Twice as nice: Bombardier breaks the one-machine, one-rider model with a safe way to bring along a friend

Canadian Forest Industries, Apr 2004 by Elmer, Howard

By Howard Elmer

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The two-person Traxter Max from Bombardier is putting the utility ATV to work - safely. Apart from being a new model, this is the first ATV built to accommodate two riders, with the manufacturer's approval. I emphasize safely because this machine is really built for two people. Now there are a lot of folks who ride double on other machines, but they are doing so at their peril. First, the manufacturer will not guarantee their machine in the case of an accident involving a passenger; and second, frankly, those ATVs are not designed for multiple riders.

Statistics bear this out. The majority of injuries and fatalities on ATVs are the result of rollovers; often backwards, brought on by an unbalanced load - as in a passenger where there shouldn't be one. Owners must understand that the same principles that make an ATV work on rough terrain (height, short wheelbase, soft tires and suspension) also make it dangerous if it's overloaded or out of balance.

Enter the Max. Most manufacturers (Arctic Cat being the most recent) are looking at two-rider machines. It's simple logic that the market is there, particularly when you look at the price of today's high-end ATVs. If anything, it has been legal wrangling that has held up new models, but with the success of the Max there should soon be more.

Longer & Stronger

Based on the veteran Traxter, this stretched chassis puts the rear axle behind the passenger where the support for the extra weight is needed. That axle is supported by a rigid swing-arm rear suspension, which cuts down the clearance and shock travel but carries its load over rough terrain competently.

Because of its length, the Traxter's turning radius is cumbersome - but it turns safely, and the passenger enjoys a comfortable raised seat, sprung backrest and proper foot wells and plenty of protected handholds. This ATV is full of compromises, in size, weight and suspension. But, if carrying two people is your intent, then you'll understand that what you might consider a loss in performance is in fact a gain in safety, comfort, or practicality.

The Max uses the 498cc Rotax single cylinder four-stroke engine and Bombardier's Visco-lok traction system. The transmission is a five-speed auto/thumbshift manual that works with an automotive style shifter with a Park, Neutral, Reverse and Hi or Lo setting. Power is transferred by solid shaft drive to the front and rear axle, with the front differential engaging when the Visco-lok senses traction loss at the rear wheels. This is a transparent system with no input required by the rider. When the wheels slip, it works. The only down side is that without a lockable axle, low-speed four-wheel drive manoeuvres are out.

Most manufacturers have figured out that ATVs should start in any gear and the Max does just that - if you remember to step on the foot brake. From there, put the shifter in Hi or Lo and go. A word on the automatic transmission: on my tester it worked fine, but the auto gear changes are announced with a sledge-hammer-like clunk. I found that I preferred to use the tranny in manual mode and shift with the thumb control. The difference being that when I shifted, I could momentarily back off the gas and achieve a smooth quiet shift; with the automatic you don't know the shift is coming and - well, kerchunk!

The main difference is that the automatic will cycle back to first gear when you stop, unlike the manual, which, of course, means you do it yourself. Still I prefer the quieter version, and for that matter the manual works well, particularly for picking your way through the bush or towing where you don't want the tranny shifting on you anyway.

Tow a Ton

The Max weighs in at 795 pounds, dry. With two men and assorted gear you can easily add 500 lb to that. With this weight on, it's still rated to tow 1 100 lb. I had it loaded with more than the allowable limit and it handled it well - and frankly this is what the Max is designed for. Certainly one of the reasons for its towing ability is the weight and length of chassis that transfer more traction to the ground. This is key, as many ATVs have loads of torque, which only serves to spin the tires because they lack down force. With the Max you get an off-road pickup truck that will get you, passenger and all your gear in and out of the worksite, camping area, or hunt/fishing destination. It's also great for a Sunday trail ride, but if you're looking for a nimble, aggressive trail machine, this isn't it.

Riding the Max alone, there is no perception that you're somehow oversize on the trail, with the exception of the turning radius. Its trail-manners are solid.

The front suspension is of the independent double A-arm type with 7 inches of travel, and 7.5 inches of travel on the rear swingarm. Engine braking on the Rotax is assisted by two drilled hydraulic disc brakes on the front wheels, and a single hydraulic disc at the rear. For parking there is a handle bar brake lever clamp, and the tranny has a Park feature as well.