bypassed). If anything, for speed demons, it needs some taller gearing or two speed transmission. It's not a power issue. My hunting buddies were quite happy when I un-bypassed the governor. It does about 20MPH the rest of the time.

It's is not a lawnmower. Unless you know lawnmower that do 31MPH and can spin 6 times on glare ice fields. You do strange things when there are no ducks to hunt . . .

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

brettbbonner,

only 6 times on ice? Yikes- you should be able to get more than that! Just kidding- that also depends of whether you are running tracks or not too. With just tires (runnamuck) you can get about 5-6, But with tracks- look out, I have had mine go around closer to 8-9 times with tracks on. However, (you may or may not understand what I am saying in the part to follow) if you are running top speed and jam the brake to throw it into a slide on ice, what tends to happen is that it goes so fast that the machine will start going backwards until it slows and regains traction. If you have a big enough area, do some doughnuts to smooth the ice out a bit and then take a run at it, tap the brake just enough to fully lock it, but release as soon as it starts into the skid and let the throttle off just a bit, then throttle again, and just feather the brake and you end up doing an awsome skid that will definatly make you dizzy- I have an ARGO so it may not be quite the same but the same idea likely works with a max. I am starting to get a bit more interest in how the max compares to an argo. I hope I have an opportunity to test one for a while while we still have the ARGO. I want some time to play around and get used to it then do a head to head match and see. However, I am not doing any major mudding, climbing, etc. Just smaller amounts and having fun. However, Im not afraid to challenge my driving skills and that of the machine!