Right now, I am using the front and back racks to tie it down. It seems like a quick and easy way to do it. I'll look at the frame and see if there's a better place to tie it down. If not, will it ruin the shocks if I use the rack to tie it down and pull the back down some so the straps are tightest?

 

Yeah, I influenced her - I have been trying to push her toward the Grizz but I was met with a resounding NO! Then she rode it after riding the Kodiak. The main thing I said regarding the Kodiak probs is the fact that it is so new, and just now getting customer tested. I wonder if any flaws will show up. Couse the other side is, now I have the Grizz, Yamaha will probably come out with a EFI version soon. We were trying to decide between the two, and have been having a hard time deciding.

The power was the main factor. The wife and I are used to my Raptor and Banshee power. So the Grizz fit us a little better. No doubt, the Kodiak is a great quad - but when the wife says she wants the Grizz I am not telling her no. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

There are not 'kodiak probs' that I'm aware of. The only issues are a slight brake squeal that's barely noticeable and I believe will go away after a few miles. The grease zerks are no issue now with the right fittings.. Oh well, hope you enjoy the new grizz. Hope your wife has a strong upper body too or you won't be riding as long =]

 

Can anyone answer whether it is ok to pull down on the rear of the ATV while strapping it onto the trailer? It is a tighter cinch on the straps, keeping it in place while going through the rough roads, but will it hurt my shocks?

Thanks! I'm going to get a trailer jack for the trailer today, and pick up a few hunting supplies. Anyone need anything at BassPro while I'm there? LOL

Getting nickle and dimed with all the expenses, but can't wait to get on there on that bad boy again!

 

Thats what the shocks are for... why would it hurt them? anyways the only reason i said strap it to the frame was because if you put too much strain on your racks you will bend them.... thats all....

 

you ca buy a 90 dagree zerk that should fix the issue.

 

Ok, thanks. I will look at the frame now for an alternate place to strap. I thought maybe the consistent load on the shocks might do them harm or premature wear or something. The frame seems pretty sturdy and won't bend, and is a simple place to strap, especially since my eye bolts are nearby on the top of the side rails off each corner of where the ATV will go. I park it on the front closest to the back of the truck, and can fit a big cooler behind it.

 

""""""The power was the main factor. The wife and I are used to my Raptor and Banshee power. So the Grizz fit us a little better. No doubt, the Kodiak is a great quad - but when the wife says she wants the Grizz I am not telling her no.""""


I hear ya, power is good , the grizzly is nice and only weigh slightly more........ how ever it does fall into a full size category, meaning it is bigger, taller , tipier.

depending where you ride, each machine has its positive values.
the trails where I ride made for dirt bikes mostly, yet they have cut/maintain the trails utilizing ATVs, so they had to make it so the ATvs will fit through as they move along cutting the trail, yet keeping it as tigh as possible to make it challenging.
lots of places where my kodiak only fits through if it is amimed perfectly and the tires are squeezed beetwen the trees.... got to give it gas to squeez through..... you see where I am going with this....

if you are in the wide open this is not an issue.

welll.......either way , you got an awesome machine, I would like to have one as an alternative [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

As far as that choice goes, it makes no sense to me, no offense. Giving in to your wife deciding on a quad based on looks is pretty weak in my opinion. Who's got the pants?? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] In any case, it doesn't make sense to me because there are FAR better choices than the grizzly in the big bore utility market. Two different types of bikes, regardless of power. The kodiak is infinitely easier to steer and manuever on trails. I also think the weight ratings are totally off. They say the kodiak is like 596 pounds, and the prairie is 605. Well a big BS to that I say. Riding wise, the kodiak feels about 200lbs lighter. Aside from that, I can pick the back or front end of the kodiak off the ground easily and move it. I can barely budge the prairie let alone lift it. My guess is there is a lot more weight difference between the grizz and kodiak than the specs show - especially considering the prairie is the lightest of all the big bores...Oh well, you bought it so I hope you enjoy it!

I finally had the Kodiak out last weekend for the first real ride and put it through the paces. Actually the power surprised me, its got a lot more pop than I was expecting out of a 450. Plenty for anyone but a speed/power freak, and plenty even for we speed and power freaks to still have fun nailling it coming out of a corner. The ride is fantastic. There is always a trade off, and the smooth ride is acheived by giving up a tiny bit of stability in turns.. A set of spacers or wider tires may cure that, or possibly setting the shocks a little stiffer. The stock shocks have adjustments between 1 and 6, with 6 being the tightest. They are set soft - at 2 all the way around from the factory. Regardless, if I had to describe the quad in a short phrase - I'd say 'a really fun and easy to ride machine'. If I had to pick two words that most accurately describe the kodiak , they would definitely be COMFORTABLE and CAPABLE. I'm very pleased with the purchase, and recommend this to anyone looking for a nimble quad that can get through anything the big boys can, with a slightly less expensive, way more manuverable ride. Man is that seat soft. My prairie feels like a board in comparison!

 

Lightman, i 100% agree with you.... needless to say i value my life, and there is no reason i need to do 100 km/h down a trail.... but when my 450 is just over 30 km/h, and i crack it, instant response and it out accelerates my buddies polaris 500... but we are just horsing around.... i love my machine!!