Anyone heard anything more about a 400 or 500 king quad?? or will it be just like the OLD one.

 

toby01,
do I get the impression your not real high on the existing/current KQ models and would like to see a bigger engine in it?
Bill

 

I just think it`s time to update, the ac 300 is a better atv with disc brakes and longer travel susp just wondering if they will improve on the kq 2002 and yes a little more power would be nice and get rid of those drum brakes

 

A Suzuki dealer told me a couple of weeks ago the 300 king was on its way out. A 400 would replace it. They didn't know if the 400 would be setup the same way (transmition, suspension, etc.) like the king or not.

 

Makes for good gossip only... I work at a facility where the janitors know what's going on before the management does. I wouldn't be surprised to find out the media has more info on this subject than any of the Suzuki Dealers.
Chuck
Man! This thing is gettin' slow...

 

toby01,
I agree,disk brakes and a larger engine should of happened a long time ago,
Bill

 

I don't think Suzuki will ever put a 400 or 500cc engine in the KQ. I don't think the KQ is popular enough anymore. When the KQ came out the big buying features in the market were things like, shaft drive, speedometers, and carry racks. 12 years ago a 300cc mahine was one of the biggest on the market. The KQ's only unique feature is the Diff. Lock. 12 years ago most machines had open or VERY limited slip front diffs. Now every manufacturer has some kind of semi-locking diff. Every year that passes the KQ fully locking diff becomes less appealing because the other manufactures get a little closer to it. Suzuki spends its research dollars on the bigger machines. The public wants bigger more powerful machines. Look at Polaris, the Sprotsman is arguably the most popular machine on the market, it also is a very powerful machine. Look at how many people in this forum traded a 1999-2001 sportsmen in for a brand new Sportsmen HO. The days of the "role player" 4-wheeler are long gone. Suzuki would not put a 500c engine in the KQ because it would eliminate the need for its 2 other 500cc machines. They don't make a 400cc engine and they won't spend money to build one for a 12 year old 4-wheeler.

 

The Archer,
you bring up an interesting point.Back in late 1986,I purchased a brand new 1987 Suz Quad Runner.It has the identicle features of the KQ,however,its engine size was a mere 250cc compared to the 280cc of the KQ.[BIG DEAL]The KQ also has an oil cooler as well.

Back then,
it was a choice between the Suz or the Honda 350cc Foreman 4x4.I chose the smaller CC Suz because the Honda did not have a locking front diff.Suz has made vertially no improvements to that model since its introduction.Owners begged for yrs for a larger CC engine and they got a 30cc increase to the King Quad.

I also agree that the KQs days are numbered.First time buyers of 4x4 ATVs that buy a KQ usually wont be buying another one,they opt for the larger displacement engine with more power.
Bill Ciliberti

00 Xplorer 400cc 4x4
Modified PSI pipe w/Scrambler silencer
Delta V-Force reeds/spacer kit
KN and Uni Filter
RcR airbox mods
26 inch Mudrunners
Hot Seat clutch kit
Custom Cargo Box
Gary Box custom Brass Brakes

 

I agree with you that the Kq's days are numbered. I do however believe they will dump the 250cc before the KQ.

When I bought my machine before I even looked at a dealer I made a list of what I wanted.

1) selectable 2 and 4 wheel drive
2) high and low range
3) Indpenent rear suspension
4) 4 stroke engine
5) Out the door for $5000
6) not a Polaris.

Before anybody goes nuts about the Polaris statement let me explain. I spend 3 weeks hunting in Colorado every year. I use my machine for hunting. From a pysics/mechanical standpoint it would be pretty much impossible to keep a Polaris in 4-wheel drive while traveling down a hill/mountain. You are usully not hitting the gas going down so thr front wheels disengage. The other thing is that every corner store in Minnesota sells Polaris but I could only find 3 dealers in colorado, and they were all in the Denver area. Denver is 300 miles from wear I hunt. So it was a service issue.

None of the dealers I looked at wanted to sell me a 300cc machine( Remember $5000 out the door). They all said "300cc is ok but look at this foremen/big bear/grizzly/whatever." The buying public wants big machine so badly that the KQ will never make a comback. The other thing is the KQ doe sa ton of things ok and nothing really poorly/greatly. For example, it can pull a house but it uses gearing not raw power. I has a great 4-wheel drive but crummy tires. It has a semi independent rear suspension. softer than a solid rear but not a Polaris. Like I said in a previous post the days of the"role player" are gone. Right now the KQ is somewhat unique. If it was to have a 400cc or 500cc engine it would get directly compaired to the Sporstmen/foreman/big bear.......a bunch of machines that are more advanced/refined. Sales would not improve for that very reason.

Time to get off of my soap box and ride my little "role player" for a while. After these posts I think she needs a hug....... :-)

 

Archer, that was a very articulate, well thought out account of what the King Quad brings to the table. Kudos to you sir.