F
All of the Japanese machines have the same belt life...fantastic 👍. Warranty by Yamaha is marketing
I was a bit worried about the belt on my Yamaha but now that I have some miles on it, I can safely say I like it better than the electric shift on my 08 Honda Rancher. I can't say how it would compare to a dual clutch trans though.
TxDoc
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
I had the first year Yamaha Rhino in 2004. I sold it to a friend in 2020. Had the OEM belt all those years. But, it was also never abused. 
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
F
I have my first Honda Pioneer 520. After decades of dirt bikes and dual sports I got my first ATV in 2008 and it was a Honda rancher so it had the shaft drive just like the pioneer.
In between those two machines of 2008 and 2021 I had six brand new Japanese ATVs. By far the CVT belt system is smooth predictable and totally dependable. Many of those dealers for Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki don't even stock the belts because it's just not something they sell.
The Honda shaft drive is fine but it is not as quiet and smooth as a belt and honestly I don't see why people make their decisions based on just this because it's a poor basis. There's a possibility that more power delivered to the rear end because it's a shaft drive but I highly doubt it that it's measurable or significant.
I love my Honda but the problem with the transmission jerkiness and noise (quite frankly to scare the s*** out of you sometimes) is annoying but tolerable.
I certainly wouldn't trade the machine based on that and I wouldn't buy it either based on that. How to make a great product as to do all the Japanese manufacturers.
I have pulled a lot of roots from the ground with my P5. Tried the same with a larger, more powerful Yamaha something-or-other (I forget what it was). It performed the task poorly (or not at all) and the burning smell was strong.
If your plan is to play or just ride around, I'm sure a belt is excellent. Not my first choice for a machine doing work though.
YMMV.
If your plan is to play or just ride around, I'm sure a belt is excellent. Not my first choice for a machine doing work though.
YMMV.
That's probably not good for either of them, I would just use my tractor for stuff like that.
F
I'm a 'use what I have' kind of guy. They were sapling roots, using a brush grubber. Point being: a very different set of results . . . I believe that to be instructive.
F
Yeah sometimes you're in a situations where you're doing that with your machine not exactly yard work but it could be Trail work. The guy that made a tractor comment really missed the point
. . . depends on the size of the roots! 😀
The P5/P5.2 work prolly better than they play, arguably. If you're not needing to work with it any significant amount, you should at least consider other options (IMO, of course!). I do both with mine and love to ride tight trails in the woods, so it's ideal for me (with mods, of course!).
KyGal83
Duchess Sheldon, Daisy, KGB, Natasha, SNS
Lifetime Member
It was a 2010 Kawaski Teryx 750... Biggest Rolling piece of ****. When it did roll it was being towed by a P500. Had belt slippage doing some minor trail riding, nothing to strenuous and it would slip. We replaced the belt twice in the just over a year we owned it... Would never purchase one again.
In the interest of full disclosure, I do realize the shortcomings of working a 500cc machine.
Therefore, this recently happened:
Therefore, this recently happened:
KyGal83
Duchess Sheldon, Daisy, KGB, Natasha, SNS
Lifetime Member
And this was 1 of 4 times Critter towed it in. Best motor it ever had was external and attached with a tow strap. 🤦🏼♀️
Montecresto
Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Club Contributor
That’s awesome Doc….👍I had the first year Yamaha Rhino in 2004. I sold it to a friend in 2020. Had the OEM belt all those years. But, it was also never abused.
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
M
I replaced my 2005 Rhino with a P700-4 and yes the rhino was smoother as there was no real shifting but the P700 is MUCH quieter, belt driven machines have to rev much higher to do the same work/maintain same speed I have found. Ill never go back to a belt driven SXS again now that I have this machine.
TxDoc
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
I replaced my 2004 Yamaha Rhino with a my 2020 Honda Pioneer 1000-5 LE. Nothing against the Rhino. Flawless, but the Pioneer is a step up.
Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk
S
I had a 700FI Rhino that was a 65mph, way built, rocketship. Great machine that everyone around here misses and I do at times. A young fella that I met on a ride and rode with me for a while even wrote a paper for school about it. Grin on his face was priceless. No fault of the actual belt itself but lost a sheave bearing and had to hike home to fetch my Big Bear (5-speed,just sayin) to tow it home. Not fun solo and was the end of belt driven rigs for me. Stuff can fail but I feel like I can find a way to get a gear driven machine home. I also do a lot of technical slow speed stuff and I could get that thing in situations, even on only 25's, that would piss off the clutch and belt. Belts are fine for just about everyone and I live on a wheeler/sled trail and see 'em all the time. Just me. I've always dreamed of a gear driven snowsled.........
Bmurray
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
