Kodiak owner,

that black plastic is going to catch and tear my whole fender apart one day;that's when I'll finally get around to trimming it. I didn't mean to say diff-lock is totally useless, just a little overrated IMHO.

Sparky 660.

I agree in a couple of off-camber situations that the diff-lock kicked in and it was the difference. I probably would have been just as stuck in mud as I would have without it. It takes a while to kick in and sometimes you're not in a position where you can shake machine back and forth to get it to lock (or unlock).

For some riders, It's probably their favorite feature.I'm probably one of the very few who thinks the 4wd is already good enough and the diff-lock is a little overrated.I shouldn't bash it too much, cuz there have been occasions where it helped.Although it is tough to steer with it locked. Kelowna dealer told me some of the shafts break from diff-lock being used on rocks, too much flex.They suggested it's better for mud.I think that was BS comment cuz they were tring to sell me a used Grizzly without DL.

I think I'm still a little bitter from how stuck I got in mud for 3 hours with no help (my own stupidity).I had higher (probably unrealistic) expectations that I would just walk out of mud.Probably shoulda had better tires. You are right, in those situations where it kept me going through something that someone else gets stuck in, it gives you a chance to raz your pals a little. I think the low range is a more important feature than the diff-lock.

 

With a diff lockengaged the steering is unbearable. My brother in-law had his 02 grizzly stuck so bad that it took a 1/2 ton with a 10,000 pound winch to pull him out. The 4 other quads helping to pull him out wasn't enough. So in a case like that if he didn't have a diff lock he probably would'nt have been in such a mess. better tires also dig deeper holes like my 589 m/s . Your dealer may have a valid point. When everything is locked-in the drivetrain could bind (like driving a 4wd drive truck engaged on dry pavement) and crawling over rocks could cause such a situation with the wheels all trying to travel a different distance.. But if it was a real problem don't engage the diff-lock. Thanks for your input I'm one of those guys as you can probably tell that swears by diff-lock.

 

I like Diff lock a lot. It has pulled me through some places I thought it wouldnt. With that said, I am sure I will overestimate my abilities and the kodiak 450's abilities one day and get myself into some real trouble. The Diff lock is amazing in the snow as well. That is if its not too crusty on top!

 

Sparky, what steering?! (LOL). I guess there is some stuff that ya can't go through no matter what you're equipped with. sounds like your bro-law was in an awful pickle.he's lucky he was still close enough to get a winch to. can't believe the other 4 couldn't pull him out. they musta been Bombardiers!

only one dealer said there were problems with shafts or axles breaking.never heard of any other complaints from anyone, or other dealers. i found 2wd more fun in snow, for donuts, etc.... never tried it in diff-lock, but it was only out front of our house where we tried it.

 

We couldn't reach him with the quads our lines were to short. We were 5minutes away from making an insurance claim on his grizzly. 2wd drive is a blast in the snow and on the ice. Confused are you a Land Rover owner?? I work with a guy that has a couple of them and he swears by them. I tell him that he's biased because he's english[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

Just for the record the Kodiak has Steel reinforcements under the floorboards.

I have the rear brush gaurds (for the rear pegs) and they protect the black fenders/floorboards well. I have caught the front black park down low, it bent, but I bent it back real easy.

The 450 is now a lot better IMO. The 400 got sort changed, drum rear brake, single range tranny, and no diff lock.

The Kodiak is also Liquid cooled, which is a plus sometimes............

 

Yeah the 400 did get the short end of the stick. It wouldn't surprise me that Yamaha drops the 400 kodiaks all together. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

Really they don't need it.

Sort of like when yammie droped the proffetional BB (which was just the old Kodiak)

 

True enough. My dealer says he sells about 5 450's for every 400 sold.

 

Up here they want $9500 for a 450!!!! I have never seen them on sale or anything. At that price they will never sell. How can they reason that price? when I can get a grizz for $6500! (well $10300 with $3900 track kit free)