Been shopping for a new ATV for myself. Something a bit more power than. My Bruin 350. Something with EPS and IRS. I value reliability over out right performance. And I hate poor engineering and thing s that are out right chores to maintain (looking at you Polaris)

I was pretty much decided on getting a foot shift Honda rubicon 520. But then I loaded up Yamahas site and noticed they are now offering the 450 kodiak with an se package that includes aluminum wheels a winch and DIFF LOCK for $700 less than the Honda that has steels and still needs a winch.

Sounds like a screaming deal to me on a capable simplistic machine. It’s light weight and looks good. But I worry about the power a bit. The Honda don’t make much more of any but with a gear on gear trans more gets down to the wheels.

How is the 450 going to compare to my Bruin 350 4x4 or my wife’s 2016 sportsman 450HO(31hp 570 engine).


I much prefer the bruin over the sportsman as it’s just so much more agile and light goes threw obsticals the Polaris sinks in. It’s also an easy machine to work on and is fast enuff. But it’s struggles turning the 26” tires in mud (I hate mud but sometimes it’s part of a trail you can’t avoid). And lacks the ability to lift the front even with a lot of pulling up on the bars.

I love the comfort ride on the Polaris and the power is much better than the Bruin. I can wheelie this machine easy enuff and it’s much easier machine to carry a bit more speed down the trail. But that machine is HEAVY and it feels it. It needed power steering (don’t have it on ours) and it’s just such a poorly engineered machine. Go change the front diff oil. And who puts a battery millimetres from the drive shaft and secured it with nothing but a bungy cord. And lastly the machines so wide between your legs it makes standing on the machine uncomfortable.

 

I know a couple fellows that have 450 Yammies and love them. The claim fast and light for there size and I prefer diff lock on my Kymco over the awd of Polaris. Neighbor has a Polaris, we backed up to each other and had a pulling contest, my diff lock will out pull his awd...I enjoy teasing him on that one!
Havent heard anything bad on the Yammies so do some research. You might look into Kymco atv's, made in Tiawan...NOT China..lowest consumer complaints per 100 units mfg of any manufacturer.
Had mine for 3+ years..1500 miles..0 issues! Excellent build quality, they make numerous machines for the other brand name mfgrs. They have produced machines for Suzuki, Artic Cat, Textron, and Yamaha. Many years back they were a supplier for Honda but Kymco started selling their machines here in the USA so Honda broke aqay from them. Qhat ever you choose..good luck and have fun.. keep us posted ....

 

I have a 450 Grizzly and I test drove a 350 Grizzly before I purchased. Been about 5 years back though. Seems the two Grizzlies are the same size but the 450 has of course a bigger engine. Ours has a winch and steel wheels with 26" Carlisle radials. I much preferred the features and larger motor of the 450 Grizzly. It is not a powerhouse by any means though, just better than a 350. We did shim the primary 1.5mm which helps some on the very bottom end on take off. Seems the 350 I looked at lacked differential lock, low range and speedometer. The 450 has all that. It belongs to my wife now. I replaced it with a Kymco MXU 450i. The Kymco is the same size as the Grizzly. You sit more into the Kymco and more on top of the Grizzly. The Kymco MXU 450 doesn't have differential lock and trail riding has suffered none what so ever without it in some pretty poor traction situations. Some of that may be tire related as the Kymco has slightly more aggressive tires than our Grizzly. My Kymco I installed 25" Carlisle radials, not sure 26" would fit the MXU. The Kymco is way more powerful than the Grizzly (Rated the same HP as your Polaris), steers lighter, brakes faster and rides better than our Grizzly. This has been confirmed by every rider that has rode both. If you have a Kymco dealer with in a hour or two it may not hurt to check one out. Otherwise I would go with the Yamaha Grizzly 450.

 

Surprised to hear your Kymco does not have diff lock, my 450i uxv does and it has got me thru many tough situations. Far better than the Polaris awd.

 

MXU 450 has a very good limited slip front. I think the new ones do have the lock. There is one place that has a tough climb out of a bowl in the woods. The Kymco has made it out every time. About half the time the Yamaha has to have the front differential locked to make it out, depending on rain. My MXU is a 2014 model.

 

I've got the 04 350 Bruin and a 05 450 Kodiak. A fair difference in power between the two beside the Kodiak has low, hi & park where the Bruin just forward and reverse. Its got IRS, a winch and Differential lock.I've backed out of several spots having the locker where I'd of had to walk otherwise. It has been modified though so it doesn't restrict it in reverse. Excellent on maintenance. Must of had it 9-10 years and only replaced the fuel shut off.