[bikeman]

has any one out there installed 30 in tires on on a zforce 800 trail to get ground clearance and if you did, how did it affect your gear ratios in low range  will it still crawl well. i bought  a 2016 and didnt do my home work.  i have the same ground clearance problems that i had with the pioneer 500 i had before.  the adds stated the 800 had 11.2 in ground clearance  which is not so under normal operating conditions.   

[NMKawierider]

I'm running 27s on my 53/Trail with no problems and I think if needed I can go to 28s...maybe 29s..but 30s without a lift may rub on a trail. The 27s IMO required clutch reclocking so larger defiantly.

[bikeman]

i have not got  any experience with the transmissions on these machines or any for that matter. what is meant by reclocking the clutch? and did you lose any crawl ability as you went up in tire size?

[NMKawierider]

i have not got  any experience with the transmissions on these machines or any for that matter. what is meant by reclocking the clutch? and did you lose any crawl ability as you went up in tire size?

Reclocking refers to the resetting of the secondary's spring to either increase or decrease preload and resistance. Review our videos in the How-To section. I only went to 27s so I didn't loose any "crawl" abilities.

[bikeman]

i just watched the video for removal lunch hour is over  watch the rest tommorrow  i have a question by reclocking the secondary what are you trying to gain ?

[REDRIDER]

i just watched the video for removal lunch hour is over  watch the rest tommorrow  i have a question by reclocking the secondary what are you trying to gain ?

essentially upping the spring tension keeps you in a lower gear ratio longer more low speed and mid range power, you will lose a little top speed.
I have 29" on my 800 EX and I can still climb a straight up ledge no problem, I am set at B2 23g sliders

[NMKawierider]

Right. First, understanding how a CVT system works is always a big help. Essentially they are tuned or clocked for a specific weight, gear ratio and rotational mass to keep the engine in it's optional power band at all times...well usually..except CFM sets them well below that at the factory. Anyway, when you change tires, even to another brand let alone a larger size, you are changing all three so the clutch must be re-tuned to compensate.   

[bikeman]

THANKS FOR THE EXPLANATION YOU GUYS.  I AM A HEAVY TRUCK MECHANIC BY TRADE, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD TO GET INTO A CVT.
RED RIDER:   WHAT DID YOU GAIN IN ACTUAL GROUND CLEARANCE WITH THE 29 IN TIRE OVER STOCK AND WHAT BRAND TIRE DID YOU USE? I RUN A 2016 800 TRAIL AND THERE SEEMS TO BE VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF MODS TO GET ADDITIONAL GROUND  CLEARANCE BECAUSE OF THE 50 IN STANCE OF THE MACHINE. I WAS THINKING OF FABRICATING A BRACKET TO INSTALL ON THE BOTTOMSHOCK MOUNT BUT HEAR THAT THERE MAY BE RUBBING ISSUES WITH THE TIRE AND SPRING I AM AFTER THE  11.5 INCHES THE AD FOR THE MACHINE SAYS IT HAS . HENCE THE REASON I AM CHASING THE LARGER TIRES, THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE 14 IN WHEELS IF THE MACHINE CAN PULL A 30 IN TIRE AND THERE IS NO CLEARANCE ISSUE THAT WOULD BE THE SIMPLEST DIRECTION TO GET THE 2 INCHES  BACK OF GROUND CLEARANCE. RIGHT NOW IT IS AT 8.5 IN UNLADEN. 

[glenlivet]

Just offering up my philosophy on things... if your riding areas are anything like my British Columbia trails and byways there are always going to be places that bottom you out especially compared to a one up ATV, that's a good foot and a half shorter wheelbase. The SxS being that much longer it will bottom on things a shorter ATV with the same ground clearance would more likely bridge. So considering that larger diameter tires only add half an inch greater ride height for every inch of increased tire diameter, even installing huge power consuming tired like 30 inchers will only gain you two inches over stock, and cresting a road deactivating hump is no doubt still going to make it hit bottom, regardless.

My choice is to put a good skid plate set on and not go too crazy on trying to mount taller tires and lift kits with their inherent CV joint angle issues. I figure, 'let her rub' when it has to, and the rest of the time I retain my side camber stability, my gearing, and I run a lot lesser risk of driveline problems from increased operating angles. (I too have the 50" version)
If you ride the rough stuff you are going to want much better underbelly protection anyway. I sure found that out when I saw the beating the stock plate 'protected' underbelly was taking before I put on the good skids.
Just my humble opinion.

[REDRIDER]

Well every 1 inch in tire size you go up you will gain about 1/2" ground clearance. I gained about 1.5" of ground clearance with the new tires I run GBC dirt commanders they run pretty true to size, are 8 ply and on the light weight side for 29's. I also installed a RZR 800 2" bracket lift. I softened my preload all the way up because I was riding a bit high with 14.5" of ground clearance. After softening the preload and riding it I have about 13.5" clearance which is about perfect for me around here.  It does feel a bit scary on a hill sideways but going up and down I have been able to do everything my other friends have without an issue.  I may add another set of holes to me bracket so I can lower the lift 1" and raise my preoad for a better high speed ride but it isn't necessary for me.  I am also riding a 60" machine the EX so our experiences would not directly correlate.

[bikeman]

glenlivet: you make an excellent point  i am going to abandon the larger tire scenario i think , put a skid plate on it as you have. then i think that i will put in 2 in bottom shock bracket because i can fab them for practically nothing. and then if the angles look bad back off the preload so that i have some gain in clearance  but not enough to cause problems. or just buy the spring spacers and do the same thing.
i havent decided yet. got the whole winter to think it thru.  thanks all you other guys for your opinions, and good info,  i now understand the cvt. 

[REDRIDER]

If you are going to do one or the other I would go with larger tires before a lift, especially on a 50" wide. keeping your center of gravity low is a good thing. 30inch tires or a 2 inch lift you will be at about the same height but with the lift you will still have the junk 26inch stock tires.  Bigger tires and clutch it is the way to go IMO.

[gfmoto]

Another option is a combination of the Super ATV 2" lift that just go on the shocks and a new skid plate. Probably the easiest way to "lift" it and still keep ratios pretty close.

[REDRIDER]

Another option is a combination of the Super ATV 2" lift that just go on the shocks and a new skid plate. Probably the easiest way to "lift" it and still keep ratios pretty close.

If you are talking about the spring spacers I would not recommend those to anyone. It basically just ups your spring preload so you end up with a stiff ride and less travel.

[glenlivet]

Spring spacers only made sense, and not much at that, on the old primitive five position cam ring shocks (designed 60 years ago) that have run out of range. If you have enough threaded shank left on your CF Moto shock preload adjustment then spacers won't give you anything that you can't get by just running the ring nut that much further down the thread.