ok, im slighty more on the agressive side of riding. im looking for a new ATV, and i really want to stick with yamaha, as ive had good luck in the past with them.

my debate is, should i go with the bigger, badder grizz, or stay with the more nimble kodiak.

how is the handling compared to e/o?, i heard the kodiak doesnt handle much diff at all from the reviews ive read. the grizz ive heard is top heavy, yet ATV magazine recommended it for agressive riders [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]?

i know theyll both climb anywhere, but is the grizz worth the extra $$? or should i just be happy with the more compact kodiak...

 

I can only give my opinion on the grizz...as I haven't ridden on the new kodiaks. Saying that the Grizzly is a real powerhouse that I must admit is a little teadious to move around on a tight trail but the power and ride are second to none. Also consider the ground clearance advantage.
It also depends on your size, if you're a big guy the Grizz would be a much better choice than the kodiak just because of its dimensions. You don't want to look like a clown on a clown atv [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Try to get a ride on both...then make your own decision.
Also remember that the 05 Kodiak is the first year it has an IRS, so be wary of new technology that hasn't been tested by the public. I also believe there is a maintenance issue with the kodiak, something about a grease fitting not being accesible...do a search for it and find out.

Matt

 

the real issue is do you want power or not? if you do, then get the griz. the kodiak is a nice machine, but with irs on it now, it is just a mini griz, but not much smaller. so, what little you might loose on a corner, and i mean little, you'll make up for in the open area's. also, add some spacers, or itp offset rims, and new rubber, and you'l power slide the griz all day long. just my 02

 

when spending that much money in the first place, spend a couple more pennies and just get the grizzly..i got a quote for a griz for 6800 and a kodiak for 6300...ended up going with the se grizzly and havent regreted it once

 

I am sure that the Kodiak is a great climber, but if you want to be able to go up in high and accelerate all the way up and catch some air at the top, then you may want to go with the Griz. I love taking my griz up insane hills and ripping up them so hard that I can let off the gas just as I get to the crest and then lifting gently off the top and setting down on the awesome suspension.

 

it wont be a while till i get one.....

but im seriously edging towards the grizz..... just worried bout an IRS...

how is the roll compared to a sportsman (an older one, not 05)?

 

with the stock Dunlop tires the roll is pretty bad with the shocks on the stock setting...i bumped my shocks up to the highest setting and it helpd out alot...but i just bought some 26" ITP 589s 6-ply tire and boy oh boy did it ever make a difference with the body roll...if you want it even more stable then you can always buy spacers...but just adjusting the shocks and aftermarket wheels/tires help it out ALOT!

 

I think you should also take in consideration (and you did not say) where you ride.
raw power is not allways an advantage... ie. grizz. if you ride in the woods all that power is useless.

I come from the "dirtbike world" ......this has been proven long ago, and when people figured out that you don't need a 500 cc dirt bike, and it is actually easier to ride a 250, unless you ride in a deep desert sand all the time.

i choose the kodiak because I ride in tight wooded area wit lots of sharp turns, I hardly have a chance to go over 40MPH even on some of the ranch road. if you ride on rocky or loose terrain or where it is tight wit lots of turn you better of with a kodiak , it has plenty power.

if you ride in an open flat sandy area a grizz may be better for ya.

you can ride the kodiak agressivly if you chose.

I have made the same mistake a year or so ago when I got a honda rubicon 500cc full size machine , I was always fighting the darn thing even after I put a WARN 424 in it. it was too big, sold it after 2 months, and got a rancher, had 10 times more fun on it , even it was much slower and less powerful.

the kodiak is an awsome machine ,nimble, has plenty power and features of the grizz( IRS , 2or 4 wheeldrive with a button , and difflock.
the IRS was copied off the grizz so it is tested.

yes it is new to the owners, and yamaha have put a funny grease fitting on it, but we figured out in a hurry that all you need is a right angle grease fitting which slides on the top ofthe zerk.
mine and others had some rear brake squeek , but it seems that it is going away once you put about 20 hours on it. this is a minor issue. it would not deter me of buying an other one.
I am sure the grizz is a great machine and it has its place

also as it was mentioned before if you weigh 250LB or more get a griz. I am 175-180 and the kodiak hauls my a*s just fine.
on the other hand ...some people (man mostly ) are just power hungry, they have to have the biggest engine and the most powerful engine, regardless of the riding they do.
I did not mean to imply this to anybody here, just my observation in general.

 

As a kodiak and grizz owner, I can give you a little comparison. I love the kodiak when it comes to alot of turning especially in the snow and mountains using 4x4. I live in wyoming and spend alot of time in the rockies, and find that it is more rider friendly on the arms. But when it comes to handling, the grizz is second to none. I have actually turned the shocks up to gain more stability on side hills and rock walls. Also as an avid hunter, i have put 800 lbs of elk on the grizz and still had power to burn, but kept the ground clearance i needed.
I have put both through alot of the same and the grizz always does the job better. I can't say anything bad about the kodiak as it still gets used every year. My wife and son put alot of hours on it. She has shorter arms and has a hard time riding the grizz so it fits it's purpose for her. We just got a rhino this year and look forward to testing it this spring, but i am sure they will all get used.
The best thing to do is go ride them both. Make sure you ride a little in 4x4. They both will do the job, one just a little easier than the other.

 

thats a good write up generalsmc....... it all depends what you want to use it for.....

when you put the 800 Lb elk on the ATv ....where did you sit after that , and how you managed to lift it? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]