Im looking to buy an auto for the wife. I think i have it narrowed down to a Yamaha.
My questions are about the bubber band, as so many put it. Anyone have trouble with the newer, belt drives? Water getting in? I realize if you go over the intake, then itll come in,...im talking about otherwise.
How do they handle the cold? we ride on frozen lakes in the winter, and theres always snow dusting around.
Anyone have a belt break? do you carry a spare belt just in case? is it something that can be replaced on the trail?any special tools to change one?
On the yamis, is it recommended to be in low range, like the polaris?
do you have to be at a standstill, to shift from low to high?
any special maintance, with regard to the belt drive?
Ive been riding motorcyles and quads for many years, but never owned an auto. I know they have come a long way in the last 5 years, with better sealing, and smoothness.

 

well i guess ur talking about the 450 kodiak with high low but my kodiak does great in the winter ihad water up to the seat not belt slippage or anything runs great

 

Im undecided on the 450 or 400. How do you like yours? enough power? ever wanted a low range, or is it ok the way it is?

 

yea i would like low range but i made it threw every mud hole pull alot of stuff and never really needed it i love my quad and the dirt devils are a great tire for my riding type

 

Love my auto and my Dirt Devils, great combination........

 

I had a y2k kodiak and it had high/low range,never used low except in mud.Never had or heard of a belt in one breaking.Never got screwed up with water(not from lack of trying though),they don't notice the cold that I know of.The clutches should be cleaned up and re-greased once a year(more often if you ride in a lot of dust),if you watch the first time its done you will be able to do it yourself after that.
Get the '05 450,its gotta ROCK!!!!!!

 

we haven't had any problems with our o5 kodiak or the grizzly. once we got water in the case for the belt cause i swamped it.if you get it wet you're done, it just slips until you get the water out, when we got home i took the case off cleaned it out and it works great.

 

the Yamaha belt drives seem to work well, & are relitively resistant to water... they are less tunable than the Kawi & Polaris belt drives, but for use on your wifes quad, should offer years of service with little complaints... especially on the models you are looking at... you should always get a low range if it is available, as there are very few operators that would not have used it once in a while, & it will be worth more as a used quad, with the low range ( I use my wifes 300 Prairie to plow with... I didn't want to hang that boat anchor on to MY quad...LOL... )...don't worry about the cold, the snowmobiles use the same basic system, & IMO, the belt drive works better in the cold... I have heard of some quads sucking in enough snow to wet the belt, but these were quads busting trail in 2 ft or so of fresh powder... you'll be fine, on the lake, with lightly blowing snow...

 

Thanks for the replies. I bought a new 04 Kodiak yesterday. They were clearanceing them out, and its 900 bucks less than an 05. I figure my wife and my two daughters, would be more comfortable driving on a solid axle quad. They only drive a couple times a year, and I was concerned that the irs would be too tippy feeling, and would intimidate them. Ive only riden it for about 1 hr, but so far, I really like it. It feels as planted as my foreman, nice and stable feeling.

 

Congrats,did you get a 400?