Surely depends on how and where you ride. I've got an '04 Kodiak 400. It has all the power needed to get up any hill that my brains and ***** say I can try. I can get through most any logical mud, so far, as long as I've got momentum. I can only get it up to about 45 mph, all stock, but I really don't want to go any faster. I keep up with my brother's 650 Prairie and buddy's 660 Grizzly in the woods. That's all I care about. Used it to haul 5x8 trailer loads full of lumber to the fire from our demolished barn this weekend. We also don't care for IRS. I am 6'2" 190 and feel totally comforatable and safe on mine. Don't like brother's 650 Prairie. Feels like getting on a mean *** bull with all that extra power. Don't need it.

Evan in Indiana

 

I have an 04 450 and I love it very powerful for what I use it for, goes through mud and snow pretty good mines goes 56 and is blue, I will never get rid of mine I want to get a grizzly but I will still keep the kodiak, not sure what the difference between the 400 and the 450 is except one has a digital readout.

 

I cant imagine why, Yamaha would make a black 4x4. After the first ride, the scratches are gonna make it look really shabby.

 

We currently have 3 kodiaks, an 03' 450, 03 400, and an 05' 450. The 03 400 and 03 450 handle the same and are basically the same in engine and power performance. The biggest differences between the 400 and 450 are; no low range or locking diff on 400, analog speedo vs digital gauges on the 450, drum rear brake vs disc. If money is not an issue and the extra features are important to you by the 450. Don't be afraid of the 400 though. For general trail riding it will do everything the 450 will.

 

I live in Canada and we have the black special edition Kodiak 450 here. It is not black colored plastic, it's black metalic paint with a nice clear coat over it, looks good, silver trim also looks very nice. I have an 04 kodiak 450 and have no complaints. I've had mine in almost everything you can throw at it, deep snow, mud, swamp, steep hills, tight wooded areas, it performs very well and I like the easy in and out of 4x4 on the fly, when you see something coming up on the trail ahead you just push that butten with your thumb and you are ready for it. I also like Yamaha's automatic tranny it gives good smooth power all the way through the throttle. its fast enough for me, I have no problem keeping up with bigger bikes, after all you can only go so fast on the trails before your just being stupid. I'm sure you would be happy with this quad.

 

to see the black one go to this site null

 

i've had my 450 rolled down hills,through some serious mud and wide open @ 52mph.it's an awsome machine. a little tipsy,but nothing some 26-12-12 won't cure.

 

Black Kodiak's look pretty cool but they are extremely hard to keep clean...........trust me I have a black 02 Kodiak. I don't have no regrets on buying black but I sure would love to have the diff. There have been many times that the extra tire spinning would have helped. I thinkt the others answered the other questions quite well.

Later
Marc