Hey everyone, I'm new here. I have a old 300cc 4x2 Bayou and I'm looking around for a new 4x4 this year. I want something in the 400cc range(not to big nor to small). I see yamaha does have a 350cc 4x4 grizzly out now that isnt bad price wise. But I was wondering, how does the big bear 400 or the grizzly 450 4x4 stack up with the can am 400cc models? The yamaha line is a tad cheaper also from what I see. I have a yamaha jet ski which has head up well so I know they are a good brand. But the cam am's look like some good machines also. Any info would be great. I will use this mostly for work on the farm and for hunting. I like some top end speed, but mostly trail riding will be done with this machine. Also, how does that v belt in the auto lines hold up? Any slipping in water?

bascially its come down to the below

Grizzly 450 auto 4x4
Big Bear 400cc 5speed 4x4(im use to the 5 speeds since my bayou is)
Can Am 400 CC 4x4 Outlander

also, is the grizz and the big bear the smae basic machine? Yamaha seems to have 10 different models with about the same specs LOL

thanks for any help anyone can provide

 

My kodiak 450 (grizzly 450) is great for everything, but it has a squeaky back brake(all kodiak 450 have this problem)......if you can put up with that, buy it

 

Big bear 400 (07) comes stock withe mudlites, i believe just mudlites not the eXtended Lug (xl) semi auto clutch, just kick up and down. I think between the grizz 450 and the big bear 400 you just need to ask yourself to you want a full blown auto or not. I don't think you can go wrong with either.

I have the 06 bruin 350 (grizzly 350) and it handles pretty good for what I do. Mud, trail, rocky terrain. Tops out around 42-45. It is a little over ayear old and I am having some issues with the rear drum and other than that it has been trouble free. I don't really take care of it much either. I barely wash it, have changed the oil once and I have atleast 70 hours on it. I rolled it too, only a cracked gas tank plastic and bent rack, it fired right back up and I rode it some more...

I have the belt and have been stuck just under the headlights in water/mud. No problems with the belt slipping either.
I think you will be happy with either one.

I have only ran into 2 outlanders, so I don't know much about them.

 

thanks for the info. I see they also make a grizz 400cc also. I noticed in the specs that the grizzly's are close to their ratings. Example, the big bear 400 is roughly 380cc while the grizz 400cc is 401cc actaully. I like the tires on the big bear also

any idea which is a better all around riding machine between the grizz and the BB? Which would probably be faster in a side by side drag(not that it matters but its nice to know)

 

The Big Bear changed for 07', it now has independent rear suspension, diff-lock, and mudlights tires. It seems well worth the money and has a great reputation as a reliable work horse. The Kodiak's and Grizzly's are more refined with things like auto trans, digital dash, and disk brakes(and are prolly faster).....both are powerful, but the B.B. is geared low for pulling

 

not sure on the drag, I'll give you my guess, Big bear. OF course alot depends on the rider too, but I think if someone can wind the gears out right on the big bear they will have the advantage. The 450 grizz/kodiak are only 421cc, and the big bear is 386cc. So there is still a cc's gap, but not 50.

Personally I'd rather have the big bear w/ the 386(400) over the kodiak w/ the 401(400).

 

I believe the Grizzly 450 gives you P, R, N, H, L (park, reverse, neutral, high forward, low forward) while the 350 and 400 only have P, R, N, F (park, reverse, neutral and forward). Otherwise the main difference between the 3 is the engine size. So the 450 will give you a little more versatility with it's dual range forward transmission selector. A friend of mine has a Kodiak 450 (it became the Grizzly 450 in the next model year) and he goes anywhere that the rest of us do with our bigger machines.

I'm not familiar with the Can-Am 400 so I can't give you any input there. I have ridden a Can-Am 500, 650 and 800 2 seater though, and they are the smoothest riding ATVs I've ever ridden (that includes the Sportsman 500 and 800 that I've ridden too and my 700 Grizzly as well). I can say though that the Can-Ams generally have the strongest engine in their respective classes (this is the case with the 500, 650 and 800 anyway).

The Suzuki King Quad 450 is another model that you may find interesting...

 

why stop at those machines. have u looked at the kq 450 that just came out. i picked up mine on saturday it has everything the 700 has. irs fully auto hi/lo diff lock, fuel injected and i had up to 60 with out even trying. those other quads not sure on the can am have carbs. why settle for carbs when u can have fuel injection. i raced my buddy's 350 bruin today. and um he was history real fast.. its a good machine the bruin. which now is the grizzly 350, but don't forget to look at the kq!

 

Heck, then you may as well look at the Arctic Cats 400 and 500 lineup, with a locking differential, and the higher ground clearance. But if its between those three, i would get the Grizzly 450

 

There are so many great options out there that I believe you need to make some basic decisions first. Do you want manual 5 speed or a belt auto. Then do you want right hand front brakes or left hand linked brakes.
If a 5 speed is in picture don't overlook the new 420 Ranchers with EFI. The solid rear axle is great for work, haul, and tow and probably most reliable machine in 400/450 class. The Big Bear with IRS and diff lock might be a little more versatile in play mode but not as good as Ranchers in pure utility. The Arctic Cat IRS 400 and 500 5 speed models are two of best pure utility models available and deserve a close look.
For belt drive options, Yamaha belt drives are usually considered to be significantly more reliable than any of the competition. The 450 Griz with hi-low and diff loc has one of the best 4 wheel down hill engine braking systems in business. I would pass on the 400 Griz and just go to the 450 for the extra features even though power difference may not be too important.
I just don't get the attraction to the higher per unit performance of the Can-Am 400. If you want more power then just get a larger motor like Foreman 500 or Arctic Cat 500 that have detuned reliability of most other utility machines. I would venture a guess that either Griz 450 or King Quad 450 with detuned motors will run with CA 400 and be more reliable at less cost.