<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Krait

I believe I read on another forum where someone who owned a Kodiak 450, Outlander 400, and King 450 said the King was the best out of all of them allround. The King 450 is a 500 class machine.



-Krait</end quote></div>

Here the 450 KQ winning a 500 class shootout http://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599


AC 1000_________65.84 hp
Can Am 800______61.7 hp
Can Am 650______55.4 hp
Brute 750 Carb____50.1 hp
Polaris 800_______50.1 hp
Brute 750 EFI_____49.8 hp
King Quad 750____49.6 hp
King 700_________48.5 hp
Grizzly 700________45.6 hp
Polaris 700_______44.3 hp
AC 700 H1_______41.4 hp
AC 700__________41.4 hp
Grizzly 660_______40.9 hp
Can Am 500______40.4 hp
AC 650 H1_______39.3 hp
Rincon 680_______38.5 hp
Grizzly 550________36.9 hp
King 450_________36.7 hp
Sportsman 500____36hp
The 450 has more hp than most 500s.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Krait

I believe I read on another forum where someone who owned a Kodiak 450, Outlander 400, and King 450 said the King was the best out of all of them allround. The King 450 is a 500 class machine.



-Krait</end quote></div>

Here the 450 KQ winning a 500 class shootout http://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599


AC 1000_________65.84 hp
Can Am 800______61.7 hp
Can Am 650______55.4 hp
Brute 750 Carb____50.1 hp
Polaris 800_______50.1 hp
Brute 750 EFI_____49.8 hp
King Quad 750____49.6 hp
King 700_________48.5 hp
Grizzly 700________45.6 hp
Polaris 700_______44.3 hp
AC 700 H1_______41.4 hp
AC 700__________41.4 hp
Grizzly 660_______40.9 hp
Can Am 500______40.4 hp
AC 650 H1_______39.3 hp
Rincon 680_______38.5 hp
Grizzly 550________36.9 hp
King 450_________36.7 hp
Sportsman 500____36hp

The 450 has more hp than most 500s.

 

Yup, Suzuki's 400 classer is the King Quad 400, the King 450 is their 500 class machine. While the Can-am 400 is a great 400cc machine, the 'best' is highly subjective (@jmr866).

To the OP, if you don't like the big chassis of the Popo, then I am gonna assume you are of smaller stature? Then maybe you will love the Grizzly 450/Big Bear 400. But if you don't mind the bigger chassis of the King, then I would say that one is a better value. The Grizzly 550 is also another machine worthy of consideration, since it will be no larger than the King and similar in features/power, with a few added benefits over the King...at a high price tho. Both are smaller than the Popo/AC.

It all comes down to chassis size preference in this case. If you want the small chassis of the Grizz 450/Bear 400, then no other atv will have as many features at that size. If you don't mind the midsize chassis of the King 450, then it will be between the King 450, Grizz 550, and Outlander 400/500.

Try them out! Only you can decide which one feels better. If there is no prefference for size at that point, then I will say go for the 500 class machines.

-Krait

 

i would go with the KQ. and IRS is a little overated not that its not a great feature but on it robs the fun factor of just trail riding like being able to throw the back end around and in general it is weaker than a straight axle

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Krait

Yup, Suzuki's 400 classer is the King Quad 400, the King 450 is their 500 class machine. While the Can-am 400 is a great 400cc machine, the 'best' is highly subjective (@jmr866).



To the OP, if you don't like the big chassis of the Popo, then I am gonna assume you are of smaller stature? Then maybe you will love the Grizzly 450/Big Bear 400. But if you don't mind the bigger chassis of the King, then I would say that one is a better value. The Grizzly 550 is also another machine worthy of consideration, since it will be no larger than the King and similar in features/power, with a few added benefits over the King...at a high price tho. Both are smaller than the Popo/AC.



It all comes down to chassis size preference in this case. If you want the small chassis of the Grizz 450/Bear 400, then no other atv will have as many features at that size. If you don't mind the midsize chassis of the King 450, then it will be between the King 450, Grizz 550, and Outlander 400/500.



Try them out! Only you can decide which one feels better. If there is no prefference for size at that point, then I will say go for the 500 class machines.



-Krait</end quote></div>


They should of put the Can Am400 with the 500 class to make an even comparasin. The CA 500 will walk away from the pack and the CA 400 will run with any other 500 out. The CA 500 lost 1st place because it cost more! The 400 would have been closer to the cost of the other 450-500s and would have won the shootout.
The CA have some very nice enginering going on, check it out. Yes the viscos isn't as good as a locker but how many actually ride technical trails? A 2wd atv can go almost any where a 4wd can go. Honda only has 3 wheel drive and they sell a lot of them.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>They should of put the Can Am400 with the 500 class to make an even comparasin. The CA 500 will walk away from the pack and the CA 400 will run with any other 500 out.</end quote></div>

Polaris (2007)

Hawkeye 300=17
trailblazer 330=19 hp
Phoenix 200=13 hp
sportsman 450=29.7 hp
Sportsman 500 Ho (carB) 34.5hp
Sportsman 500 EFI/x2/Scrambler 500=36 hp
Predator 500 = 48 HP
Outlaw 500 = 48.6 HP
700 EFI= 44 HP
800 EFI/ 800x2 = 50.2 HP

Honda (2007)

250ex = 16.8 HP
300 EX= 17.1 HP
400 ex= 34.2 hp
500 (fm and fe) =26.9 hp
680 (rincon) =38.5 hp

Bomb (2007)

400 = 28.9 hp
500 = 39 hp
650 = 55.3 hp
800 = 61.6 hp

AC (2007)

400 = 24.8
400 DVX = 36.6
500 = 32.0
650 H1 = 39.3
700 EFI = 41.4

KAWASAKI (2007)

KLF 250A7 = 17 HP
750 (PRARIE AND BRUTE)=50.1 hp
360 = 21 hp
700 = 48.7 hp

Yamaha (2006)

450 Kodiak = 26 Hp
350 bruin = 21.3 hp
350 raptor = 26.8 hp
yfz 450 = 38.6 hp
700r = 47 hp
660 = 40.9 hp

suzuki ( 2006)
250 = 17.3 hp (2007)
400 eiger = 22 hp (2007)
a500f=32.4
f500f=33.6

AT 29 hp I doubt the 400 Can AM can even be invited to a 500 shootout.

 

You're almost going to have get seat time on each one to make an informed choice. There are really, really good machines in this class. The Suzuki is very good as is the Polaris and the Yamaha.

I know I'd have a pretty difficult time choosing a machine in this class since they're all so good. Butt on the seat and riding them in the type of terrain you normally ride in is the only way to adequately evaluate them.

It's a real credit to the industry that they've improved to the point that it makes choosing so difficult.

 

They are all great machines. Sure, the 400 can run with the 500's. But it won't be able to compete competitively. Besides, Canam lost because of price, well throw in the 400 with less power and probably an even price tag to other 500's, and I doubt it would win. Price has a lot to do with buying quads. If you can get one with ALMOST as much power for a lot less money, wouldn't that atv be better value, power-wise?

Look, Canam's are great quads. Just pricey. And some ppl do not like the Visco lok, single lever braking, fullsize chassis, etc.

I will not argue that Canam's are great quads, but just saying they are the 'best' in general for any given criteria, for any given person, and any riding style....not quite.

-Krait

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JMR866
They should of put the Can Am400 with the 500 class to make an even comparasin. The CA 500 will walk away from the pack and the CA 400 will run with any other 500 out. The CA 500 lost 1st place because it cost more! The 400 would have been closer to the cost of the other 450-500s and would have won the shootout.

The CA have some very nice enginering going on, check it out. Yes the viscos isn't as good as a locker but how many actually ride technical trails? A 2wd atv can go almost any where a 4wd can go. Honda only has 3 wheel drive and they sell a lot of them.</end quote></div>



I would imagine there are LOTS of ppl who ride technical terrain, sure not everyone and not even the majority, but still.....generalizing here....

-Krait

 

That CA 400s 29 hp runs like the others 35 hp! Ride or race 1 and you'll see.

I've ridden all on that list and Polaris 500 fastest with Can Am 400 right beside, followed by the 450KQ 2-3 lenghts and the AC 500 and 450 Griz by 5-6 lenghts who'd I forget? Honda showed up later that day.
Put a CA 500 in and its not even close!


The racing was from 0-50, only CA and Polaris could top that,55 mph, the others topped out at 50 or less.

If you actually check out a CA they are the only ones thinking out of the box! Check out the brakes, the rear trailing arms, the frame, lots of good ideas. Rotax engines are great!

HP/TQ sounds good but you need to get it to the ground and make the atv move. Clutching, tires ,weight all make a differance.