New Yamaha models

Note: cross posting to the Yamaha forum.

When do the 2005 model year Yamaha ATVs (and others) come out? I am seriously looking at the Grizzly 660 but may wait if Yamaha is upgrading the 2005 models. Any plans for an EFI griz with maybe a V-twin? I'm hoping to buy sometime this fall.

I'm choosing between the the Grizzly 660, the Polaris 700 Twin EFI and possibly the Kawasaki Prairie 700.

My uses are going to be pushing snow, pulling a mower, food plot prep and slow trail riding which will include hellishly sticky mud when it rains. My back and legs are seriously screwed up and this machine is gonna be my legs around the farm and I need it to ride smooth and be stable and reliable. No all out dune riding or jumping - I'm finished with that stuff. I'm more interested in power and a physically large machine since I am a very big guy and it has to haul my heavy *** through the woods and pull the mower or push the snow at the same time, a soft ride because my back and legs are seriously messed up, a fully locking 4x4 system so I can slog through the mud and snow (sorry honda you need more cubes and a locker). Stability is also an issue since flipping and rolling ATVs is on my "Things not to do - EVER AGAIN" list. Reliability is something I really need to consider too. The problems with the Griz boiling gas and the service and support issues from yamaha are a little disconcerting.

My choices have been pretty much narrowed down to the Yamaha and the Polaris. The Prairie is a wonderful machine but I don't really want the solid rear axle. It is more sport oriented and as much as I love to wind 'em out and run 'em hard it would be really stupid for me to do that now.

I have more faith in the Grizzly fully locking 4x4 system over the Polaris AWD system. The AWD looks a little iffy to me. I want all four locked and turning when I want them to.

The Polaris wins in the power department as far as I can tell and with the new EFI it makes it all the better. My experience in the 4x4 truck world says EFI is worlds better than mechanical carburation for off roading. Better for on-roading for that matter.

I know it isn't a primary factor or terribly important but on looks, the Grizzly wins hands down. The Sportsman is simply *** ugly. Whoever designs the front end on the Polaris must be smoking crack or stuck in 1982. Don't the designers of the front end plastic on the sportsman series have any sense of aesthetics? Geez. Don't they have anyone over there who says "Wow! We have a great machine here but that front end is dated and ugly compared to the competition we had better change it." Nit picking I know but...


Any input, suggestions or info on upcoming machines would be greatly appreciated.

 

I know you are asking about the Grizz that I don't know much about however I think you might want to look at the Quest by bomba. It is heck of alot easier to mount than any other machine... the ride is not 100% but it is close. Since your the one driving go and take em out see which one you feel comfortable on. Look at the Rinny too.... I know it isn't the work horse you might be looking for but the ride is the best and no locker. The boiling gas on the grizz I don't think is an issue now. The polaris 700 has the ability however the reliablity might be an issue for you and if you don't like it don't force your self. The kawi might be a tad wild for you however very powerful, the 2005 Kawis have IRS and AC has the 650 motor.

You said you were down between the Grizz or Polaris 700 I would go for the Griz, (that's mine pick).

 

Yamaha may come out with the efi, but I dought they will do the twin for 05. They have alot of success with the 660 motor as it is.

 

yam needs an atv with a differential in the rear that locks. people buy utilities for versatility and a solid axle in the rear limits this product line from doing alot of work - especially on lawns. figuring out the rear end makes more sense to me than putting limited slip on the front. the solid rear and limited slip front must be something for the hunters? a solid axle doesn't do me much good around the farm.
my 2c
thanks

 

Actually I think the Grizzly is more powerful then the Polaris 700. But that is just what I heard on this site, nothing I have personally seen. You might also want to check out the Arctic Cat 650. Word on the street is that the '05 model will have EFI. It has more rack capacity, suspension travel, and ground clearance then the others. Plus it has a true IRS, no sway bars like the others. Makes for a great ride over large rocks, trees, ect. Some people say that without the sway bar they are more tippy, but I have not experienced that with my 400 yet.
I don't know much about the Bomb, other then it is as ugly as they come. However it is easy to get into, and is the only thing my grandpa can drive.

With that said, just be sure to ride them all and find the best one for you. Good luck!

 

Put the prairie's engine in the grizzly, rework the suspension for more travel and less tippy feeling, and you have a Cat 650.

 

I would go with the AC or the Kawi.

The grizzly is nice, dont get me wrong, but its is tippy in off camber situations.

I have back problems also and the grizz rides pretty smooth, however the polaris I test drove rode slightly smoother.

I believe overall the AC is right for you. The kawi second with grizz 3rd

Stay away from the EFI as of now. I worked part time at a polaris dealer and saw multiple EFI700s come in because they got wet and were not working correctly. I worked in sales and dont know much of the specifics of the problem. But it makes sense... putting electronics in water will cause problems.

On a side note ive had the grizz for about 3 months and have sunk it up to the handle bars and given it hell and it hasent let me down yet. All of the boiling gas and such problems have been fixed.

 

What it comes down to in the end is going to the dealership and planting my *** on each one. The nice thing about the forums is that it helps to whittle down the list of contenders by seeing if there are any deal breaker flaws or chronic problems one might run across in long term use but wouldn't show up in the showroom or on a short ride.

I was sort of concerned about EFI being waterproof. I was known to play submarine commander on a regular basis when I rode before. A dead ATV in the middle of a creek is not a lot of fun.

Whatever I end up getting this fall will have to have a good set of mud tires. The mud around the farm is something special. It is heavy and incredibly sticky. Once it grabs hold of a boot or a tire it will not let go. It will clog up most truck mud tires with no trouble. Super Swampers do the best but even they will ball up without liberal use of throttle. I imagine I will need a set of mudlites or 589s and a set of chains for the ice and snow in the winter. Something rugged and puncture resistant. Does that tire slime stuff work?

A winch will be a necessity of course. One of the big warn models. I had a nice warn winch on the truck and it was really handy. Not only for vehicle recovery but chores around the farm. Unfortunately somebody decided they needed it worse than I did and it was stolen off the truck while it was parked overnight at a river access. Along with the winch they took the bumper and CD player. Damn thieves.

I would really like some sort of stealth exhaust to quiet the ATV down as much as possible. Is that something that should be put on only after the engine has been through its break-in period or does it matter. I've been told both.

I see that Cycle Country is offering an electric blade angle kit now. That would make plowing much easier. Sure beats messing around with levers and pins that are encrusted with ice and snow.

 

If you base you choice on power and torque, the kawa 700 is still the king there with the most HP and torque. If you want the best ride and mudding ability, the sp700 is it. Between the sp700efi and the griz660, I think the sp700efi has more HP and torque. Between the two, it is a toss up, but I would lean toward's the sp700efi just slightly over the griz. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I'll admit I am Yamaha bias (present Raptor 660, past Wolverine, Banshee, Warrior). With all the manufactures having such great quads now days my opinion is each brand has only one or two things that may be only slightly better than the other. My personal riding experience has shown me polaris has a lot of learning to do from yam, kaw, suz/arctic, and hon. I know all the jap companies have copied the automatic drive and some the IRS from pol but I think they took them and improved on it. On the trails I have seen more problems with pol than any of other brands combined. I have a friend with a pol 700 and another with a griz 660. Time and time again the 660 hands down out pulls, outruns, and outmaneuvers the HUGE 700. Rider experience on both machines are about equal. The 700 owner had to take his atv back already for idoling problems. I would choose the griz 660. I can't wait for the 2005s to be un-leashed also! HURRY UP!

I forgot Bombardier, good or bad, I have no idea or personal opinion except the DS 650 is slow;>