Grizzly vs Kodiak

[ArlyA]

Folks, We stopped by our local Yahaha shop and spied the new (or reintroduced) Kodiak 700. They said its largely the same as the Grizzly but geared slightly lower, different clutch and comes with a few less fancy features. Does have power assist steering (this model does) and its suspension was stiffer and this marketed for working types like us. Cost about $1500 less . Huuuummmm I liked it! We are retiring a 7yo Grizzly next summer and may need to consider this machine. Anyone out there have one in use?? Should have took some photos of it..

 

[nybirdman]

Don't own a new Kodiak but wouldn't hesitate to buy one.Sounds about what I would want also.We have owned two Grizzly's ,a Rhino and currently a Viking.The EPS is real nice.Big Yamaha fan;that big single is a well proven motor.

 

[TripleR]

I really like our Grizzly and Rhino, but they are all pretty darn good, I could be happy on a Honda, Kawasaki etc.

 

[ArlyA]

Last fall we retired a 7yo Rhino. Now the Grizzly is 7yo and it needs to be let out to pasture as well. The work we do is quite hard on machines and its starting to fail this and that parts. It should have over 2200 hours on it, but I've not looked at its meter lately. Nonetheless we'd love to hear from someone with a Kodiak with some hours on it.... Shopping, shopping, shopping.

 

[ovrszd]

I can't help but ask, why is the Kodiak cheaper???

Sorry I can't help you with Kodiak ownership. I have a Rhino.

 

[nybirdman]

Last fall we retired a 7yo Rhino. Now the Grizzly is 7yo and it needs to be let out to pasture as well. The work we do is quite hard on machines and its starting to fail this and that parts. It should have over 2200 hours on it, but I've not looked at its meter lately. Nonetheless we'd love to hear from someone with a Kodiak with some hours on it.... Shopping, shopping, shopping.

Trade the Rhino in;big market for them.Mine was ten years old with 4,000 miles and I got 40% in trade what I paid for it.

 

[ArlyA]

It comes with a fewer fancy features..

I can't help but ask, why is the Kodiak cheaper???

Sorry I can't help you with Kodiak ownership. I have a Rhino.

 

[1965]

I traded my 2007 Kodiak 450 in on a 2016 Kodiak 700 a year ago November. The only upgrade on mine was the camo paint job other then that it is plain Jane. I paid $6500 CDN which was $500 off the list price because it was a truck load sale. The motor has lots of power which the 450 was lacking. It is geared lower then the Grizzly which all you have to do is replace the weights in the clutch if you wanted it to be the same. No push button 4x4 it is a flip leaver and no differential lock but if you slightly pull the brake lever when one wheel is spinning it will kick in the other wheel like on a tractor. The brakes are much better on the new one, no more squealing, the back brake is now a wet brake on the drive shaft. It was a $2000 upgrade for the electronic assist power steering, if you can afford it get it, I couldn't so it sucks to be me lol. It is quieter then the Grizzly for hunting and it is very quiet, the 450 was louder. Last winter it didn't want to start when temps hovered around 0 F a couple times but it had the thicker stock oil in it I have thinner grade in it now only the temps haven't been that cold this winter. Something I am not happy about is they no longer put the secondary pull starts on any of their models so I have purchased a booster pack to take with me ice fishing just in case. There is no gas gauge and when the low gas light comes on you have about 20 minutes to find some, a snowmobile gas cap with the dial on it would have been a good idea. I have done some snow plowing with it and have about 12 tanks of gas through it and am quite pleased with it but I would not want to take any 4 hour rides on it without power steering it would be a workout but around my property and hunting and fishing it is all I need.

 

[ArlyA]

We've been operating a 700 grizzly for 7 years now and about to retire it.. The differential lock doesn't work for our situation anyway.. We would get and need the power assist steering. The lack of fuel gauge could be a problem and this is the first we've heard the Kodiak doesn't have that. Hummmmmmmm

I believe the reason they don't add a pull start is the engine is large enough, that most people can't pull and start them anyway.

 

[DK35vince]

I believe the reason they don't add a pull start is the engine is large enough, that most people can't pull and start them anyway.

I believe it is due the fuel injection
Many older carbureted models added pull starts.
Fuel injected utility ATV models rarely, if ever add pull start.
The Kodiak has fuel injection

 

[DieselnHooters]

Bought a brand new fuel injected Honda Foreman 500 just last week, it does have a pull start, pulls real easy too . Its a bare bone model with a foot shifter and no power steering but it had what I was looking for as a working ATV > a driving shaft(no CVT for me thx) a solid rear axle that wont squat down when trailering like those independent supensions do...oh and it does have a digital fuel gauge but most of all it has a Honda motor.

 

[ovrszd]

Bought a brand new fuel injected Honda Foreman 500 just last week, it does have a pull start, pulls real easy too . Its a bare bone model with a foot shifter and no power steering but it had what I was looking for as a working ATV > a driving shaft(no CVT for me thx) a solid rear axle that wont squat down when trailering like those independent supensions do...oh and it does have a digital fuel gauge but most of all it has a Honda motor.

That line of products is pretty hard to beat!!! Hope it serves you well.

 

[General Lee]

I have a 2002 Kodiak 400. Other then a battery or two, a needle valve and brakes it has been flawless. Carb needs a little work now from sitting though.

 

[DK35vince]

Bought a brand new fuel injected Honda Foreman 500 just last week, it does have a pull start, pulls real easy too . Its a bare bone model with a foot shifter and no power steering but it had what I was looking for as a working ATV > a driving shaft(no CVT for me thx) a solid rear axle that wont squat down when trailering like those independent supensions do...oh and it does have a digital fuel gauge but most of all it has a Honda motor.

I know some (Kawasaki Brute Force 750 for sure and I think several others) had electric start with an additional pull start on the carbureted models.
Once they were switched to EFI they were electric start only, the pull start was removed at the same time.

 

[1965]

Again mine is just the plain Jane model, you can purchase other upgrades to get the things you want which pretty much makes it the Grizzly just depends on how much you are willing to spend. They stripped them down to make them more price competitive with other brands. It was 5 F outside this morning and mine fired right up so the thinner oil and a years worth of break in time may have helped with the cold starts. I think all ATV's made by the main brands are very well built, I would not hesitate to buy a Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or Polaris, it is just which brand fits your needs the best, but I have been very happy with my 3 Yamahas the Ultramatic drive is flawless, 6500 hard KM on the 450 and no belt issues.

 

[nybirdman]

Good choice going with Yamaha.I have had three new ones in the last ten years.Grizzley,Rhino and now a Viking.Used for my business and some pleasure riding.Used to be a fan of Honda,not so much anymore;I think they have the worst 4WD wannabe system out there.Just had a friends 500 Foreman here and it wouldn't go up a ramp to the trailer with-out help(in 4WD and with chains on all four).

 

[cat fever]

I can't speak to the new Kodiaks. I did own the original 400 Kodiak back in 93?? I loved that machine, never had a problem with it and you could not power it out. It had the high/low range with tons of low end power. Wish I still had it.

 

[ArlyA]

Yamaha is only offering one engine anymore which is the electronic fuel ejected, counter balanced, 4 valve 700 in either machines. I believe they are rated 45hp.

 

[1965]

Yamaha is only offering one engine anymore which is the electronic fuel ejected, counter balanced, 4 valve 700 in either machines. I believe they are rated 45hp.

Correct, it is also in the Viking, Wolverine and a couple other machines. An economical move on their part to have a standard motor for part supply.

 

[General Lee]

Yamaha is only offering one engine anymore which is the electronic fuel ejected, counter balanced, 4 valve 700 in either machines. I believe they are rated 45hp.

45hp in an ATV....Lord have mercy. Meanwhile I'm putting along in my 15.8 Hp kubota RTV500 lol