| Author |
Message |
    
Terrence Edwards
Junior Member
Username: Tmecars
Post Number: 11
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 70.216.140.3
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 06:45 pm: | |
Which is the best all out fun machine? The fastest, best performing machine strictly for enjoyment? It looks like my projects are going to take ALOT more time than I anticipated. I may be in the market for something I can RIDE. New ARGOs and Maxs are not even considered. If I want to drop that much I'll just buy a new sport quad. |
Marc Stobinski
Intermediate Member
Username: Jerseybigfoot
Post Number: 56
Registered: 06-2000
Posted From: 68.193.116.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007 - 11:00 pm: | |
Any late 70's Machine with a two stroke, poly body and T-20 trans. ATTEX, Max2, Hustler, all have good performance. The down side is finding one that is not a project. |
liflod
Advanced Member
Username: Liflod
Post Number: 145
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 151.201.211.103
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 10:43 am: | |
Ditto |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 335
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 199.246.2.9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 10:21 pm: | |
Yes Terrence but if you did "drop that much" and bought a Sport Quad you would still only have a four wheeler that doesn,t float, and isn,t nearly as much fun. |
Don Kinyon
Member
Username: Oldnatva
Post Number: 45
Registered: 04-2002
Posted From: 67.163.101.210
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 10:24 pm: | |
I'm very biased, but I've always put the Superchief 500 above all the rest when it comes to performance machines. The next level, in my opinion, holds the Bigmax 440, Hustler 440 Kohler, and the Thunderchief 440, even though it has an ABS hull. |
Terrence Edwards
Junior Member
Username: Tmecars
Post Number: 12
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 70.216.165.250
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 12:43 pm: | |
What exactly is a "poly" body? My Wedge has .5 inch thick slab of what I would call fiberglass that weighs as much as a small elephant. |
liflod
Advanced Member
Username: Liflod
Post Number: 147
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 151.201.211.103
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 01:20 pm: | |
Polyethylene or HDPE High Density Polyethylene. Same stuff the Max and Argos are made of now.Also used for plastic kids toys,milk jugs,wheelbarrows..etc..I think Argo and Max use a different mix. Later Attexi and Hustlers started using it. It does not crack like the old ABS plastic machines. It flexes alot and is not really used as the structure of the machine like the Wedge's fiberglass hull. It does not melt with chemicals. |
Mike Cummings
Intermediate Member
Username: Hydromike
Post Number: 65
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 141.149.254.227
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 09:06 am: | |
Well this topic brought out most of the two-stroke crowd...
If you're asking for the fastest machine, and "strictly for enjoyment", I'd be hard pressed to disagree with any of the above. I don't think the body material makes a machine any more or less "fun". I have two machines that are set up specifically for the "fun" factor. One is a HDPE Attex Superchief with a 440 Cuyuna, the other is a second generation ABS body Attex with a 503 Rotax. Both machines are extremely reliable, both machines are close to maxing out on the fun scale. While the 440 is fast, riding in the 503 quickly changes from a leisurely ride to a struggle for survival past 3/4 throttle or so. Both machines are light (ABS and HDPE bodies themselves are within 5-10 pounds of one another), and both are extremely nimble. There's no slugging around corners. Do a search for "Attex" on Google video or Youtube...lots of videos of a lot of us.
I prefer ABS bodies. I won't go into all of the details, but in my opinion, "old poly" bodies end up looking like a half melted ketchup bottle on a campfire stick after a while (this includes my superchief). You can get ABS to shine like the center of a neutron star. You can get poly to shine as well, but it's apples and oranges. ABS resists gas and oil fine (so does poly). ABS cracks easier, agreed, but if you're using the bottom of the machine as a skid plate on a pile of rocks....well then... Poly is easier to repair as well. Okay, so I went into all the details.
~m |
Eddie L. Beddingfield
Member
Username: Argo2003
Post Number: 48
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 64.12.116.204
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 03:35 pm: | |
I still dont know why everyone thinks faster is more fun.The only place you can open one of those things up is a road(thats not legal).2-you shure dont need 6-wheel drive or skid steer when you are moving 50 mph. 3-If you want to move that fast you need safety equiptment and cage.Rock Crawling is one of the fastest growing motorsports and is pure excitement ,but they dont even hit 3 mph..4- when you are moving that fast you see no scenery,you are to buisy concentrating on keeping a straight line. slower can be just as much fun.. |
Don Kinyon
Member
Username: Oldnatva
Post Number: 46
Registered: 04-2002
Posted From: 67.163.101.210
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 06:36 pm: | |
Eddie, to each their own. I'm surely not trying to start an arguement that no one can win, because there's no one aspect of the hobby that stands out for everyone. As for me, I like the fast stuff.
There seems to be a lot of interest in the technical driving aspect of the hobby, and it does look like fun as well. I've even had fun myself on some technical courses, but there's no replacement for the all-out adrenaline rush of 50+ in a skid-steer.
Safety gear should be universal in my opinion, because let's face it: a 650 pound machine on top of you at 5 mph isn't much better than the same one on you at 45 mph.
You don't need much space to get one of the high-strung machines up to speed, and wouldn't want it in the road anyway (high speed steering's real tricky on pavement).
There's always time to stop and look at the scenery.
I've been slow, and I've been fast. For me there's no question: Fast=Fun.
Don |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 290
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 64.149.48.233
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 08:02 pm: | |
I'd like to have both. The argo is fun, esp with a little extra power, and the extreme woods is an adrenaline rush. After watching the "Riding along with the 503" video I have a yearning for something with excessive power. Reminds me of the 1960's and 70's when 100 octane was cheap and we could smoke the tires for a block. |
liflod
Advanced Member
Username: Liflod
Post Number: 148
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 151.201.211.103
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 09:25 am: | |
I believe everyone should have at least one machine of each type. It is fun to go slow on technical "trails", but it is also alot of fun to open one up and ride fast. It is also alot of fun to load the whole family into the machine and just ride through the fields. |
Terrence Edwards
Junior Member
Username: Tmecars
Post Number: 13
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 66.150.102.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 08:10 pm: | |
Thanks so much, everyone. I also have the "speedbug". I have several of the old racing 3 wheelers and although they can be a handful and are considered "dangerous" they are REALLY a blast. After seeing some of the videos, I am definitely looking into a hotrod 6x6. Mike and Don, I may be bugging you for advice soon. |
Mike Cummings
Intermediate Member
Username: Hydromike
Post Number: 66
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 141.149.254.227
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 10:08 am: | |
Faster isn't always *more* fun. But it has it's place.
1). I need less than 400 feet to get the 503 up to about 45 mph, if the front end stays on the ground.
2). You're absolutely right. We don't *need* skid-steer or six wheel drive at those speeds. Our needs and wants get crossed after sniffing leaded-gas fumes and synthetic oils...
3). Cages? Safety equipment? Got 'em. Once both cylinders are sufficiently warm and you make sure all is well with the 50+ horsepower powerplant nestled 8 inches behind your spinal cord, and you make sure the clutch guard is secure enough to at least slow down a spinning chunk of metal, soon to be whiring at nearly 7000 rpm, the next step is to go muster the gumption to get in. After you sit down in the seat, bolted a couple inches above the bottom of the tub, you peer over the gleaming yellow dash questioning whether you want to go any further. The ping-ping-K-ting of the expansion chamber and steady rumble of the plastic all around you reminds you that it's time to find all of the business-ends of the 5-point harness that'll keep you and the machine joined together as a single unit during the course of your short adventure. The pinging seems to get only slightly quieter as the ear plugs swell shut to block out all of the sharp 250 decible explosions happening a few thousand times a minute behind your left ear. You're struggling hard to find the buckle as the German powerhouse is prodding you that it's time to get down to business, like a 7-year-old at the gates of Disneyland. Once you finally get all of the buckles done up, and check the laterals a couple times to make sure everything *seems* in order, give the throttle a couple blips to make sure that both cylinders are comfy, and you don't get a 25hp surprise once the PTO cylinder finally gets cleaned out enough. The only scenery I'm concerned with at this point is what objects I need to avoid.
This is all prep time, and it happens every time I drive the machine. It's scary, and as I type, my heart rate is well above 90bpm, my breathing has become shallow, and a small bead of sweat has formed above my right eye. The machine is 50 miles away locked up in a dark shed, and it has this power over me.
I wonder how many times Michael Schumacher slowed down to say "Wow, that's a really pretty tree..."
Bug away, Terry; bug away
~m |
Terrence Edwards
Junior Member
Username: Tmecars
Post Number: 14
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 66.150.102.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 04:54 pm: | |
OK...now I'm sold. What an eloquent description. I'm heading to ebay right now. |
philip w.cox
Advanced Member
Username: Philipatmaxfour
Post Number: 340
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 64.201.47.72
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 25, 2007 - 11:16 pm: | |
Hey Mike, You guys are scary, but the two stroke crowd certainly does swell our ranks at events like Olean, and add some pizzaz and colour (mostly Attex yellow). To each their own my friend and thanks for the eloquent description. |
Marc Stobinski
Intermediate Member
Username: Jerseybigfoot
Post Number: 57
Registered: 06-2000
Posted From: 68.193.116.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 09:08 am: | |
Mike: Wow,The perfect description.
I enjoy each of my machines for different reasons, but when we had my 440 liquid cooled Scrambler doing 60 mph the addiction became chemical. The first ride is total fear, but soon after you stop the need to do it again hits you.
I am not sure how the other machines act at speed but my Scrambler goes from bouncing to floating.
For trail riding I like both my Bigfoot and my Hustler. For rocky technical driving I prefer the Bigfoot.
My daughter enjoys her 1970 Scrambler and has the best time at Copper Ridge. Her Scrambler goes downhill with with incredible confidence with its very low center of gravity and climbs with plenty of speed and power although its only 12hp. |
david berger
Senior Member
Username: Davidrrrd
Post Number: 521
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 72.85.145.144
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 10:52 am: | |
i have nothing to add,
but im enjoying this thred! |
Mike Cummings
Intermediate Member
Username: Hydromike
Post Number: 67
Registered: 03-2005
Posted From: 141.149.254.227
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 03:49 pm: | |
I've been thinking about getting some Point-Of-View video documenting exactly what I've written above, but it's difficult to do. What I really need is Dave Berger's helmet cam, roll bar cam, throttle handle cam (what else is there, Dave?). The "riding with the 503" video on Google was done with the old Runamuks on snow in the old Stage II machine; lots of tire spin and noise for little "go". It's now in "Stage III" with the seat, harness, expansion chamber and new Nankang 21" tires. The little Nankangs are a lot of fun, and are like marshmallows. They offer decent suspesnion, and they don't expand and rub the body like the 22" Runamuks did. They offer a significantly reduced circumference (obviously), but the change is a lot more pronounced than you'd imagine. I used to run a hybrid knobby for better traction, until I found out that traction is the enemy on race-oriented machines. Don't worry about the hole-shot; they'll only be out front for a few seconds.
I need to get a couple people together to get a video of the 503 and the 440 D/stock running around somewhere to see how they match up. I already have a good idea of which machine is faster/quicker than the other, but I need a camera man and someone with adequate life insurance to prove it.
~m |
Rogersmith
Advanced Member
Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 291
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 70.128.104.108
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 04:22 pm: | |
I'd like to see a modern film clip..
have been wondering what camera options were.. If you have a small remote camera.. what does it capture to? I guess a camcorder with video in jacks? With low prices do we just buy small digital cams with image stabilization and tape them all over the machine? |
Marc Stobinski
Intermediate Member
Username: Jerseybigfoot
Post Number: 58
Registered: 06-2000
Posted From: 68.193.116.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 31, 2007 - 05:05 pm: | |
Mike; I used a helmet cam to video some atv footage and was not very happy with the constant head movement jerking the camera. With a 6x6 you tend to look around alot. I just purchased a clamp mount to attach to a rollbar, seatback or windshield. A helmet cam may be interesting with enough footage captured that could be edited.
Roger: any camera with a video in jack can be used. The remote cam needs its own powersupply(battery). some have remote mics and on/off switches. The remote switch has to be available on the camera. Most of the helmet camera websites list compatible cameras. There is alot out there. Dave Berger has alot of experience and should be helpful. |
Skip Saul
New member
Username: Giantdog
Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 67.142.130.29
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, June 01, 2007 - 01:34 am: | |
Hay All well the traney went out on my argo conquest I orderd a new one the Dealer i Orderd it from said it will take 8 to 10 hours to change it is this so? I have done Just about every thing except that and do they make a chain braker for dubble roller chain and if so where can i get one Thanks Skip |
Eddie L. Beddingfield
Intermediate Member
Username: Argo2003
Post Number: 52
Registered: 08-2006
Posted From: 207.117.33.135
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 11:04 am: | |
Skip I think that is a little excessive on the labor.The most complicated thing will be to get your old clutch off and also the brake rotor sprocket assy,s off the old trans.Breaking the chains is easy find the masterlinks ,This is no different than a regular chain except you will have 2 side plates in the middle.Everything should be as easy as removing the belt,unbolting the calipers ,removing the chains,unbolting the trans. pull it out the firewall.One tip is you will have to go thru the holes in the brake rotors to get to the caliper bolts.Dont remove the lines just wire tie them back out of the way. Let us know how it goes,any more questions on the removal? Eddie |
Restoration of older ATV's