Hey MSUmaniac I weigh 260# also at 6'. How satisfied are you with your choice? do you ever wish you had more power? I've been looking at the Grizz but the kodiak would be easier on the wallet(about $1500CDN). I trail ride a lot with somewater , mud and sand. I know its always nice to have extra power, but it comes at a price. How do you find the ride without IFS? And any major problems?

 

Mr. Smelly,

I'm real happy with the 450. I was a little disappointed at first when my stock machine topped out at 55 mph, but then started to think "when the heck am I gonna need to go 100mph through the woods?". I was out trail riding last Sunday with a bud who was taking his Raptor 660 on it's maiden voyage. I got all goofy and made him line it up with my big ol clunky sport utility. He blew my doors off after 3rd gear. But I was surprised at how well I kept up to him in the beginning. We swapped machines for awhile and hit some trails and hills and then it really hit me that low end torque and traction is where it's at. I didn't get out of 2nd gear on the Raptor while snaking through the Michigan forest. Bottom line for me is the 450 has plenty. Yeah....the Grizzly 660 probably has more, and they say there's no replacement for CC's, but it wasn't worth the extra $$ to me. The rear independent suspension would probably be nice, but it hasn't been an issue for me thus far and I've taken my Kodiak through some real unhospitible terrain (deep snow, ice, brush, logs, mud holes, etc.). The 450 Kodiak DOES have independent front suspension, just not rear like the Grizz. Grizzly also has about 2 more inches of ground clearance (9.7in vs. 11.8in).

-- Maniac