I have been studying the pros and cons of 4WD quads for quite a while. I rode the Utah National ATV Jamboree last week in Fillmore's Piute trails on my 400EX. Got to see what people like and what works well. I have been close to getting a King Quad. Also seriously considered AC and Polaris. I wanted full features including IRS, diff lock, EFI, low range, and good ground clearance. I am new to 4 wheelers after many years on dirt bikes and so really wanted to avoid linked brakes like AC and Polaris if possible but this would not be deal breaker. The 660 Griz was not on my short list because no EFI and reputation for instability. I even got to ride a Polaris 500 in Utah last week and liked the comfort and power but just not enough to accept the linked brakes and wallowing type suspension feeling. I consider myself a Honda man but they had nothing of interest.
I have always been seriously adverse to buying any first year machine and I am well aware of the potential problems. But I have another 3 week Utah trip in Sept and needed the new ride by then. So with the 700 Griz I will get the best belt drive tranny in the business and from a company that knows how to build reliable 4 strokes. The tippy feeling is apparantly solved with more width, lower fuel tank, sloping cylinder like King Quad, and re-engineered A-arm shape and shock arrangement. All the good features of the old Griz return. I can live with some concern on reliability of electronic power steering because everything else looks to be rock solid and proven. The EPS unit looks to be a one piece item that should come right off the front end if needed for replacing under warranty.
So I layed down deposit today on first 700 Griz to reach my dealer and that will be sometime in July and will be green. So after 12 months of researching 4WDs it only took me two days of looking at computer screen to decide on Yamaha. I have also bought three motorcycles from this dealer- two Hondas and one Yamaha- and they have always been great with me.

 

Congratulations on your “reservation”. I will be very interested to hear what the range (fuel consumption) is on one of those machines. Hopefully it will be a gas miser like the King Quad is. I’m anxious to get some first hand reports on the power steering / damping feature as well…

 

Attah Boy.... good choice

 

Good for you! Now the waiting starts!! That would be my first choice on a new utility also. You cant beat a grizz for depenability.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]You made a great choice in my opinion. I plan on doing exactly as you just as
soon as I can. I also think that for your trip you may find the extra storage on
the new Griz a help, and if you were unaware, the rack system is built to quickly
remove, and bolt on your own homemade system for whatever occasion. I
would think some homemade boxes(weatherproof) would be good to house your
items in. After the trip the racks bolt right back on easily. You could carry some
extra water in the right storage on the fender. This is such a convenient machine,
maybe not the fastest, but the undoubtable best utility friendly. It shouldn't be
any slouch either with the fuel inj, and upgraded engine. The seat is something
I bet you will love on a trip like that. I envy you.

 

Congrats oldturtle, you have been looking for a while!!!!

I like how the Griz has an O2 sensor to go with the EFI. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Congrats on the new grizzly. You will be very happy.

 

Thanks all for the incouragement. I just learned in Yamaha dealer brochure that the new Griz has 6 sensors for EFI. These are intake air temp, intake air pressure, coolant temp, throttle position, crank shaft position, and crank shaft rotational speed. I also learned that the new air filter appears to be a flat type like on the Honda XR650R but positioned horizontally. I could not determine if the air filter is held in position by the air box lid like on Banshee and TTR125 which has made several aftermarket companies a lot of money from riders trying to be sure the air filter is secure. I am about as anxioius to pull the bike apart and check it out as I am to ride it.
So it seems to me that the EFI sensors could possibly correct fuel mixture for clean vrs dirty restricted air filter and possibly even for free flowing aftermarket air filter. I would doubt if the EFI would automatically compensate for exhaust modifications. Those who are into modifying exhaust might need to re-work the ECM module just like the big hassle with the King Quad. So will just have to wait and see, for now it's mainly a big guess.

 

Making the EFI compensate for modifications really isn't a big deal. In time, like the KingQuad, you will be able to download a fuel map and go, based on your elevation and modifications.

 

Congrats! Cant wait to see what you think of it!