Why is it soooooo... slow?

Question

I have a 2006 Polaris Predator 50cc that seems so slow. We had a Chineses Baja 50cc that hauled butt. I went and bought a much more expensive quad "name brand" and it seems very slow. I wouldn't go back on the chinese quad because it tips alot easier and could not get up hills as easily but it seems so slow. I took the throttle control s***w all the way out. I unscrewed the top piece and made sure there was nothing in there and it is till slow. It makes it hard for my son to ride with us. He is only three years old so I do not want to buy him a bigger quad I just want this one to go faster. i am wondering if something is wrong with it or if there is anything I can add to give it more power.

Answer 1

Your "name brand" quad is actually made in Taiwan.  Polaris subcontracts all machines 200cc and less.  Don't worry, there is more potential awaiting your youngster.  It just needs to be de-restricted. The Chinese "off-brands" don't usually come as corked up, so that may be why you thought it was faster.

The throttle-stop s***w is a good start. Look for a rev-limiter built into the CDI that can be bypass by cutting a wire, and look for a removable bushing in the CVT transmission.

  The throttle-stop s***w simply prevents the throttle from opening all the way. Given the right conditions, a quad can still reach its full speed with the stop-s***w adjusted all the way in......it will just take a whole lot longer to do it.

  The CDI might have a rev-limiter built into the ignition, which will cut power to the spark plug above a certain RPM.  This effectively prevents the engine from going past a pre-set speed.  Once you know what wire this is (contact your dealership or owner's manual), put it on a toggle switch so that the fast kids can ride fast, and the younger kids can learn on a "slower" machine.

  The transmission is basically a big pulley attached to the engine, a little pulley attached to the rear axle (via chain), with a belt between the two.  There might be a bushing located in either of these pulleys, that when removed, allows the belt to ride higher in the pulley and changing your "gear ratio" to a higher top-speed.  Hope this helps you out!