Hello, I am looing at the 2006 Kodiak 450 4x4 or 2006 Suzuki Vinson 500 Manual 4x4. I was wonder which of these two are better? All I plan on doing is hard trail riding. I ride a lot of forest service roads, trail, mud and snow. What are some pros and cons of both machines. Any information would be a big help. Thanks.

 

The yamaha is littler and has less power. The vinson manual is a blast for me. One thing is the kodiak has a front locker and vinny doesnt. I have rode mine for 2 years and without a locker is no big deal for me.

 

I had an 05 Kodiak 450 and for the most part it was a good machine. Read the Yamaha forums on squeaky brakes. It does not seem like a big deal but there is nothing you can do to keep the Kodiak's breaks from squeaking constantly. Other than that it was a fun machine. My friend has a manual Vinson and I have moved on to a Kingquad. He loves his Vinson and has had no problems whatsoever. When I rode the Kodiak 450 (actually 420cc) I usually ate dust from his 500 Vinson. You would probably be happy with either machine but imo the Vinson may be the better choice.

 

I would choose the Vinson manual over the automatic and the Vinson is $800 to $1000 less than the Kodiak

 

This is a "no brainer." Last Summer, I bought a slightly used '03 Kodiak 450...it was the shakiest, noisiest, flimsiest machine that I have ever owned. I sold it and bought another Vinson. There is absolutely NO competition between these machines. The Vinson will ride circles around this machine. I mean no disrespect to Yamaha...but they just haven't provided any innovation to their machines in the last 2 or 3 years. The Vinson is really in a class by itself. A Polaris dealer recently told me that the ONLY competition that they have to their 500 H.O.'s is the Vinson. I have ridden both...take the Vinnie!

By the way Mike...I used to live in Modesto.

 

Never ridden the Kodiak, but LOVE my Vinson!!! Especially since SuperSuzuki4 hooked me up on the pipe and jet kit. WONDERFUL machine! And mine is the automatic. Handles VERY well, great in the mud ( w/o the locker mind you ) Most people don't need one anyway. Excellent trail quad!!! Can't go wrong with this one.

 

Hey billy....are you a detecive from down in Texas by any chance?

 

Nope!!! But I get that ALL the time!

 

I have a 2004 Vinson auto and it has served me well I have just surpassed the 4000km mark this past weekend. My father recently bought a 2006 Kodiak 450 he has about 40km on it now. He said he would have gotten a Vinson but he was interested in and IRS suspension as the ride is suppose to be smoother. His previous bike was a 1984 200m which he bought new and used every winter up to and including the winter of 2005-06.
I drove it a little (verry little) and this is what I can tell you about it: it is a smaller bike the seat height is lower as well as the handle bars, I can feel more vibration while riding it than on the vinson, kodiak has diff lock which could be handy as I have been stopped on my vinson due to the limited slip (a tap of the front break usually helps though), kodiak feels tippy on sharp corners and the front end seems to want to lift while going up steep inclines. The IRS keeps the rear wheels on the ground a bit better on bumpy roads while my SRA likes to bounce arround a bit. Seems like the Vinson has more power and I like the Vinson shifter better just straight positions vs kodiaks down and over design. Vinson has more lighting and pre wired for a winch, driving lights, and reverse light.
I have gone through all types of terrain from smooth gravel roads to rocky muddy and snowy trails and the vinson gets me through every time and it will pull a house as long as you have traction. Stock tires are not great though but are any stock tires good?

I think they are both good choices though and either would be fine I'm sure.
good luck on your choice.

My Vinson Pics

 

BUY A MANUAL !!!! There are only 3 manual ATVs to buy, The Yamaha Big Bear, The Suzuki Eiger and Vinson, don't buy a belt drive! I have seen the belts slip and slip and slip and slip and slip and slip all the time. Next year Honda is coming out with a belt drive motorcycle, same engine design as an ATV I wonder if you ride it in the rain the belt will slip on that too?? Kodiak= belt drive "BAD" Vinson Manual= gear drive "GOOD"