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Coming from the dirt bike *enduro* world (owned every major brand, including three Yamahas) I think I have a feel for where Yamaha is going with its transmission.
I also have had Rekluse auto-clutches installed in three bikes and like them for the technical rocks and rutted climbs we ride here in Arizona. The Rekluse is very handy in those situation, but a nice low gear ratio (smaller front or bigger rear sprocket) is advantageous as well.
I have owned two utility SxS (Ranger and Teryx), and have ridden and driven or followed a few hundred miles in RZRs and Wildcats. I've recently sold the Teryx and will be looking to replace it with a 2-seat sporty SxS such as the YXZ next year.
I see the Yamaha easily excelling in open areas such as dunes and our many sand washes. I might go to the dunes twice a year, while Arizona sand washes will be nearly every single ride.
My concern is that on any long loop my usual group likes to take (60 to 150 miles. generally), those fast sections are linked with short, and not so short technical sections. Rocks and such. They typically leave their machines in Hi-Range and I am usually the first to drop into Low-Range to get more control and to protect the belt. Yeah, they wheel-spin and hop when they tackle those obstacles in Hi-Range, but they don't seem to care because they want to keep it in Hi to jet off to the next fast section. Their style, not mine.
So the question is -- without a Low-Range, how will the YXZ handle the situations where we would be doing low-range creeping over river rock and small step-ups?
I haven't seen any gear ratio specs so I don't know how well first gear would handle slow, rocky trails (with or without the $800 optional Rekluse auto-clutch which I would strongly consider purchasing).
One clue is one forum poster's opinion that the YXZ topped out at 18mph in first gear. My Teryx in Low-Range would top out in the 30-mph range, if I recall. So that makes things sound better than I had originally thought.
Opinions?
I also have had Rekluse auto-clutches installed in three bikes and like them for the technical rocks and rutted climbs we ride here in Arizona. The Rekluse is very handy in those situation, but a nice low gear ratio (smaller front or bigger rear sprocket) is advantageous as well.
I have owned two utility SxS (Ranger and Teryx), and have ridden and driven or followed a few hundred miles in RZRs and Wildcats. I've recently sold the Teryx and will be looking to replace it with a 2-seat sporty SxS such as the YXZ next year.
I see the Yamaha easily excelling in open areas such as dunes and our many sand washes. I might go to the dunes twice a year, while Arizona sand washes will be nearly every single ride.
My concern is that on any long loop my usual group likes to take (60 to 150 miles. generally), those fast sections are linked with short, and not so short technical sections. Rocks and such. They typically leave their machines in Hi-Range and I am usually the first to drop into Low-Range to get more control and to protect the belt. Yeah, they wheel-spin and hop when they tackle those obstacles in Hi-Range, but they don't seem to care because they want to keep it in Hi to jet off to the next fast section. Their style, not mine.
So the question is -- without a Low-Range, how will the YXZ handle the situations where we would be doing low-range creeping over river rock and small step-ups?
I haven't seen any gear ratio specs so I don't know how well first gear would handle slow, rocky trails (with or without the $800 optional Rekluse auto-clutch which I would strongly consider purchasing).
One clue is one forum poster's opinion that the YXZ topped out at 18mph in first gear. My Teryx in Low-Range would top out in the 30-mph range, if I recall. So that makes things sound better than I had originally thought.
Opinions?
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