Hey all.

I need some input on your thoughts, I'm looking at 2 used atvs and looking for pros and cons.
They are a 2003 Yamaha Kodiak 450 and a 2002 Honda Foreman 450. Both are 4x4 and in equal shape.

This would be my first 4x4 and would not be used for nothing extreme and would be used for work and play.

Any thoughts would be a BIG help.

Thanks Jeff

I know this is dumb to post in the Honda forum since Honda and Yamaha riders I believe are the most loyal....but thought any imput is good.

 

What kind of prices?

 

3200 for the Kodiak and 2900 for the Foreman, both under 500 miles.

 

Ive got one of each, and they act totally different.
The foreman is the brute with the low end torque, and the feeling like its built like a tank. Always starts and runs fine, but its not a racecar...its very slow to rev, and handles like a 3/4 ton truck, with no load. (real stiff and solid). Its much more stable on sidehills and on fast corners than the kodiak. Its probably due to the lower center of gravity.
Neither is great in the mud, the differential in back is usually the first thing to hang up, when in the ruts.
The honda of course, is a manually shifted gear tranny, the kodiak has a belt drive cvt. The kodiak loves to rev, and in a drag race, the honda is very quickly left behind. The honda feels better in a powerslide, in 2wd,and if the suspension was a bit more compliant, would be the better sport ride.
The kodiak has a low range, and differential lock, and a much higher tow rating..which i think has more to do with the kodiaks 3 disk brakes and the honda has 3 drums. They will both pull heavy loads, but the brakes are much stronger on the kodiak.
For ease of use, the kodiak is pretty simple to ride, leave it in high and go.
They both have been bullet proof, no breakdowns on either one yet, but the kodiaks auto tranny has more maintance issues than the honda does. The weights , and pulley need to be periodically cleaned and lubed, especially if its been in deep water or dusty conditions.
Id say ride them both, youll like the way one feels over the other, and id use that as the tiebreaker. I like them both, but for different reasons, The honda with the air cooled motor is much simpler and less work to keep up with, and is more of a tractor than a racecar...the kodiak and the water cooled motor, have more things to keep up on, but is much more a hotrod...and even sounds like it. If you like low revs and big torque, better than quick high revving motors, honda will be your pick.
Good luck, but either will be a good choice. Just find the one that matches your style of riding.

 

The 03 Kodiak doesnt have diff lock.

 

Mines a 04, and i thought the only difference to 03 was the override button.

 

Sorry hondabuster your right......I was thinking of the 400 Kodiak[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

Hondabuster pretty much covered it all. I will say that when I added the Perfex handling kit, the ride got a lot better on my Foreman. It cost about $90 and was easy to install.

 

I agree with Hondabuster too. And those are great prices for machines with under 500 miles. But stay away from the perfex kit. It would be cheaper in the long run to buy better shocks. Axles are expensive.

 

I have never heard of anyone having axle troubles with the perfex kit.
Do they make more that just the soft ride kit?