This is a big model year for Yamaha and they're celebrating with some slick new models and limited editions. We've got the full scoop here:

Yamaha Announces 2016 ATV and Side-x-Side Models - ATVConnection.com

 

I like the new Kodiak 700 models. Yamaha is taking dead aim at the Can Am Outlander L and Polaris Sportsman 570 in the value 4x4 category and they already have the upper hand with this new model. Better quality and reliability combined with superior power and performance makes the Kodiak 700 a slam dunk. It should be an overwhelming success.

 

The Kodiak 700SE sure makes the Base 700 grizzly pointless 2016 Yamaha Grizzly Red ATVs It's like getting Power steering for free.

Be nice to know what the HP increase of the 708cc DOHC is over the old 686cc SOHC.

 

Not a whole lot of difference between the Grizzly line and the Kodiak other than price and seat height.

 

I'm thinking Yamaha has something big planned for the 2017 Grizzly. Maybe they will finally put a big v-twin in it. Maybe finally put something out there that can go head to head with the Sportsman 1000 and Outlander 1000. I'm hoping that's the case. But yes, I don't see many people buying a Grizzly 700 for the 2016 model year. Just get the Kodiak 700 SE which costs the same as the base Grizzly 700 and you get power steering for free. Or if you want to save money, get the base Kodiak 700 which costs about the same as the old Grizzly 450 did. You don't get diff-lock or power steering but you still get the 708cc engine the other models have. I'm guessing the 708cc puts out right around 50 hp, the same as the King Quad 750 single cylinder. The 686cc put out 47 hp.

 

The other thing I'm not fond of on the 700 Kodiak besides no diff lock vs the Grizzly and Kodiak 700SE is it does not have "On Command" 2wd/4wd section but a mechanical lever.
May not seem like much but not having to come to a full stop to chose 2wd/4wd is nice when your use to doing it on the move.
The 700SE Kodiak has the on the fly Command electric selector as well.

 

It seems the Grizzly 450 has disappeared from the lineup as well as the Grizzly 300 for 2016. Perhaps they haven't released all of their 2016 models yet. This Kodiak 700 and Grizzly 700 can't possibly be the only utility models they're going to build. I hadn't really thought of having a lever and having to stop to shift into 4x4, that is a bit of an inconvenience. A lot will probably buy the Kodiak 700SE anyway as its basically identical to the Grizzly 700 with EPS but retails for $1400 less. The low price will sell a lot of the base model Kodiak 700 models. Does it state that you have to stop to shift into 4wd? I think some of the newer Honda models have the same sort of lever to shift into 4wd but I've not owned or ridden one of those so I don't know if you really have to stop to shift into 4wd. I've owned 4x4 trucks with a manual lever to shift into 4wd and you didn't have to stop to engage 4x4, just be going slow that's all. Its definitely something I would ask the dealer before I decided to buy one.

 

you can still switch a mechanical lever on the fly but the front tires have to be spinning at about the same speed as the rear tires. Electronical switches won't engage the front axles untill it senses the same. Only difference is, the computer does the thinking

 

I really don't see why anyone would get the regular over the r spec. Just the shocks alone are worth more than the price difference, not to mention the roof, tailgate and seats.

 

Not sure if these sites mention all the models . Hard to believe Yamaha is only offering a Full size chassis Big Bore 700 4x4 only ,some people do not even want a full size chassis and prefer a more nibble mid size chassis.
I find my 350 twists trough the narrow trails nicer then my full sized clumsy 500H.O in many situations.
I do not even see the full sized chassis 550 Grizzly anymore.
You would have to go to a official Yamaha web site to find out for sure.

I find the mid size chassis 420 Rancher is more fun to ride then the full size 500 Foreman when I rode them both. Same went with the 450 Grizzly vs the 660 Grizzly.