Hey, I'm in the market for my first ATV, I need Automatic for the wife and kid use, 400-450 range, selectable 4 wheel / 2 wheel drive. Use would be trail riding, hunting/camping, general stuff. Nothing wrong with speed and fun, however! I'm thinking Kodiak or Eiger, and lets say money is not the deciding factor. I can get a new 2003 Kodiak with winch for $5500. Thanks for the help.

 

of the 2 you mention here, i would go with the kodiak...but i can tell you the eiger is a great bike...i've ridden both and i think the eiger outperforms the kodiak, but i think in the long-run the kodiak with be a more reliable bike....just my opinion.

 

Kawasaki Prairie 360 not on your list? Automatic, 2WD/4WD, locking front diff, wet disc rear brake, disc front brakes, engine breaking, air/oil cooled with fan assist, soft ride. The only complaint with the bike seems to be vibration at high speeds. I ride with a guy that has one & it is a great bike!

 

Thanks for your input.

 

I had a 2001 Kodiak. It was a great machine. No problems. Easy to ride.

 

The diff-lock feature of the 03 Kodiak pretty much gives it the easy nod here. Of course that Prairie 360 has the locker as well, and the best rear brake imaginable, but the power difference between the two would be quite a gap. The 450 Kodiak seems to be a good idea at this point. Of course unless somebody made an lockable IRS quad with a better engine than the old 425 Polaris.

 

Hey just bought the 03 kodiak 450, awsome machine alot better than older kodiak. I was looking at the 360, forman 450 and polaris 400. I made the right choice with the kodiak.

 

I ended up buying the 2003 Kodiak 450 also and am very happy with it so far. I almost killed myself, however going down a very steep and long hill with loose rocks. I started very slow and it just went, picking up speed on the rocks with the engine brake or the brakes on, bouncing, broadside, etc. Thought I was going to roll it with 12 hours on it. Could have happended with any machine I guess.?? Enough power and handles great other than this one situation.

 

Haymaker--- Did you buy the Kodiak at Thiel's Wheels, in Upper??
Do you ride in Wayne National Forest in S.E Ohio? I am from Delaware, Oh.

 

Either choice would be good. However, I feel the Eiger at over $1000.00 less is the best value. I prefer the 5sp Eiger to the auto as the auto seems to have some auto lag which the Kodiak doesn't. My 5sp. will out run my Kodiak low to mid range, maybe not top end and a smoother ride and 2 inches wider. The Kodiak has been bulletproof other than brakes and a broken shock. My eiger seems good so far and great power. The Eiger is a simple machine with the in and out of 4x4 being a cable operated lever instead of a motor, which I like. Watercooled seems to be the main feature of the Kodiak and mine has the nice park brake as well. Both are good bikes so you can't go wrong either way. One thing with the Kodiak is they tend to vapor lock in deep mud or water, they just sputter a bit. My Eiger muds better though. Hope this helps...

02 Eiger 5sp. 4x4/ green