has anyone ever raced a wolverine against a new kodiak. i hear that the new kodiaks are supposted to be pretty sporty. how do they compare with a wolverine.

 

The Wolv is a nice machine. As for speed, I have not raced one stock for stock.
If you want to shift get one.
If you don't need the larger racks, get one.
If you want full time 4X4 Get it.

The Kodiak is suited for me as I ride in mountain terrain. I get tired of shifting real fast. I only need Low Range for the trickiest of trails and pulling heavy stuff.
Sporty? 2X4 with the shocks a little stiff and the tires a little harder and it is lots of fun.
As Muddy Doug posted "With the Auto Tranny when going into a turn and wanting to slide, one is required to gas it a second or so earlier than with a manual tranny."
With Gas & Oil it is getting close to the 6oo lb mark but can be fun. It has a nimble feel for a utility based unit. Easily flickable.
Now, if you have it set up for comfort trail riding, (Mine is Softest on the rear shock and in the middle on the front, with the Bear Claws at 3.6 psi)and you start trying to play hard in the turns, you will encounter the front outside nose diving if you have not leaned to the inside real good. But that is a good sign that the suspension is working for what you have it set up for. PLUSH.
The only way I'll trade is if they make it a 450 with a smart front end without adding weight.
My current setup as listed below on pavement is 51mph . I weight train and am 6'2" @ 240. Look at all the weight in add on's I have added. I aint done engine tunning yet. Waiting on a K&N and bigger jets. I may try the exhaust pipe wrapping too.

 

The Wolverine is 10mph faster than the 400 Kodiak so it would not be much of a race and I'm not being bias because my 55Mph Sportsman would not fair any better.