ATV with a fully manual transmission?

airbiscuit · May 25, 2019

I think you could buy a kit to convert the Wolverine to a manual.

js5020 · May 27, 2019

I suppose my question would be why a full manual transmission? As I said I have a semi manual and honestly it's a pita once you have used an "automatic". No one and I do mean no one wants to ride the 5 speed all day long on the trails, they will take any of the auto machines over shifting all day long. Most autos can be tweaked in the primary and or secondary clutches to produce more low end power to the ground if that's what your after, it's how the big tire guys are able to keep the power up after increasing tire sizes. Nothing says you can't put a clutch kit in it if you don't put bigger tires on, if low end is what your after. We have a friend in our group that put a big tire kit in a 500cc machine that would hardly spin the tires stock and now it will pull the front end up with the clutch kit and stock tires. I'm not a sport quad guy but I do think most of those machines are 2wd.

dfkrug · May 27, 2019

They even make semi-auto dirt bikes now, the small ones for kids.

If you come from the M/C world, manual trannies are still the way to go, and appreciated for the control you have with the hand clutch, esp at take-off. It is hard for dirt bike riders to make the transition to quads, whether sporty or utility.

There is no question that CVT-auto ATVs are the most popular, and for good reason. They work, and are easy for anyone to use. They are reliable as well. Torque-converter autos (Honda) are pretty slick, but rare and expensive. You can still buy the ubiquitous Honda Rancher 420 with semi-auto, as well as full-auto. The former costs a little less, but I expect it to go away eventually. Auto is king.

A quick check shows that some majors have already dumped the last of their manuals and semi-autos: Polaris and Arctic Cat (Textron).

jmc · May 27, 2019

OP here.

Thanks all, for the updates. It will help when I go out and look at them.

ruffdog · May 27, 2019

Husqvarna built their automatic dirt bikes from 1976 to 1988. The early automatic ATVs were either the CVTs like the Polaris or manual trans with an automatic clutch like Suz/Kaw/Yam....

Husqvarna automatics | Bike EXIF

bullbreaker · May 27, 2019

js5020 said:
I have an 02 arctic cat with 5 speed but auto clutch and it has 3 ranges in the axle for a total of 15 forward gears and 3 reverse. It is very slow and quite powerful in low first, I primarily use it like a garden tractor uses less fuel, is faster, and doesn't get stuck. .

I had one of those , served me well . The engines/trans /drivetrain etc are Suzuki . Mine even had independent rear suspension . Mine was a 300 , like you said slow with lots of low gears but very reliable and could take on high water .....

Oldpath05 · May 27, 2019

I liked the first Arctic Cats, my 96 had 5 speeds with high/low range, then after ten years the motor went and there it sits. Then I bought the 04> 650, great for racing around but no good for slow speed pulling the thing went 40 mi/hr in low.

js5020 · May 28, 2019

I have 4 Cats, an 02 300 4x4, an 02 375 2x4, and 2 16 500XTs. The 16s are sweet machines they ride nice have decent ground clearance and suspension travel, power steer, engine braking, and power is more than adequate for our purposes. The 300 is the torque monster and slow speed king of the bunch but unfortunately the suspension is the worst of the bunch.

dfkrug · May 28, 2019

js5020 said:
The 300 is the torque monster and slow speed king of the bunch but unfortunately the suspension is the worst of the bunch.

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.