Razzar
07-14-2011, 09:51 PM
Hello everyone i though i would take the time here to give this ATV a review and hope to save other people the time of trying to research the Gio Beast for info
I will break it down into 3 catagories and give the pro's and cons that i have come across so far and rate it on a 1 to 10 scale.
The first thing a recommend is that you spend extra time on the hex nuts and cotter pins on the front end.After my first time out i noticed 1 pin was gone and the upper connections needed to be tightened more. In 1 case i had to add an lock washer so i could get the pin hole low enough after tightening so the cotter pin would work. After my second big run i noticed that the main bolt on the rear swing arm needed a washer. It would be clacking allot. The bearing itself was fine but the tube was a little to short. Make sure you use a hardened washer and not the kind you get at Rona. Any car parts store will have them.
The carb is the new improved klien copy.When the atv is warmed up it is fine but it runs like crap until it is warm.The first 20hrs on the atv and i felt like it was lacking power.(the only upgrade i did was the cdi).But after that initial 20hrs i noticed a improvement in the power and found it to be good.
Catagorie 1 (logging roads, light trails) Rating 8.5
After i loosened off the front shocks to the softest position they could go i found the ride quiet good.No problems with the power or speed and found the gear ratio to be good. This was done on my own and doubling a teenager.The handling was tight and was more then adequate for this purpose
Catagorie 2 (medium trails, ruff rocks, medium hills) rating 7.5
When riding as a single rider the Gio Beast handled these condition with out any problems.There was no issues with the handling and in most cases i was able to due the hills in second gear.There was no near misses or tips and it did not stall on me in any bad situations. When doubling i was still able to due all these things but on the hills i needed to gear down to the 1st gear allot of the time.
Catagorie 3 (Off Camber trails, steep hills, trenches, big rocks) rating 7
Once again i was able to due all these things as a single rider. I would not try any of these with a passenger. While the polarises and honda's could due these at a faster speed then me in some cases, i was still able to go everywhere they did. In fact the riders i encountered during my week were very surprised were i was able to go and the fact i could go everywhere they went.There was only 1 hill i could not get up but i made it farther then the polaris atv could (rider experience also plays a big part in this)The only main issue i have here is the torque.I could make it up these big hills but only in 1st gear.The difference in torque from 1st to 2nd is noticeable.The honda's and polarises could go up these hills with more speed.
Pro's-
-For the cost there is no atv i have seen that can due all this for the price
-So far the durability of the atv seems good. I really pushed it hitting rocks at good speed and powering though mud and off camber roots.I checked over the atv after each ride and found no problems
-Gas mileage was good for the type of riding i was doing
-Starts each time so far
Cons-
-carb still isn't that great, i will be trying the mikuni soon
-power ration between 1st and 2nd.First doesn't rev out high enough and the torque drop once hitting second is to much
-Battery kind of sucks.It does its job but leaks out the breather tube all the time.I had to add a longer tube so it leaks out below the chain guard and not on it.
-A longer seat would be nice so doubling could be more comfortable
The only thing i will add is that i still have under 100hrs on it so i will update this is anything else goes wrong
Could some one with experience tell me if changing to the mikuni carb and re jetting it with the new air filter would help with the torque issue?
This trip was at Duffy lake in kamloops. For those that don't know this area is run by the Kamloops dirt bike club and has an incredible amount of trails and areas to ride in
*UPDATE* Aug 2011
Ok took the beast back out to the duffy lake area with some friends with Honda 350's. This time i had the Mikunni carb. Everything was going good till the last day.
1. The small center piece in the tail pipe fell out at some point during a long trail ride.
2. Rear brake caliper was stuck on. It made a rather nice smell. I just disconnected it and left it off.
3. I noticed the chain was getting lose and rubbing on the rear swing arm. When i got back to camp i went to tighten it and what did i find but the 2 brackets on the swingarm that connect to the casing holding the rear axel were broken. The one side was completly broke off and the other side was 3/4 broke off. Luckly that was on the last day of our trip.Now i will see what the warranty claim processes will be like.
I will break it down into 3 catagories and give the pro's and cons that i have come across so far and rate it on a 1 to 10 scale.
The first thing a recommend is that you spend extra time on the hex nuts and cotter pins on the front end.After my first time out i noticed 1 pin was gone and the upper connections needed to be tightened more. In 1 case i had to add an lock washer so i could get the pin hole low enough after tightening so the cotter pin would work. After my second big run i noticed that the main bolt on the rear swing arm needed a washer. It would be clacking allot. The bearing itself was fine but the tube was a little to short. Make sure you use a hardened washer and not the kind you get at Rona. Any car parts store will have them.
The carb is the new improved klien copy.When the atv is warmed up it is fine but it runs like crap until it is warm.The first 20hrs on the atv and i felt like it was lacking power.(the only upgrade i did was the cdi).But after that initial 20hrs i noticed a improvement in the power and found it to be good.
Catagorie 1 (logging roads, light trails) Rating 8.5
After i loosened off the front shocks to the softest position they could go i found the ride quiet good.No problems with the power or speed and found the gear ratio to be good. This was done on my own and doubling a teenager.The handling was tight and was more then adequate for this purpose
Catagorie 2 (medium trails, ruff rocks, medium hills) rating 7.5
When riding as a single rider the Gio Beast handled these condition with out any problems.There was no issues with the handling and in most cases i was able to due the hills in second gear.There was no near misses or tips and it did not stall on me in any bad situations. When doubling i was still able to due all these things but on the hills i needed to gear down to the 1st gear allot of the time.
Catagorie 3 (Off Camber trails, steep hills, trenches, big rocks) rating 7
Once again i was able to due all these things as a single rider. I would not try any of these with a passenger. While the polarises and honda's could due these at a faster speed then me in some cases, i was still able to go everywhere they did. In fact the riders i encountered during my week were very surprised were i was able to go and the fact i could go everywhere they went.There was only 1 hill i could not get up but i made it farther then the polaris atv could (rider experience also plays a big part in this)The only main issue i have here is the torque.I could make it up these big hills but only in 1st gear.The difference in torque from 1st to 2nd is noticeable.The honda's and polarises could go up these hills with more speed.
Pro's-
-For the cost there is no atv i have seen that can due all this for the price
-So far the durability of the atv seems good. I really pushed it hitting rocks at good speed and powering though mud and off camber roots.I checked over the atv after each ride and found no problems
-Gas mileage was good for the type of riding i was doing
-Starts each time so far
Cons-
-carb still isn't that great, i will be trying the mikuni soon
-power ration between 1st and 2nd.First doesn't rev out high enough and the torque drop once hitting second is to much
-Battery kind of sucks.It does its job but leaks out the breather tube all the time.I had to add a longer tube so it leaks out below the chain guard and not on it.
-A longer seat would be nice so doubling could be more comfortable
The only thing i will add is that i still have under 100hrs on it so i will update this is anything else goes wrong
Could some one with experience tell me if changing to the mikuni carb and re jetting it with the new air filter would help with the torque issue?
This trip was at Duffy lake in kamloops. For those that don't know this area is run by the Kamloops dirt bike club and has an incredible amount of trails and areas to ride in
*UPDATE* Aug 2011
Ok took the beast back out to the duffy lake area with some friends with Honda 350's. This time i had the Mikunni carb. Everything was going good till the last day.
1. The small center piece in the tail pipe fell out at some point during a long trail ride.
2. Rear brake caliper was stuck on. It made a rather nice smell. I just disconnected it and left it off.
3. I noticed the chain was getting lose and rubbing on the rear swing arm. When i got back to camp i went to tighten it and what did i find but the 2 brackets on the swingarm that connect to the casing holding the rear axel were broken. The one side was completly broke off and the other side was 3/4 broke off. Luckly that was on the last day of our trip.Now i will see what the warranty claim processes will be like.