just wondering if any of you have some positive or negative feed back on the new kodiak 450. i purchased one today at a local dealer and will be picking it up mon or tues. i was hoping to read more about this new machine . i no there wasn't alot of changes made but the ones that were made seemed to impress me enough to go with the 450 over the 400. just hope to get the same realiability as the 400 has had. the grizzly would have been nice but as luck would have it price was alittle to steep. i would greatly apprieciate any of your feedback weather it be positive or not. lookin forward to hearing from you all,and i will update with my info regading this machines progress as i go.

 

iv herd nothing but good things about any kodiaks

 

toomey thanks for the post i was hoping to get some more feedback, i guess im just second guessing my decision and loking for alittle reassurance.

 

ya i'm sure someelse who has one will post somthing
but from what iv read they are great machines and i did ride one of the older kodiak 400s and they seemed fine i'm sure you'll be happy with your decision

 

Hi Kodiak450,

Glad to have another 450 owner here. I have had mine for a month and a half and do not have anything bad to say about it. I haven't been able to ride it as much as I would like but have recently been using it to plow my driveway and can report that it does a great job at that. Today with some very heavy wet 33 degree snow the locker helped a lot. It would push it without it but why rev and spin when the push of a button will give you an extra wheel driving and no hassles at all. I don't think the 2003 Kodiak 400 would do nearly as well missing the locker and low range.

I am going to be installing a backup light and higher front lights (to clear the plow when up) and look forward to them. The digital display is great!!! Power seems very good. It has started and run very well when cold which is something my brother, with a 2000 Kodiak 400, warned me might be a problem.

Let us know about your new ride and your thoughts on it.

 

poeny,you sound like your overall pretty pleased with your 450 i,m really getting excited with most of the positive info. iv"e been reading on these machines. you know any time a manufacturer makes a change i think most people get alittle skeptical about how the changes will effect the ride. my dealer was very honest in stating not to expect the power performance with the kodiak, that comes with the grizzly. so this i already knew, ive rode a honda 300 4x4 and really liked the machines realiability, just looking for an auto with alittle more power though. i had really considered waiting for the 04 rancher to come out its suppost to be a 400 auto which sounds like its going to be a great combo, i just got too impatient and had been inticed by this nice looking yamaha. well thanks for the post and happy trailing. hey by the way were is eden n.y., i live in upstate (sillwater) 20 mi. north of albany.

 

Kodiak450,

My brother and two friends all have 2000 Kodiak 400 Auto 4x4s and another friend has a 2001 Kodiak 400 Auto 4x4. Other than replacing brake pads they have all been trouble free. This was a huge factor in my getting a Yamaha Kodiak. After that decision was made and I couldn't find any 2002's left it was really a no brainer to get the 450 instead of the 400. At least for me and my intended uses. I also have a dealer 3 miles from home which is nice for parts. Unfortunately I could not get anyone locally to move on pricing. I think hunting season played into this. I bought it in PA where there were no problems getting them to $5,700 which was $300 less than anyone here would go.

Eden is ~20 miles south of Buffalo. I looked up StillWater on Streets yesterday. You probably have some nice riding in your area.

 

poeny, the plow package that you have i was looking at on line today. is this a warn elec.lift or does your plow function(lift) from your winch? i have the winch installed just wondering what else i need to get this plow installed, and also would like to know about the finger tip control mounted on your handle bar.

 

The plow is by Warn but was sold at the dealer as an OEM Yamaha unit. Instead of getting the complete setup like you would get for $69 when buying the ATV I had them order me the plow and the plow mounting kit which included the push tubes. I was buying the winch so figured why pay for a manual lift I would never use. Buying the plow this way came to $328. I looked on line and didn't find much less. CycleCountry.com makes some and I often see them on EBay like this one Cycle Country Plow on Ebay . CycleCountry.com shows a 2003 Kodiak 450 mounting kit so that would not be a problem. I figured that the cost of the plow plus shipping cost was the same as me picking it up at the Yamaha dealer when I bought the ATV so why get a 3rd party unit.

Warn ATV Rocker Switch item # IC-520895 at Cabelas.com

In case the link does not work it is item # IC-520895 a Warn ATV Rocker Switch. I have it mounted just like the picture, actually a little further out on the bar. It does some with clear rubberish cover to keep it dry and clean. It seems to work very well.

 

I've had mine sice August, it is in the shop right now for a melted headlight socket. If you put the switch between high and low they both come on super bright. I guess it makes too much heat and melts the solder in the bulb sockets, that is what the dealer said. They are taking care of fixing it under warranty. This is the first problem I have had out of it and that is not totally the quads fault, at least I don't think so. I have no regrets about the 450 at all, I would buy it again. Around here the solid colors are going for $5850, I gave $6050 for the camo. I like the camo since it doesnt show scratches and dirt near as bad.
When we went to drop the 450 off for the headlight I ended up getting a 03 Blaster too, not for me but my son. They shot me a real good deal on it $2850 and any accessories that we want at cost. We are getting the nerf bars swing arm skid and full underbody skid all from AC on the red and black Blaster for $3174.40 out the door installed, he said this was $50 over cost. What do you guys think?