Swing Arm Suspemsion Better than IRS for Work ATV?

BSVLY · May 8, 2011

Swing Arm Suspension Better than IRS for Work ATV?

Thinking of getting an ATV for the farm. Not much trail riding at all. Mostly riding around and working on 20 acres of sand and desert land at $5,000 feet, and running some forest service roads in the mountains at 5-10,000 feet.

Thinking the new 2012 Honda Foreman ES 4X4 with EPS will be the best machine. It now has Fuel Injection too, the new engine, shorter wheelbase and a newly designed single shock rear suspension. What I like about the Foreman is that it is like a tractor with a solid rear axle in the back and Swingarm with single shock; 6.9 inches travel . 2012 upgrades include 475CC with 5 speeds and reverse.

Our land is flat, & can't see that the IRS of, say, the Grixzzly 550 would benefit us on this flat terrain. Maybe the lockers would help in the soft sandy areas of our perimeter road-but heck if we get it stuck I plan to have a winch installed on the ATV and we have a Kioti CK30 HST and a Rubicon Jeep-both with lockers- to extract the ATV with.

Anyone agree/disagree that the Swingarm & solid axle will be a better workhorse than the IRS? Need to pull a ATV trailer, maybe some implements like a harrow drag.

Thanks

grsthegreat · May 8, 2011

the IRS...the IRS,.
anything is better that that dang old IRS

sorry. had to be said

Scooby074 · May 8, 2011

For a work machine solid rear axle rules. I have a Foreman ES. Its a tank. On trails, the new Independent rear designs are a ton more comfortable (and faster), but when it comes to work the solid, swingarm style is more stable. Also less maintenance as it doesnt have the stub axles with their U-joints.

yanmars · May 8, 2011

For your purposes the solid rear axle should work very well.

BSVLY · May 8, 2011

grsthegreat said:
the IRS...the IRS,.
anything is better that that dang old IRS

sorry. had to be said

:laughing:

Internal Revenue shock is different than Independant Rear Suspension shocks

Rio_Grande · May 9, 2011

I say for your purpous solid axle.

For me My property is hill country. I have an old king quad that can work on hillsides dads Yamaha (solid rear axle) can flip over on command.

BSVLY · May 9, 2011

Thanks for the input. Sounds like I have chosen a good machine for the job. Now I'll have wait until the Honda factories in japan get enough parts to the USA to throw mine together!

Slacker · May 10, 2011

Definitly solid rear axle for a work machine. I've got the 680cc 07 Rincon with the IRS and the trailer weight (book) says 800lbs max. My old solid axle 350cc Rancher would do much more than that. For a working machine, be sure it's got low range or at least a low first gear. If it's a auto tranny, be sure you can put it in manual mode.

Also something to think about: The EFI honda quads all have backup pull starters in case of dead battery- dead battery = no fuel injection. No fuel injection = no fuel. What the heck good is a pull starter with no fuel??? Wish I would have kept my 05 Rancher, much better machine that my new one.

TOMMYHPX4X4 · May 10, 2011

you just can't beat a solid rear axle . the irs is nice but it just don't have the muscle to handle the weight . as for as mud riding it's all up to the driver/tires and hp to get you through the thick stuff.but for working get the solid rear end.

BSVLY · May 11, 2011

Thanks All. It seems to be unanomous then. Soild rear axles work harder and since i'm on the flats, then no issues. The place where we live is actually called the "flats". Our property doesn's vary 5 feet in 20 acres.