I am between these 2 atv's. Mainly used for hauling stuff around the yard and some minor trail riding and messing around in the snow. I dn't know anybody who has a utility atv, all of my friends have sports. I like the Kodiak because it has the locking diff but the Vinson has 50cc's more. How tight is the front diff on the Vin? Is the top speed on the Vin alot higher than the Kodiak? I am 6'2" 200 lbs. I plan on putting a winch on whatever one I get. Any input on these is appreciated. I am looking in the 02'-04' model years. Thanks

 

thats whats nice about suzuki you don't need the locker usually by the time you do it's too late anyway they are pretty equivalent machines but i'd go with the vinny all the way course i'm partial to suzuki anyway

 

Yamaha Kodiak 450. This is the first ATV I ever owned and it is one heck of a machine. It can pull whatever you want. It has plenty torque and power. I had it up to 53 MPH on the road but normally I ride way under 40...so speed usually isn't a issue. I love the auto ultramatic tranny plus the engine braking. I went down some pretty steep hills on my trails and I didn't even need the brakes..Its a pretty amazing feature. I bought the plow and this thing just claws through the snow. I rode some of my trails out back when we got a foot of snow one night with drifting. It went right threw. One place snow was super deep and I couldn't go any further...or so I thought. I lock the diffs and it climbed right through. I then switched to 2wheel drive and played and its alot of fun! I also hauled my trailer around which had alot of weight with no problems. This is one cool workhorse, playmachine, trail rider. U won't be dissapointed [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

When I was buying my first Ute I was stuck between these two also. I went with the Vinson because it is much sportier and that suites my riding style better. The Vinny is faster but I'm not sure by how much. Another reason I went with the Suzuki is because of all the reviews. It has won every 500cc shootout it has ever entered.

Are you looking at the new Kodiaks with IRS or the older SRA ones? If it's the SRA ones then get the Vinson. If it's the IRS ones then get the one that best suites your riding style.

IRS gives you a little more ground clearance and has a more comfortable ride.

SRA gives you more of the handling ability of a sport quad and it's more stable on the tippy stuff.

You can't go wrong with either but before picking I'd take a test ride on both. Good luck.

 

Afriend of mine has the Vinson. When I rode it, it just didn't seem to be as solid as the Grizzly/Kodiak. Of course I may be partial to the Yamaha, but whenever I ride someone elses quad I try to be impartial.
The best things about the Kodiak are the shift on the fly 2 to 4 wheel drive, low range in either 2 or 4 wheel drive and the locking front dif. It covers just about every situation you can get into.

 

I agree the locker is very nice on any rig. But as for your comment about not being as solid I would have to disagree. The Vinson has a very very good track record as do the Kodiak. As for the Griz, it's not quite as good as either (track record that is).

Now that the Kodiak has IRS I would say it's the better "all around" quad out of the two. If you're looking for something a little sportier (faster, better sliding ability, jumping) the Vinson is the quad for you.

If the locker is the only thing that's holding you back from getting the Suzuki then there's plenty of aftermarket ones you can get. If you have your heart set on an IRS machine the Kodiak is a very good choice.

Which ever you get I would get a winch and aftermarket tires. I still haven't found a machine with decient stock tires.

 

Outrage, your pictures are awsome. Takes me back to the days when I was at King Salmon.

 

Thanks. Must be in the military?

 

I was, now I'm just doing it for the money.

 

Yeah me too.

Just got back from a ride in Jim Creek. Two and a half feet of snow and all the streams were frozen over. Went back to the glacier. There was 11 of us and we had an excellent Barbque. Live is gooood.