Spud, how long did you look at the picture before you came to all your conclusions. For anybody that actually does work with their quad with the diff. locked, they will appreciate the power steering the most. 4 brakes are better than 3. More sport quads would have it if it weren't for the increased weight (IMO). I'm real curious to hear some stability reports since the gas tank has been repositioned. It still has the lousy tires but the center of gravity should be better.
My only complaint is the fact you have to pay over $200 more for a front bumper. I think Yamaha did a good job and I look forward to the shoot-outs but I'll stick with my 660. $8,500 is just a bit rediculous.

 

That is the typical response from someone who has never tried it. The Grizzly is the number one selling quad in Canada and the Kodiak 450 is second. Apparently power is important to a select few. If ABS saves a few lives than great lets get it on there. People are to blinded by power to see what a benchmark machine Yamaha has produced. The power steering is the thing of the future(Honda has already made mention of it). I am glad that you wouldn't buy the Grizzly as a close minded individual you would not appreciate what the new Grizzly brings to the plate. The people have rode it think that it is a great machine you should try it. I have and have the experience to back up my claims. I don't have to assume that it is a dispointment like you do. If you bought your wife one she would love you for it as it is a great machine. You can stay with the cavemen and the hard steering, in fact go buy a Brute Force you would really like it. It has a great engine and nothing else, it sounds right up your alley. Time will show that this Grizzly will out sell any other big bore out there, just because they took the chance to be an innovator like Polaris. You were probably one of the people that said EFI didn't belong on quads either. Look now every manufacturere has an efi machine. Mark my words, it will be the same with the power steering. I will be the one that says I told you so in 4 years when the rest have power steering.

 

Well said Sparky. I can't immagine a side-by-side with out it and the bigger the engines and tires on the Uts the more it will be needed.

 

Basically spuds comments mean little, he drives a sport quad. He has to spend some time on a utility before making an educated decision. Until then all he is going on is speculation and cannot appreciate the refinements of the new Grizzly. The base MSRP is $7999.00 and for the moment dealers will be getting that much for them. After the initial surge you will probably be closer the $7500.00. From my first ride it feels real stable at high speeds 70 kmh.

 

The Kodiak outsells everything in Canada except for the Grizzly???
What are your sources?

 

Basically, they followed in ACs footsteps, thats were my airbox is. And the tank is in the back, and they sealed everything up for water and mud. Its a good idea, and you wll be very happy[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I can see why the Grizz 660 was and is a great seller. It's been around and proven to be reliable. But also you could easily get one for well under $7000. So many will buy it because it's powerfull but yet is in the same price range as many 500cc quads. But now the 700 with some nice features is going to be a good $1000 more and for many it will be out of there price range. Then for others who can afford are looking that the 700 is allmost the same price as the 800 twin quads. The 800's both have awesome power, brakes will stop you on a dime, tires are way better, and the torque of the twins are unreal. The 700 will sell good, but IMHO I don't think it will take over what the 660 brings to the table. I think Yammi was smart not to stop making the 660.

 

This was in regards to the 4th brake "More sport quads would have it if it weren't for the increased weight (IMO)."

Do you feel the same on the power steering? I bet Sparky660 thinks so.

Most of the stoping is done with the front breaks and not the rear. You only need enough power to stop the rear axle. At that point the brakes cant help you anymore and its about traction to stop you. (remember you are on dirt). Just as effective as the brakes are stoping is the Engine breaking.

IMO, I think Yamaha hit the nail on the head with new Grizzly though. All the updates they did where what the previous grizzly was short on. I dont think they need a big engine to sell but a twin would of been way better. Overall they built a great quad. Unfortunatly the MSRP's are so high on them they priced there way out of competition.Its not that the MSRP is so much higher than the others its that I dont see any features on it that makes another brand loyalist jump ship. I think only the brand loyal will buy. Considering you can get a sportsman 800 for 7500 and outlander 800 standard for 7800 or 650 outlander for 7k and brute force for under 7K and grizzly 660 for under 7k it makes it a tough sell for a non yamaha loyalist until the dealers are more willing to negotiate on price.

 

Wow a verbal trashing, I guess I should have expected that. Now I have my opinions and you have yours, I love hard acceleration and man handling a set of bars, I guess some people are a little more frail and do not. I do own a sport quad but I ride ute's fairly often, as a matter as a fact the brute force 750 is the one I ride the most. I love that machine, but once again I like it because it has lots of power and I think riding a wheelie on a 700 pound machine is cool. I wish yamaha the best of luck on this new grizz, there probably is enough die hard yamaha guys to pull it off, but I know in my circle of friends the grizz 700 will not be on the tips of everybodys tongues.

 

When are they going to test it. They may have let the 700cc's go on that thing. You can make all these other ute's fast by spending a couple a hundred dollars. Maybe they made a 700 that will whip ***. My 700 Prairie will out run a 700KQ and a 800Sportsman. Maybe this thing will outrun everything but an outy. That's plenty fast, because the outy has not built a fram yet, that will stand up to a beating. I do not like the idea of two brakes in the rear. Not needed. And for mudders it will cost them. Because when you get mud in there it wears pads out wether or not you use your brakes. But, you could always disable one side. I think it will be a good machine. Then in a couple of years they will make a 800 and sale brand new wheelers to all those people buying them this year. SMART, on yamaha's part. Yamaha builds good equipment, so I would'nt be afraid to buy one. That power steering would be nice when trying to wobble one through a mudhole. Hope it holds up.(power steering) If it does I will be looking at putting it on mine. If at all possible. Mudders, I mean real mudder need it. It's hard to steer one through a mudhole and drink a beer. So I like the idea![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]