Follow up;

I bought an 04 Kodiak, the guy even threw in an unused 2.5CI warn winch in a Yamaha box.

 

Fun simple ATV, same thing I have but with a 401cc liguid cooled motor rather then a 350 air/oil cooled.
You will enjoy it.

 

That Kodiak looks nice.

I had been looking on Craigslist for several months with no scores. All the decent stuff sold in five minutes. We went to a used dealer and picked out a Kodiak and a Honda Recon, both used but very nice. Problem was, the price went from about $7K asking to way beyond $11K when the sales tax, prep fees, inspection, tag and title work were added, even after a "quantity" discount.

A few days later, a good friend called. Her family in Phoenix had some quads they were not using. Problem was they had sat for about two years. I took a chance and got a 93 Recon, a 95 Recon, a 93 Big Bear, a trailer that can haul four or five, tie downs, three good helmets all for $5800. Friend-to-friend guarantee that they would run.

A couple hours cleaning the carbs, two taillight lenses, and two new batteries and we are good. We took them for a forty mile run last week with no issues.

My advice to shoppers is to have cash and be ready to pounce when a deal comes around.

I really, really loved that Kodiak at the dealer, but it was not to be.

Matt B

 

I paid $3,000, included the unused winch, an oil filter, and all original paperwork that the owner had kept.

 

right now you may be feeling more comfortable with a lower cc model, but also keep in mind that this quad will last for years to come and that you are probably gonna want a 500+ model. so dont buy something now that will force you to buy something later! its better to get 2 birds with 1 stone and buy the 500 so you will be set for a good atv now and later.

 

This 421cc machine is plenty for the farm and adjacent mountain trails. I'm used to old super reliable Honda 300 fourtrax, and I can already tell without the dif lock this thing feels to have a better 4x4. Those Hondas worked well, I couldn't find one that was in nice enough shape for sale locally.

I put the warn 2.5ci on the guy gave me with it, replaced the carb the idle was a little off when I got it, the quad obviously sat a lot with 700 miles and 190 hours since 2004 and had a lot of sediment in the Bowl and pretty much everywhere, fixed a leaking clamp on a coolant hose and changed the rest of the fluids and its running tip top.

 

The 421 OHC has the same power as the OHV 475cc foreman or more and has low range with difflock.
I would not trade if it was the same price and condition.

Unless your road riding your not holding that open on a real atv trail. We have a guy with and 800 outlander who can,t get down the trail any faster then anyone else and we have a 300KQ in our group.

 

I'm not mudding, so the belt drive doesnt worry me. Something newer and bigger was out of my interest and price range. The engine brake on this thing is awesome combined with low range on this 450 model

 

The best and most powerful mud atvs are all belt.
The 500 foreman and 680 Rincon are the largest non belt ATVs made and both are the lowest rated hp ATVs in there displacement class with no diff lockers.

If I was a hard core mud guy I would want a belt drive.

 

That's cool. This particular 450 is pretty quick on the flat road, I can't really imagine wanting "more" but I guess the whole "bigger" is always more "cooler."

I would love to have a Grizzly 660, but I'm not sure when the quads themselves start to physically become a little more wide. This 450 is the perfect size for navigating rough and tight trails on the mountain.

I guess it would be nice to have an IRS for clearance, but the solid axle works just fine for what I go through and I can't tell any riding difference from my 04 Kodiak to a relatives Kodiak that has the IRS.