Website doesn't say anything about diff lock on the 400

 

yeah my bad. Sorry i got some garbled info. The 400 has IRS but no locker. CLose to 11 inches of travel on the kodiaks

 

That's awesome news for Yamaha. Basically with the 450 they created an afordable griz.. Can't wait to read some reviews on the IRS. I have an 02 Kodiak and it drive like a bull dozer regardless of tire pressure. Can't wait to try the new one.

 

Apparently they are discontinuing production of the wolverine as well. Maybe to justify IRS on the 450 and 400 and save money in production??????

Or maybe they could be creating something new to replace the wolvy.


I am only speculating and dont know if anymore new models are coming from them.

The grizz is unchanged for 2005 (except for air vents on the side panels.) Although i suspect we will see some changes within the next 2-3 years.

 

Text

link to 400 and 450's

 

I've thought about getting a Kawi Prairie 700 but it doesn't have enough ground clearance or full front differential lock. I thought about the Suzuki Vinson, but it doesn't have the front differential lock. I've now got it down to the Grizzly or the Kodiak, so let me ask the pros, which is you guys. I live a couple of hundred yards from the Shoshone National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/ which borders the Bridger Teton National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/btnf/ for a total of around 5.8 million acres of land. This is an extremely rugged and remote region of the country where the weather can turn ugly as it's doing right now, cold and hale, yesterday it snowed. I'm not looking for speed or sport and most of my riding will be either on old overgrown logging roads, trails or dirt roads. So this is what I'm looking for in a machine.
1. Reliability. Will it start when I need it to and can it get me in/out of steep and rocky/muddy terrain in all sorts of weather.
2. Fuel economy. How far can I go on a tank of gas.
3. Comfort. I'm not a kid anymore so I'm looking for as much comfort as possible, for both myself and my wife who will often be riding with me.
4. Power.
So, aside from the extra CCs and power, are there any other advantages to owning the Griz over the Kodiak or the other way around.
Thanks.

 

Things that comes to mind is that the kodiak 450 or 400 are much less in weight. the solid axle 400's and 450's are going to be a little rougher of a ride. If you look at the yamaha website, the kodiaks (coming out this fall) gain more ground clearance with the Independant Rear Suspension (IRS). the only bad for you is that I am sure you would want one sooner than later. Some people say the grizzly has a tippy feeling to it, others dont feel that way.... Its up to how you feel and how you like to ride

 

Thanks KodiakOwner. I thought the 2005s were already out. I would rather have one sooner than later but I can wait for a better ride. I'll see what kind of deal I can get on a 04 Griz and if that doesn't work, I'll get the 05 Kodiak.....I guess.

 

the 2005s are out but dont have IRS yet. in the fall we will have IRS on the kodiaks. they also are getting a lift in clearance too. maybe consider that before buying

 

If you are willing to spend the extra grand, I would go with the grizzly. The weight of the 660 and 450 is within 10 lbs and with both quads having IRS they will handle very similar. When you first hop on the Grizzly it might feel tippy, but you ride it for a little while and learn how it handles and it is not a problem. The extra power of the grizzly is nice to have when you need it. The guys I ride with have a wide variety of quads (Only 2 of us have IRS) and at the end of the day they are complaining about how rough the trail ride was and I am thinking that it wasn't bad at all. The independent suspension is worth it!!!

By the way the Wolverine is still in the 2005 lineup. The Warrior is gone.....replaced by the Raptor 350.