I am looking for my next atv. I currently have a 325 Polaris Trail Boss. I am looking for something similar (ie sporty, good suspension, good trail machine capable of small jumps and such) but I'm looking for a machine with shaft drive, a little more power, and low range. The 2wd Kodiak caught my eye because it seems to be all that while being almost the same weight as my Boss. Anyone out there riding this machine? How do you like it? Any info on the ride, handling and anything else will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks BK [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

My kodiak 4x4 is a great machine i love it its fast has good suspension pulls wheelys has good power and goes anyweres. I hope u have luck wid one.

 

Mine is 4x4 and i love it, it goes anywhere i want to go i rarly use the 4x4 but i am glad i have it of needed THe best all around atv in my opinion. it hits 50mph easy that is all i need!!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Spend the extra money to get the 4x4 Kodiak, you won't regret it.

 

BK, you have a '01 325 quad and you're looking for a new ride already? Why do you want a new quad so soon? Just curious. I've heard good things about the Kodiak 4x4's.

 

Hi BK,
I have both the 4X4 and 4X2 Kodiaks.
My wife drives the 4x2 because she likes hard pack trails and no mud.
I have the 4x4 because I hunt and get into swamps and deep snow.
If you only use the machine for trails and some "shallow" mud holes, the 4x2 will do fine.
If you like deep mud and rivers/streams, then you should go with the 4x4.
I personally think the 4x2 might go a tad faster because its lighter.
but they are both great quads.
Later

 

My only advice is based on the Kodiak 4X4. I can see why you are interested in the 2WD version. There is a huge difference in handling on the trails on the Kodiak 4X4 with a Warn 2000 winch on the front versus one without. I can only imagine it would handle even better without the weight of the front differential being there at all. With the right tires on the rear, you could go almost anywhere the 4X4 version could. The open differential in the front of the Kodiak doesn't provide that much additional traction - it certainly doesn't have twice the traction of a 2WD model. However, if you are thinking about serious mud crossings and hillclimbs, every little bit of traction helps. Who knows, an on-demand front locker may be around the corner. The added weight of the utility quads almost requires 4WD to get up the same hills that can be done on a sport quad (assuming the hill isn't so rutted out that a sport quad doesn't have the clearance to make it anyhow). I've slid down a couple of hills backwards on the Kodiak in 2WD mode that I can get up on the Raptor especially when riding in the rain. In fact, I haven't been able to make it up a couple of hills in 4WD that my girlfriend makes on the 400ex when it is really raining. Basically, it is slippery wet clay soil. When hills get really steep (not necessarily rutted), it takes that much more traction to pull the extra weight up a hill.

If you are in a relatively flat area and don't plan on riding in the mud and rain, think seriously about the 2WD model; otherwise, definitely spend the extra bucks on the 3WD version - yea, that wasn't a typo!

 

250LT

I am thinking of a new atv because my wife is getting interested in riding and I also have been taking friends riding more often (my brother has been nice enough to loan me an extra machine so far). Don't get me wrong, I really like my Trail Boss and have had no real problems with it. It would be perfect if it had shaft drive and a little more topend without gaining any weight. When I saw the 2wd Kodiak I realized it had what I was missing (on paper anyways). My Boss is a blast but if I am getting a second machine I thought I might as well look around some.

 

Bukhunter

How is the ride between the 2? Does the 2wd ride any better? Do they handle about the same? Have you had either one in deep water? Did you have any problems with the belt slipping? Thanks for any help!