Looking to traid my Trailboss in on a 05 sp400 or 06 Kodiak450. I really like the sp400 but want the seperate locking diff. And the kodiak weighs alot less so power to weight ratio would be great.

 

if i was you the new sp400 is coming out and its suppose to have a lot more power than the 2005 so if it was me i would wait because yamahas are not hte most trust worthy especially with axles.

 

got 1600 of mine and nothing is wrong with it. i jump it nothing ever gets broke i'm 15 years old so you can imagine

 

There are other differences as well.
The yami has 4 wheel engine braking, polaris 2.
The yami can be in high or low, when going slow...your choice. Polaris must be in low.
The yami is narrower accross the legs...if you want to stand while riding, its more comfortable.
The polaris has a better sit down ride.
You might want to try a test ride on each, to get a feel for riding position and engine peppiness.

 

Huh? You mean you have to use low range when going slow on a Sportsman? We have a Sportsman and I never use low range on it.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

A) Why is it that 4 wheel engine brake is so important......yet single lever 4 wheel brakes is such a crime??? 4 wheel engine braking is something I don't have.....and don't need. My much denigraded ( by anti-Polaris Jap bike biased people) single lever 4 wheel brakes work perfectly. I guess maybe some of them
need 4 wheel engine braking because their DRUM brakes shuck.

B) The Polaris must be in low when going slow.........hmmmm........that's a new one. It's also completely wrong. 85% of my trail riding is done in high.....including slow trail riding. I could ride 100% of the time in high but when doing rock crawling or slow technical steep hills and such....low is simply better suited. But let there be no mistake.......this machine could get along splendidly without a low range what-so-ever.

C) The Yamaha is narrower across the legs. Yes, I suppose it is. Does that make it "more comfortable" when riding standing up??? I suppose if you are used to something else. But then you very quickly get acclimated to the wider stance.......not a detriment. It's just like getting used to driving a new car........just a little different than your old car. The Polaris is better sitting down.......correct.......but that's an understatement.

I considered the Yamaha Kodial 450 before buying the Sportsman 400. I also have ridden one in the same trails I regularly ride my Sportsman. If you compare the machines you will see that the Sportsman is......a Sportsman. It's the same full sized machine as its bigger bore bretheren. By comparision the Kodiak is a little toy and has no where near as nice a suspension. It's very squirilly/unstable in comparision to the Sportsman as well. It IS lighter and therefore it does have better acceleration. That, in my opinion, is it's ONLY winning point over the Sportsman 400. The Sportsman has HUGE storage, rack capacity, ground clearance and its ease of use is second to none. I happen to think the Polaris AWD system is ideal. Just hit the switch and you get full power to BOTH front wheels when needed. I have yet to find an instance where I wished for a mechanical lock-up with an additional little lever to bother with when working my way through tricky stuff. Remember, the Polaris system gives you full power to BOTH front wheels and it does it seemlessly on the fly and it simply doesn't get any better when you consider ease of use and effectiveness in application. Polaris AWD machines are awesome mudders and I don't think there are many who will dispute that. The proof is in the slop. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

After riding the Kodiak 450 in the same trails I ride my Sportsman I've come to conclude that the Kodiak is better for acceleration.......the Sportsman is better for virtually everything else.

Good Luck, Bob

 

You should use low when going under 7mph for any extended amount of time or on a steep grade or pulling/towing.

My buddy has a kodiak 400 and it don't even have a low range and is Slowww, but it handles well and sporty for a IRS machine but is not as plush as a polaris for ride quality.


Jim

 

Im agree with hondabuster. go test ride each one and see which you like better. Pick the one you like better, who cares if its a Polaris or a Yamaha. I have never ridden a SP400 but I do know that the 05 Kodiaks are a very nice machine, and Im sure the SP400's are as well. My buddy has a new kodiak and like riding it. Im not sure why everybody says the Polaris in more comfortable to ride, I have never been uncomfortable riding the kodiak. The only problem i have noticed with the kodiak is the huge amount of tire sidewall roll when turning, makes it feel very tippy. The tires on that thing are junk. Like I said, I know nothing about the SP400's.

 

"I have yet to find an instance where I wished for a mechanical lock-up with an additional little lever to bother with when working my way through tricky stuff" This from Backin theSaddle.

You dont get out much do you? Just last week I was riding with my Polaris loving buddies and several times that junk polaris AWD got them stuck and my locker never failed to get me on the other side so I could Winch them out. I have yet to see a Polaris that can hang with a Kodiak or a Grizzly in this slick Missouri mud!!!

There is no Drum brake on the Kodiak , all Disk!
Your two wheel Engine braking just sucks. Try going down hill on gravel about 50 mph and let off the gas. chances are you"ll be facing the other way.
I too considered the Polaris before I bought the Kodiak. Just go to any atv fourm and see who's got more problems, Without a dout it's Polaris!

ATV television chose the Kodiak the Best ATV for the most Extreme Terrian. Polaris didn'ty even come close. Why is it these polaris guys just have to cut another brand down so much to justifiy there purchase?

 

I think your dreaming camokodiak, that will be the day a kodiak or griz can hang with a Polaris in the mud!
Your polaris buddies must not be very skilled if that is the case.

You and your 3/8 dia pretzel twisted tie rods will be left behind.