I feel i just need to put my 2 cents in so to speak on this struggle between these two machines. I made the choice of buying the y2k Kodiak while i was being laughed at by my friends because they bought wolverines. However they are not laughing anymore, in fact they wont admit it but they kinda wish they would of spent the extra 200 bux for the kodiak. Heres the differences in the two. First off, the wolverine is a very dated bike. Yamaha shold of either put 2w/4wd switch on it or least another 50cc's. If you ride in mud (like i do) you will most likely want some mud tires right? If you think the wolverine has enough power to turn mud tires, they dont. In the thick stuff it will just bogg down and eventually stall out. My kodiak with 26inch vapires will spin them in high gear and in low gear pullin someone out of the mud. Wolverine is definately a faster bike. It has more top end howver i did race my friend from a rolling 10mph and i beat him to about 40mph then he took the lead, cuz the kodiak has the (get up and go) when you hit the throttle. You can play around with the kodiak much more than the wolf, ive tried going sideways on both quads in 4x4 i cant do it..
Of all the bikes out there, you can hardly say the Kodiak is a true utility bike, utility to me would be a slow dog like suzuki quadrunner or a timberwolf, a cheap farm bike so to speak. Besides if you need 4x4 obviously its for the mud right? otherwise get the warrior or a sporty 2wd. 4x4 should be for the mud, and where there is mud you need power to get through it, which the wolf does not have....
To me the Kodiak is the closest thing to a real sport/utility the wolverine is a sport/wannabe utility

 

I respectfully disagree. Everyone talks about the Wolverine getting stuck in mud, yet mine has never left me stranded. As a matter of fact my riding buddy's Polaris has gotten stuck 4 times and I've had to pull him out. I choose a 4x4/sport because I like to haul down gravel roads and trails, but also enjoy climbing steep hills and going places 2wd's can't go. The Wolv also has plenty of "utility" in it, you can load down the racks with plenty of gear. Last time I checked utility doesn't equal mud performance. Both are great bikes, but when I'm hauling and jumping, I'd rather have the Wolv. If I rode mostly in mud, I may reconsider...

 

If I'm not mistaken, a Wolverine, ridden by "Thumper" of California, won the 1999 Rocky Mountain ATV Jamboree Mud Bog against all comers. I believe the Wolverine had a stock front end. This performance impressed me.

Tree Farmer

 

In answer to your outdated wolverine : IF ITS NOT BROKE DONT FIX IT! no disrespect to the 00 kodiak.

 

Im not saying the wolf is a bad bike, far from it its a good machine. Im just saying its time for something new on that bike, perhaps another 50 cc's will give it enough power to turn big mud tires. I ride down in florida and we have serious mud here, not that wet mud with hard bottom, we have thick muck suction stuff you lose your shoes in. Ive yet to see a wolverine with serious mud tires be able to tackle mud like that. My friend has a 00 wolf and 25inch vampes on the rear. His bike will not turn them in the mud with him on the machine. I just feel for a 200 dollar difference, the kodiak is a better choice. As for riding up and down steep hills, whats wrong with 2wd?? they ride up and down sand dunes all the time on sport bikes..

 

i read in a dirtwheels or a 4wheel activation magizine that they were testing a wolverine 500.

i have a wolverine and i have no problem in mud and thats about all i do is mud ride although i do agree the kodiak is a much better mudding machine.But on the wolverine u can go faster through trails.it has a good turning radius for a 4x4 and it is lightweight

 

Who cares? You ride what you want I ride what i want. As long as we ride who cares?

 

I think the new kodiak looks like an old man's bike. Maybe when I'm an old man I'll want one, but right now I like to go fast, skid sideways, fly through the air, pull wheelies, pass my friends in the trails AND tackle the mud, which my wolv with 25" Bearclaws does better than any bike I've ridden with. I like the simplicity of the wolverine too. I can fix just about anything that goes wrong with it, and if they start adding all these bells and whistles that some of the bikes have.... well, better start saving your pennies to give to the dealer's maintenance shop. As far as adding a 2-4 wheel drive switch goes, I wouldn't want it. The bike performs perfect in 4 wheel drive. It steers easy, and I can go sideways, or fishtail with the best of 'em. The only suggestion I could make for the Wolv, is a 6th gear, and a high-low range selector would be nice. Other than that, it's the perfect "fun" machine. Which is why I bought a four wheeler. If I want to pull stumps out of the ground, I'll by a tractor.

 

Well lets talk about a few things that make a sport utility, wheel travel, wieght, aftermarket parts. HHMMM, well I guess I know the answer to that, Im glad your happy with your bike, but it will never be a Wolverine
Oh thanks Treefarmer....
Oh by the way, I race my Wolverine in the 4 stroke class, against sport quads, so I dont consider mine a sport utility anyway....
Its all sport baby!!!!