The kodiak 450 is pretty awesome...I got to climb some huge hills this week and the ones I didn't climb I went down using 4x4 low range engine braking....it will creep down with very little braking....I was pulling slow speed wheelies on the way up the hill just for fun.....Its a fun quad....

 

Mark another vote down for the sp500. I have a buddy with an 05 kodiak 450, and I personally have two Grizzly 660's along with an 05 sp500. The sp500 is an awesome machine!

 

got a 450 kodiak this spring, just love it. Lots of toys on the thing too. Farming, hauling wood nice machine. Starts excellent, most times don't even need choke. awesome.

 

There's not a better belt system than a Yamaha! When ideling a polaris is still in contact and wearing all the time, a yamaha is completely disingaged and you may never have to replace a belt on a Yamaha.:

 

I have the 06 kodiak and its a work horse .it will climb anything you have the sack to go up.Mine also has a rev limiter overide so you have extra power if you need it.Good bike and great for plowing,though i have not had any snow to try it out with :-(.
All in all i think the yamaha has the best auto out there.good luck

 

While I like the Yamaha's belt drive automatic, it is NOT the best out there. The Honda Rubicon automatic is by far the best. If it has 1 disadvanage, it is the fact that it is an expensive piece to replace in the event that it somehow goes bad. Other than that, it has every advanatage in the world over any of the other automatics.

 

I don't think Hondas Rubicon is a belt drive.

 

Everyone but honda uses a belt...they will eventually wear out and need to be replaced...it has been my experience that most commercial companies around here use the honda.

none of the honda atvs are belt driven. the 400 AT ,rubicon and rincon are fluid drive. the rubicon and 400 AT are almost a hydrostatic drive using a pump. the rincon uses a torque converter almost like a truck...the engine oil acts as trans fluid. the rest of the honda line are gear driven.

the down side to the honda is that they only have low range in the RUBICON...and no differential lock on any.

in my opinion the sportsman EFI ( no need to choke it and it maintains a smooth idle ) does a good job, but between the kodiak and sportsman...the kodiak does better, get the winch kit to raise and lower the blade or you will go crazy switching between the gear selector (on the left side) and the manual blade lift ( on the left side ).

whatever you buy, pay attention to the ground clearance with the plow hooked up, the polaris kit is nice and clean and not much is lost in the clearance department.

 

You are correct. My apologies for writing that in a misleading manner. It was unintentional.

 

Get the Kodiak 450 hands down. While most quad shine in a certain catagory, Yamaha does everything well across the board. They are just a more complete versatile quad.