ATV with a fully manual transmission?

[junkyardwarrior]

About like cars. 99% of Americans (and possibly canadians) can't drive anything with a manual transmission, so manufacturers quit making them with the exception of sport quads. The Yamaha YXZ1000 was a manual transmission, clutch pedal and all. I love it. But it's also the reason it did NOT sell very well initially; until RecKluse designed an "auto clutch" for it. I've put several in, and it does change it considerably. Gear kit + Reckluse makes it a totally different machine. I much prefer full manual, though. Guess I'm one of the very few left. It would be nice if manufacturers offered a fully manual trans UTV but it won't happen for a LOT of reasons, and #1 is what I just listed. Another reason is manufacturing 10 or 12 gears inside the transmission is more expensive than 4 or 6 and a belt & converters. Keeps cost down a little. Keeps warranty costs down too since most can't drive a manual and they tend to smoke the clutch about 10 feet into ride #1 and expect warranty to pay for their own ignorance. It happens with motorcycles too, most commonly crotch rockets. Also with sport quads. I rode sport quads (trails) for years and with a group of friends who all had some sort of sport quad. Only one that wasn't a manual was the KFX700 and it was a wheelie monster and not much else (sport?? LOL). Every ride there was at least one that was having clutch trouble and of course me being one of the 2 or 3 "mechanical-minded" people (out of about 25 or so riders), they'd always tell me how their stuff was junk and that the manufacturer shoulda made the clutch idiot proof. I'd usually adjust the cable to put some freeplay back into the lever and they were good to go for a while, normally enough to get through the ride. During the week, they're replacing the plates & steels with barnett brand stuff. Mine (660 Raptor) had the same original clutch in it the day I sold in in 2014 as the day it was assembled in Japan.

Could you imagine what an RTV diesel would be like with a manual transmission? It would be a REAL workhorse!!

 

[DK35vince]

About like cars. 99% of Americans (and possibly canadians) can't drive anything with a manual transmission, so manufacturers quit making them with the exception of sport quads. The Yamaha YXZ1000 was a manual transmission, clutch pedal and all. I love it. But it's also the reason it did NOT sell very well initially; until RecKluse designed an "auto clutch" for it. I've put several in, and it does change it considerably. Gear kit + Reckluse makes it a totally different machine. I much prefer full manual, though. Guess I'm one of the very few left. It would be nice if manufacturers offered a fully manual trans UTV but it won't happen for a LOT of reasons, and #1 is what I just listed. Another reason is manufacturing 10 or 12 gears inside the transmission is more expensive than 4 or 6 and a belt & converters. Keeps cost down a little. Keeps warranty costs down too since most can't drive a manual and they tend to smoke the clutch about 10 feet into ride #1 and expect warranty to pay for their own ignorance. It happens with motorcycles too, most commonly crotch rockets. Also with sport quads. I rode sport quads (trails) for years and with a group of friends who all had some sort of sport quad. Only one that wasn't a manual was the KFX700 and it was a wheelie monster and not much else (sport?? LOL). Every ride there was at least one that was having clutch trouble and of course me being one of the 2 or 3 "mechanical-minded" people (out of about 25 or so riders), they'd always tell me how their stuff was junk and that the manufacturer shoulda made the clutch idiot proof. I'd usually adjust the cable to put some freeplay back into the lever and they were good to go for a while, normally enough to get through the ride. During the week, they're replacing the plates & steels with barnett brand stuff. Mine (660 Raptor) had the same original clutch in it the day I sold in in 2014 as the day it was assembled in Japan.

Could you imagine what an RTV diesel would be like with a manual transmission? It would be a REAL workhorse!!

I think your 99% can't drive manual is very extreme. 30% maybe.
Surprised most all motorcycles ( dirt and street) are still manual transmissions if no one can shift gears. Yet they get by just fine.

 

[lilranch2001]

I think your 99% can't drive manual is very extreme. 30% maybe.
Surprised most all motorcycles ( dirt and street) are still manual transmissions if no one can shift gears. Yet they get by just fine.

Yea, I agree. I thought it was high as well, not sure 30% is correct either tho.
Lots of the new generations have never ridden a bike or driven a stick shift.

Maybe they should put it on the census.

 

[airbiscuit]

I put a different sprocket for more low end torque in my Yamaha 350 Warrior (6 speed manual). It is much more fun to ride on the trails than my 660 Yamaha Grizzly (auto). More nimble, responsive and easier to throw around the corners. If you really want to chase it, buy a Yamaha Banshee and hold on!

 

[IndyIan]

AC was late to the ATV world, so they partnered up with Suzuki on the drivetrain, starting with the AC 300/KingQuad300. These unique 280cc engines featured the usual semi-auto transmission, but the final drive is part of the same case, and it held a massive 4 quarts of oil. The Suzy version had IRS and a 3-range trans while the ACs had only 2 ranges, but a longer wheelbase.

Your 2002 AC 300 had 3 ranges? That is curious, as my AC300 4x4s from '01 and '04 had only 2 ranges, as did my '04 AC500 4x4.

When I bought my 01 Kingquad 300 in 2002, I looked at the 01, or 02 Arctic cat 300 and it was only missing the front diff lock that the kingquads had. That feature is nice to have in many situations, either slippery or rough when you may have only 1 or 2 wheels on the ground. I thought the AC300's had double a-arm rear suspension while the kingquad has swing axles. The kingquad is a good simple work beast, but I can't imagine rough trail riding with it keeping up with the newer machines. For rock crawling I'd think it would be far better than the new stuff just by having the COG at half the height, but I just play in our woods a bit. I estimate I've got ~5000 miles on mine as the speedo cable broke in the second year at 1000 miles.

 

[dfkrug]

I thought the AC300's had double a-arm rear suspension while the kingquad has swing axles.

Early Suzuki and AC utilities both had IRS, tho the designs are different. Photo is the KingQuad 300 (280cc) IRS, with swing axles. The ACs had double-wishbones, even the 2WD utilities.

Tho virtually all 2-wheel M/Cs are still manual-shift with hand clutch, scooters (which can be over 600cc in the US) are virtually all CVT autos. I don't see the former losing manuals in my lifetime.

 

[Oldpath05]

I think your 99% can't drive manual is very extreme. 30% maybe.
Surprised most all motorcycles ( dirt and street) are still manual transmissions if no one can shift gears. Yet they get by just fine.

I was going to ask that question, lots of people around here have motorcycles and dont recall anyone mentioning a automatic motorcycle, but about everything else have gone automatic. Doesn't Honda ATVs still have some what of a standard trans?

 

[atsah]

I think the Honda has ESP, push button clutchless shifting with the option of full auto included..

 

[Tennsawdust]

I think the Honda has ESP, push button clutchless shifting with the option of full auto included..

It's basically a dual clutch transmission. You can use the paddle shifters or let it handle the shifting itself, much like cars with the "flappy paddles".

 

[otlski]

Yea, I agree. I thought it was high as well, not sure 30% is correct either tho.
Lots of the new generations have never ridden a bike or driven a stick shift.

Maybe they should put it on the census.

You troublemaker.