I can tell you when I had mine I always trail rode in high range.I put 2500 miles on it and never had a belt issue.I only used low range for towing or mud bogging.I will say on the Prairie I ride in low most of the time like you.
02 650 camo

 

The dealer mentioned some extensive first service, like 3 hours and $238! I typically have done all of my own maintenance, the prairie has not gone back to the dealer once. Is there anything in particular that's different about kodiaks maintenance wise?

 

Congrats on the new Kodiak, I've got all of 21 miles on mine but have had the opportunity to go hill climbing and running large areas of lava rock, got to admit it is one nice machine. what did they get you for yours? I was 6000 plus 6% sales tax.

 

Soulpony, I did a tad better than you, but not much. I paid $6400 out the door including tax and all fees, as well as including the $69 warn winch promotion. Oh, we have 8% tax too [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Glad to hear you like yours so much . The underside definitely seems to have a lot more vulnerabilities than the prairie does, probably because of the IRS and all those boots and lack of sealed rear brakes. Are there any aftermarket protection parts available that are recommended? I can't wait to put some seat time on it!

 

Congrats on the new purchase, Light. Does the motor feel strong? Does it run like tractor or does it get up and go?

I've been calling around for prices for both the 05 Kodiak 450 and the Grizzly.

Bardwell Yamaha Brookhaven MS has the best that I have found. (Just don't buy your accessories there, that is were he catches back up on the profits)

05 Kodiak 450 - $5,399 + 7% sales tax $377.93 + 20 title fee = $5,796.93 OTD

05 Grizzly - $5,995 + 7% sales tax $419.65 + 20 title fee = $6,434.65 OTD

Price difference between the two : $6,434.65 - 5,796.93 = $637.72

So for 640 bucks more I can get the Grizz, but this is for the wife and I am still thinking the Kodiak is the way to go.

Lightman, I hope you can give me a ride report soon. I can't decide what to do.

 

Lightman, I got the warn winch also, put it in myself, took a while. The only aftermarket stuff I've really looked into so far has been the metal skids, not to impressed with the plastic, doesn't look like it will hold up to pounding rocks real well.

 

Well as for pick up and go, i don't have to much time on my machine about 7 hours, 50 miles... and i have notice it is starting to get better off the line, still a little boggy, but when you hit about 20-30, and pump the throttle, it is instant response and instant go.

 

congrats on the purchase, my kodiak hasn't had any problems yet other than a burnt out headlight bulb. my first service was for $242. i was shocked. $180 of that was labor. they go thru the whole machine and check the bolts, change all fluids and filter, check/adjust vavles, brakes, etc. i have a 3 yr warranty with mine and they told me that the first service has to be done by them in order to honor the warranty. after that i can do my own maintenance, as long as i keep a log. as for the low gear, i use that only for towing/pulling and i don't know what the top speed is in low, i'm guessing maybe 10-15, and that's screaming. i use high about 98% of the time.

 

Lightman there is nothing special about the frist service.Just do it yourself.Change the oil and the diffs if you want.Check the valves.Mine never needed adjusted after 2500 miles.They were always in spec.
02 650 camo

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I rode around a bit in my yard today (6 acres) and logged 2 miles, although I haven't really taken it over 30. I'm typically one of those people that breaks the engine in moderately, somewhere in between the folks that say ride it hard from the beginning and the manual's recomendations. On the prairie, it was 10 hours, and then you could go wild. On the yamaha, I wonder if the engines are particularly tight from the factory, or maybe that new cylinder plating takes longer to break in, but the break in period is extremely long - 20 hours! The manual says do not exceed half throttle for the first ten hours [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] I'm sure I will vary speeds and be easy on it, and occasionally gently give it some gas and put a light load on the engine to help seat everything. That's a lot of hours though! Did anyone wait the full 20 hours to romp on their kodiaks??

I've seen a lot of posts about incredibly cheap ATV prices in MS. Lucky for anyone that lives in reasonable range, but delivery or driving and picking it up would have negated any savings in my case unfortunately. I have to pay 8% tax no matter what, because in OH you have to register your quad and get it titled etc.

I actually didn't get the winch, I got the plow option. I've always managed to get my prairie out when it's been stuck with a tow strap or friends, so I'm sure I'll be fine in that respect since the prairie will always be out with the kodiak. I also ride a lot of water when I'm in FL and everyone I've known with a winch that rides a lot of water has a broken winch. Also gets a little snowy up here in Cleveland. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

So far I can report that the ride is very smooth. I'll have to get my prairie out at the same time and go over the identical bumps to compare the two, but the kodiak might be smoother. The quad feels considerably lighter , and is much much easier to steer. I've never really ridden smaller quads than my prairie for any length of time, so it feels a little nimble, and like it will take a little getting used to like any new machine. It sure is a weird feeling when going off a curb sideways when the back two wheels don't bump at the same time! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I can't really put the quad thru it's paces yet unfortunately because last night loading it I crunched my right thumb! What kind of sad ironic crap is that!? It's all wrapped up in gauze and tape and I think i'm going to go putt around the driveway again [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]