All-season tracks for ATVs, according to their creators, are not afraid of sand, stones or swamp slime. We decided to check it by installing S-PRO tracks on Stels ATV 850 Guepard.
Our Guepard in the maximum configuration Trophy Pro with an electric steering booster and additional radiator on the front trunk is equipped with the 2-cylinder 67 h.p. engine. Nobody complained about a deficit of capacity or torque, and the track set of 172 kg was easily pulled. This symbiosis of tracks and ATV looks like a real monster truck. In any case, it is rather large: the clearance is 40 cm, but when we install tracks on Stels, even a tall driver has to jump up to leap into the saddle, as the clearance increases to more than half a metre.
Of course, in this configuration it is rather hard to control the wheel despite the steering booster. Especially, when you need to turn to 180° at several steps on a small patch.
Lugs bite into the earth and do not allow any movement of the wheel (even by a couple of centimetres), thus standing in place. So, you have to use the gas and ensure the ATV is moving at least a little and free the steering mast. But all difficulties with steering at small speeds are instantly forgotten when you easily step over a fallen tree that a usual ATV can never do. You will never manage with a long climb on a steep and loose sandy slope without tracks.
But on tracks you cannot quite fly with the wind. Such a Stels, as any other ATV on tracks, is not going to move in a straight line – as soon as you slightly pull the wheel on a bump, you feel it pulling you to the side. This means that it is dangerous to speed along in such a vehicle. Besides, on overdrive the variator belt slips at any small rise, so you need to drive in low gear. The most important thing is that such vehicles deliver real pleasure in real off-road situations which are in principle not accessible for wheels.
Most similar vehicles, whether originating from Canada, the United States or China, are made like snowmobiles using track slides. We have a light and reliable structure, but when there is any sand or dirt between the slide and the track, the plastic runners become worn-out in a few kilometres. S-PRO trucks were designed to account for all-season use in Russia. The role of slides here is played by guide rollers with closed type bearings. It is heavier, but more reliable – you can drive the ATV on such tracks at your utmost in any rail or snow, on sand and dirt.
However, only after rather long use can we appreciate the durability of the domestic S-PRO track set fully designed and made in Russia. We did not find direct defects during our short meeting. Once the front right track dismantled due to poor tension. But if you aren't useless with your hands, you can solve the problem in a few seconds using a wrench. In addition, the producer gives its warranty for these vehicles and promises available spare parts to buyers.
The price of S-PRO is RUB 145,000 and it is universal not only in terms of all seasons. It can be installed on almost all ATV marks using adapter brackets. The only thing is that you will have to service the ATV undercarriage more often due to the higher load.
VEHICLES Magazine | Text by Roman Romanishin