Hi All,

My question is which would be better for slower trailriding?

Most of my riding is below 15mph.

 

my 01 400 big bear has a real low first gear ( good for pulling) but too low to keep up with others on trails. so i am shifting alot. the kodiak with auto trans. may be more suited for that but ,you cant beat the reliability of the big bear.

 

The Kodiak. Autos are great for putzin or riding fast. Just gas it and go. Full size floor boards too.

 

Thanks for the input magnum308 and v10man!

 

This topic has been tossed around quite a bit. It seems that both the Kodiak and the Big Bear are very similar in the attributes. At slow trails, 15 mph, I would think a BB would be great. This is where the BB out performs the Kodiak. At slow speeds like this you have all the low end raw torque/power you need to get out of any situation. Although if and when the trail turns into any time of speedway the BB is not that great. All in all they are both great trail machines, I personally am looking to upgrade my BB for a Kodiak 450 somethime yet this year. In you shoes it will depend if you want a manual or an auto.

 

Thanks edgrider.

I’m figuring that with the torque of the Big Bear, that you can just through it a gear higher and torque it through the slower, tight trails.

Also I'm a little hesitant on going with an auto as well. I had a 02 Trailboss 325 and didn't care the the Polaris automatic. How's the Yama Ultramatic?

 

hey edgerider, how is the steering on your 03 big bear? my 01 bb is full time 4x4 and steering is tough. wish i had a push button 4x4 . how much do you think a pretty new bb with push button 4x4 would be?

 

Magnum308 - Steering on my BB is simple and easy. Even in 4x4 it is not that bad. The puch button 4x4 is great would not buy a machine with out it. Gives you the feel of a sport quad but also have the grunt of a 4x4 when it is needed. I am impressed with all the machine can do and handle. If you guys remember I was thinking of trading my BB in on a Kodiak 450, not any more! I am going to keep the BB and add the Kodiak to my ?collection." Regarding how much you can pick on up for is a tought question. I live in MN and I paid $4395 but other dealers in the area had the listed all the way up to the Sug. Retail price of $5199. If you buy a 03 instead of a 04 you should be able to find them somwhere around the $3800-$4000 range. Good luck! Just ask if you have any more questions on the BB.

 

thanks edge, i think i ll ride a bruin and start shopping . the kodiak would fit my budget too but it would have to be a used one. wanting to get away from the shifting...........i think

 

Sorry for all the misspelling in the last tread entry. Geez, and I even have a English degree! Regarding you getting away from the shifting; what kind of riding do you do. I have heard, and I am tending to agree, that a manual is better in mud riding.