Best tranny for trail riding/hills/woods

zackattack91 · 12-21-2016, 12:41 PM

Wondering what's better for hills and trail riding. Semi auto 125, auto 125, or CVT 150? Is the semi auto worth the it to change and drop gears if you can't get up a hill? Or will the auto 125 or 150 get an average 150 pound guy up a steep hill? Thanks in advance. Just don't wanna buy one without knowing the advantage and disadvantage of the different transmissions.
Also, which brand has better quality frame/welds and overall sturdiness? Taotao or coolster?

**JerryHawk250** · 12-21-2016, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackattack91

Wondering what's better for hills and trail riding. Semi auto 125, auto 125, or CVT 150? Is the semi auto worth the it to change and drop gears if you can't get up a hill? Or will the auto 125 or 150 get an average 150 pound guy up a steep hill? Thanks in advance. Just don't wanna buy one without knowing the advantage and disadvantage of the different transmissions.
Also, which brand has better quality frame/welds and overall sturdiness? Taotao or coolster?

Hi Zack and welcome to the forum. I have the Coolster 150 with the CVT. I'm about 185 and have no problem hauling my big butt up hills and through mud. we took a trip a few weeks back where they had some pretty steep hills and my daughter stuck right with me on the trails but she only weighs about 100#. The Coolster has been a good reliable ATV. I've had it for 2 years and only changed the rear break pads.

**JerryHawk250** · 12-21-2016, 02:10 PM

Just to give you an idea what the Coolster is capable of here is a picture of one of the hills on the trail it went up. I wish I had a picture of the Coolster. A little scary but made it. Note: This picture was just to show the hill. We had made it to the top and I took a picture of someone who followed us up.
Attachment 7976

zackattack91 · 12-21-2016, 03:19 PM

Nice man. So the 150s have the CVT auto. The 125s have just a regular auto? I've heard that the CVT belts are hard to maintain. How is the CVT different than the auto on the 125s?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

Just to give you an idea what the Coolster is capable of here is a picture of one of the hills on the trail it went up. I wish I had a picture of the Coolster. A little scary but made it.
Attachment 7976

zackattack91 · 12-21-2016, 03:20 PM

Also, I've never seen an atv with a cage or a canopy. Or was that picture just to show the hill?

**JerryHawk250** · 12-21-2016, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackattack91

Nice man. So the 150s have the CVT auto. The 125s have just a regular auto? I've heard that the CVT belts are hard to maintain. How is the CVT different than the auto on the 125s?

I'm not sure how the 125's are set up. In two years I have not had any problems with the belt. Now I jinx myself and it will more than likely break now that I said that lol.

**JerryHawk250** · 12-21-2016, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zackattack91

Also, I've never seen an atv with a cage or a canopy. Or was that picture just to show the hill?

That was just to show the hill. We had made it to the top and I took a picture of someone who followed us up. It just goes to show you the you don't have to spend $15-20,000 to climb a hill. lol

Swampy · 12-21-2016, 04:55 PM

I will second Jerry's thoughts about the 150 with the CVT being able to go up whatever I have needed it to. I have two Kandis with that set up and purposely have tried to find climbs it couldn't do. I weigh 170#s and have had no problems getting up some tough grades.

**JerryHawk250** · 12-21-2016, 05:24 PM

It also has a lot of pulling power. I have towed a 550 grizzly at least a 1/4 mile threw some trails and another time a 150cc buggy. Impressive for its size. I fabricated a hitch so I can hook a tow strap to it with a shackle. Don't mine the dirt. I took this picture after riding the spillway. Lots of wet sticky sand.

zackattack91 · 12-22-2016, 12:24 PM

Thanks guys. So can someone explain the auto on a 125 to the CVT auto on the 150s. Like mechanically and which is "better"? Thanks

Numbrseven · 12-22-2016, 12:44 PM

I think the fully automatics are both the same - CVT.

Mudflap · 12-22-2016, 01:13 PM

Manual clutch and shift is my preference mainly because I like to run low RPMs sometimes for stealth. A CVT needs a certain RPM just to move, and so too does an auto clutch manual shift engine.

Weldangrind · 12-22-2016, 01:19 PM

The CVT on the 125 is an oil bath type, quite similar to the small Honda motors, like the XR50. Very good and reliable system, but I don't know how much mass they can overcome.

The CVT on a GY6 scooter-based motor is a dry belt, and it's very tunable. You can buy higher quality belts, better clutch material, stiffer springs, assorted roller weights, etc. You can tune it to launch hard and dig in or tune it to come on soft for a gentle ride. They are an excellent design.

I've told this story before, but I used my 150 GY6 quad to pull Jr. dragsters 1/2 mile back to the pits. The dragster had a teenager in it, and my son was riding two-up with me on the quad. I was about 215lbs at the time, and he was probably about 125lbs back then. That quad took a beating and never complained. I still have it, and I've never changed the belt or the CVT parts.

Merlin · 12-22-2016, 02:11 PM

I use CVT on some of my motorized bicycle builds and you ride up a telephone pole with mine.

katoranger · 12-22-2016, 03:47 PM

The 150 CVT in the buggy(much heavier) does well. I tuned it for low speed pulling power. In the winter we have had two adults in it with 2 adults or 3 kids on sleds or tubes behind it. That belt is abused. We did have one fail than damaged parts. I think we got it pretty hot.

Nice thing about the CVT. You can't be in the wrong gear.

12-21-2016, 12:41 PM	#1
zackattack91 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86	Best tranny for trail riding/hills/woods Wondering what's better for hills and trail riding. Semi auto 125, auto 125, or CVT 150? Is the semi auto worth the it to change and drop gears if you can't get up a hill? Or will the auto 125 or 150 get an average 150 pound guy up a steep hill? Thanks in advance. Just don't wanna buy one without knowing the advantage and disadvantage of the different transmissions. Also, which brand has better quality frame/welds and overall sturdiness? Taotao or coolster?
	0

12-21-2016, 02:10 PM	#3
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,533	Just to give you an idea what the Coolster is capable of here is a picture of one of the hills on the trail it went up. I wish I had a picture of the Coolster. A little scary but made it. Note: This picture was just to show the hill. We had made it to the top and I took a picture of someone who followed us up. Attachment 7976 __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel Last edited by JerryHawk250; 11-21-2018 at 07:59 AM.
	1

12-21-2016, 04:55 PM	#8
Swampy Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 218	I will second Jerry's thoughts about the 150 with the CVT being able to go up whatever I have needed it to. I have two Kandis with that set up and purposely have tried to find climbs it couldn't do. I weigh 170#s and have had no problems getting up some tough grades. __________________ 1986 TT350, 2002 Grizzly 660, 2009 TR125 and two 2015 Kandi 150cc Quads.
	0

12-21-2016, 05:24 PM	#9
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,533	It also has a lot of pulling power. I have towed a 550 grizzly at least a 1/4 mile threw some trails and another time a 150cc buggy. Impressive for its size. I fabricated a hitch so I can hook a tow strap to it with a shackle. Don't mine the dirt. I took this picture after riding the spillway. Lots of wet sticky sand. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

12-22-2016, 01:19 PM	#13
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	The CVT on the 125 is an oil bath type, quite similar to the small Honda motors, like the XR50. Very good and reliable system, but I don't know how much mass they can overcome. The CVT on a GY6 scooter-based motor is a dry belt, and it's very tunable. You can buy higher quality belts, better clutch material, stiffer springs, assorted roller weights, etc. You can tune it to launch hard and dig in or tune it to come on soft for a gentle ride. They are an excellent design. I've told this story before, but I used my 150 GY6 quad to pull Jr. dragsters 1/2 mile back to the pits. The dragster had a teenager in it, and my son was riding two-up with me on the quad. I was about 215lbs at the time, and he was probably about 125lbs back then. That quad took a beating and never complained. I still have it, and I've never changed the belt or the CVT parts. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	3

12-21-2016, 03:20 PM	#5
zackattack91 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86	Also, I've never seen an atv with a cage or a canopy. Or was that picture just to show the hill?
	0

12-22-2016, 12:24 PM	#10
zackattack91 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 86	Thanks guys. So can someone explain the auto on a 125 to the CVT auto on the 150s. Like mechanically and which is "better"? Thanks
	0

12-22-2016, 12:44 PM	#11
Numbrseven Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Florida Boy Posts: 89	I think the fully automatics are both the same - CVT.
	0

12-22-2016, 01:13 PM	#12
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,870	Manual clutch and shift is my preference mainly because I like to run low RPMs sometimes for stealth. A CVT needs a certain RPM just to move, and so too does an auto clutch manual shift engine.
	2

12-22-2016, 02:11 PM	#14
Merlin Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,107	I use CVT on some of my motorized bicycle builds and you ride up a telephone pole with mine. __________________ Bashan Blaze Mods: Alloy Rim's, Muffler, Mukuni VM26 Carb, Foam Filter, Tachometer, Volt Meter,LED Headlight, LED Blinkers
	0

12-22-2016, 03:47 PM	#15
katoranger Join Date: May 2007 Location: Altamont, Kansas Posts: 15,103	The 150 CVT in the buggy(much heavier) does well. I tuned it for low speed pulling power. In the winter we have had two adults in it with 2 adults or 3 kids on sleds or tubes behind it. That belt is abused. We did have one fail than damaged parts. I think we got it pretty hot. Nice thing about the CVT. You can't be in the wrong gear. __________________ You meet the nicest people on a Honda Clone.
	0