Hi, i have recently acquired a 1997 Yamaha 4x4 Kodiak and as i am pleased with the performance, i would love if i could make it go faster. It's a manual shift and at 5th gear it seems to only get up to 35mph. it seems like these aren't really built for speed, but i would like to change that. im not to savvy with atv's but i have worked on my fair share of cars so im not a newbie when it comes to auto-tech. If i could, i would like the help of making to go faster. Thanks for any and all help.

 

Thats not normal. This quad in perfect running condition should top out around 48mph most likely on a level surface. Kodiak wasn't a speed demon by any stretch of the imagination, but 35 is slow for just about any name brand quad. Unless its in low range or something I guess.

 

The 97 Kodiak is just a re named 400 Big Bear and a 400 BigBear is just a 350 Big Bear that has been stroked out alittle. 64mm vs 71mm. http://www.atvreviewnetwork.com/enth...icle2=80&go=Go
There just greared low for trails and bull work.
My 350 Big bear would scream in top gear but only do 40mph and need a few down shifts and bleed off speed when a gravel road incline came up.

But 35 mph seems slow, does it have heavier aftermarket tires? Is the air filter clean?

 

the air filter is not new but it is clean and i have recently changed the oil in it to, thinking that it might help. but it still tops out at only around 35ish maybe just a couple higher at the most. and no, it doesn't have heavier tires, it does have an aftermarket winch, but its not that heavy of one.