My buddy just picked up a brand new '06 left-over 700KQ for the same price as the '07 450KQ. Same chassis, same weight, same price (in his case)....might as well get the big guy.

 

Just a question...Why automatic only? You said you used to ride dirt bikes, and want something sporty. Would you ride a CVT dirt bike, if such a machine existed?

 

I am older now. Most of my riding will be trail riding. But sometimes I will be alone and want to play. If I was getting a sport quad it would be different. But since I am getting a ultility I don't want to have to change gears. What is the advantage of a manual? What big bore quad utility is manual that might interest me?

 

To me, auto or manual is a personal preference. With my Foreman shifting seems like part of the fun of riding, and I like the tractor low 1st gear. My Rincon rides so much better, though, that I prefer it, and I find I rarely take the transmission out of automatic mode. (It's essentially a torque converter equipped 3 speed auto, like a car's, that can shift automatically or you can elect to control when it shifts with push buttons on the bar).

I think Arctic Cat makes a 500 foot shift that is IRS.

Anyway, if getting older is part of the equation, I'd definitely be looking at independent rear suspension. Everyone fatigues at some point after hours or days of fast riding on rough trails, and that point just seems to come later with IRS. Full sized machines also seem to have a tendency to ride better than the smaller ones.

Anyhow, you only go around once. Saving a few bucks to get a 400 might not be such a bargain if what you want is a big bore.

Only you can decide which machine is right for you. If you are looking for fun and comfortable trail machine, I'd look at and try to test ride the 700 Griz, the 700 King Quad, and (I have to say it) the 680 Rincon. If you were really into big power (which it sounds like you aren't), I'd say check out the 800 Bomb and the 750 Brute Force.

 

Ride a Ski-Doo Mach z thats 170 hp stock and will go over WELL 100mph before you realize it ,,than tell tell me you opinion of CVT dives.


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Well, I went for a KQ 450. Got it today. Only rode it a few times but it is great. 450 seems to be plenty of power for me. Thanks for all the tips.

 

The first mod you need to do is throw away the paper air filter. Its junk. It will KILL your engine in no time at all. Read '700 burning oil' in the Suzuki forum for info. Understand that I'm not trashing the quad or you, I'm just letting you know that the paper air filter is useless; you need to get a good aftermarket foam filter from Uni or Twin Air.

Here's a great article on how to break in quads and bikes.

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

Makes sense to me.

Enjoy your new toy, and be safe.

 

Hey, enjoy the new quad!

I remember hearing about the 700's smoking and burning oil that was apparently caused by dirt making it into the air intake, but I thought they had that corrected?

Anyhow, go have fun with it.