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Posted by: QUADMXer
What kind of riding do you do? If you are into moderate speed trail riding, or rock crawling, and you like a comfortable, smooth ride, then I would say that the IRS is the way to go. If you are into fast riding, power sliding, roosting around with your buddies, off cambers, etc., then the solid axle might be more suited. The IRS can be made to do this kind of riding by stiffening the suspension and adding stabilizers, but then your defeating the purpose for buying the IRS in the first place, right?
Posted by: WindmillAtWork
Hey Farmboy,
I would of said your crazy but I've experianced the same thing as you on my kodiak when I was pulling a very heavy load and when pushing a very heavy pile of snow... Didn't bother me but I have noticed the bumping jerk.
Posted by: propnut
I totally agree that the IRS rides smoother. You do have less rotating mass with a SRA, so that part is true, but how much more is the IRS really going to affect power......probably not too significant
However, you may miss the predictable stability on off cambers of the SRA. Kodiaks are pretty sporty for a ute, you will find you cannot slide the rear as easily with the IRS.
They both have their pro's and con's.
Someday they will improve the IRS to the point that it will surpass the SRA in every area, just not every area yet, and you have 4 more CV boots to rip, among other additional maintenance tasks with the IRS.
What's more important to you? Ride or stability?
.....and, is the difference enough that you wouldn't buy the ATV you really want just because it doesn't have one or the other?
Posted by: Andre
Unless you're pulling a heavy trailer, go for the IRS you'll never look back.
Posted by: Bigmarty
I am thinking of upgrading my 2002 Kodiak. Mainly I thought I wanted to go to IRS but now I am being told that you get better power to the wheels and less moving parts with the solid axle. Any comments would be appreciated.
Posted by: 2000scrammy
IRS is incredibly more comfortable to ride on. I would only go with a solid axle if you will be racing then it might help you aout a little bit, but just getting around and on the trails, go for the IRS.
Posted by: rango726
not sure as to power to the ground on a solid axle but i have an 06 arctic cat 400 4x4 and it has fully indepentant suspension and yesterday i was rock crawling and more and i had all the traction you could possibly need it actually threw me off at one point when it bit in real hard on some rocks and it real smooth you wont be beat up half as bad after a day of riding with irs as with a solid axle i say this because the guy i was riding with has a solid axle and hes all beat up after riding for 9 hrs im fine i love it and wont buy anything else but that is just my opinion and ya know what they say about opinons there like ^$$ holes everyone got one
Posted by: rango726
i prefer full independent suspension it is such a smooth ride compared to solid axle you will will be alot less fatigued at the end of the day i have done 100 miles in a day and not had a sore bone on me but my buddys suffer the next day i have an 06 arctic cat 400 4x4 auto with f.i.s and its incredible ride an independent suspension it might not be for you but you wont be able to deny its a real nice ride
Posted by: v2rider
I agree with rango, the ac has a great setup for what you want
Posted by: v2rider
Quote
Originally posted by: Farmboy45
A little late to the subject, but I thought you would like to hear from a former solid axle (1998 Arctic Cat 500) to an IRS owner (2004 AC 500). Initially I was pleased because it has greater ground clearance. The ride is actually a little stiffer than the old one, but there is less leanin the turns and sidehills. The problem popped up when I was running it in the snow. It has so many linkage connection points compared to the straight axle that it actually loads up then releases. If you have ever backed up to a stump or immovable object and gave it a pull the quad starts to hop and jerk etc. It took me three different dealerships and a number of visits to the shop to let it sink in that this is the way it is going to be. Apparently this is a phenomenon that Polaris also has. The fix is to put a fair amount of weight on the back rack and upgrade your tires to a mud/snow tire. It also helped to reduce the spring tension because the suspension was forced to the top end of it's travel and would not allow for any give in that direction.
In summary though, I would love to have my old quad back because it would plow through much more snow than this one will and no teeth rattling hopping when running in 6-12 inches of snow.
Farmboy
You guys should have got the 650 like me, its heavier, so you dont have this problem!
Posted by: mykool61679
i have solid axle, and i think there is less problems with solid axle, my main issue is ground clearence. irs has much better ground clearence and for you old farts it is a smoother ride .just my .02$
Posted by: Farmboy45
A little late to the subject, but I thought you would like to hear from a former solid axle (1998 Arctic Cat 500) to an IRS owner (2004 AC 500). Initially I was pleased because it has greater ground clearance. The ride is actually a little stiffer than the old one, but there is less leanin the turns and sidehills. The problem popped up when I was running it in the snow. It has so many linkage connection points compared to the straight axle that it actually loads up then releases. If you have ever backed up to a stump or immovable object and gave it a pull the quad starts to hop and jerk etc. It took me three different dealerships and a number of visits to the shop to let it sink in that this is the way it is going to be. Apparently this is a phenomenon that Polaris also has. The fix is to put a fair amount of weight on the back rack and upgrade your tires to a mud/snow tire. It also helped to reduce the spring tension because the suspension was forced to the top end of it's travel and would not allow for any give in that direction.
In summary though, I would love to have my old quad back because it would plow through much more snow than this one will and no teeth rattling hopping when running in 6-12 inches of snow.
Farmboy
Posted by: CS0250
I'm wondering if you guys can help. I'm looking at getting a new ride, but I'm not sure which suspension setup will be best for me.
I'm a hunter so I ride all types of weather and road conditions, from groomed dirt roads to rocks to mud; and at all types of speeds.
Would like to hear some input on which would be best.
