Yamaha Grizzly 660

[ovrszd]

Richard -- I've always owned Hondas since the days of the Mini Trail 50 (remember that little gem?), and since my first quad was that rock solid little Foreman 400 that had never given me the slightest problem in seven years of hard use I checked out the Honda Foreman, Rubicon, and Rincon first. But the Foreman isn't much stronger than mine, the Rincon isn't a utility quad, and the Rubicon, while it is head and shoulders above mine, just didn't feel right. It was sluggish on takeoff and vibrated a lot more than I was comfortable with. There were also a lot of gadgets on it that struck me as gimmicks. 30 speeds, fer Pete's sake! After that I tried the Can-Am quads, but couldn't justify the price. Then the Kawasaki, and while I liked the V-twin engine it had no low range and again was more sports than ute. Plus the local Kaw and Suzuki dealers don't have the best reputation for service after the sale. Finally I tried the Grizzly 700 and it simply blew my socks off! I suspect, since I was able to steer it with one hand easily even in 4WD, that my petite wife would also like the Grizz.

But even the Grizz is a compromise. I'm looking for a quad to use around the farmlet and to harvest firewood from the forest. For that I need low end torque which the 700EFI has...but it also does 65mph which is something I definitely do NOT need!

Ahem, choices! Pete

If a person shops for an ATV more than just a couple days, the confusion gets worse!!! There are definitely a lot of choices. I didn't know Kawasaki built a utility ATV with the V-twin without low range??

I totally agree with your assessment of the Rubicon. I also agree about the Can-Am models. I have not ridden the Rincon and am very interested in that model. I don't need a heavy hauler but do want a workable utility machine. I think the first year of the Rincon had some problems but they have since added displacement and brought the brake system into the 21st century.

Keep us posted on your adventures!!!

 

[Dargo]

Richard -- I've always owned Hondas since the days of the Mini Trail 50 (remember that little gem?),

I still have an original one that has now gone through three generations of kids. It still starts right off and runs like a well oiled sewing machine. Hmm, speaking of oil, I don't think I've changed the oil in it anytime in the last 15 years. Gotta go now...

 

[Boondox]

Well, the RTV ain't gonna happen. I rode my trusty old quad around the meadow this morning marveling at all the damage that rented RTV had caused in the wet field in just two days of use, then ran up one of the old logging roads that was also very wet...and decided under these conditions an RTV would be a very expensive half-year utility vehicle for me. As much as I liked it, as well as it handled all the work I threw at it, I just couldn't justify spending that much on something that would be restricted to the drier portions of my land.

So today I signed on the new Grizzly 700EFI and will get a small, rugged trailer with fat tires. It won't handle the loads I was hoping to haul, but it's much faster and more comfortable so I'll have fun making twice as many trailer runs.

I pick it up on Wednesday.

Pete

 

[dsb5610]

Boondox,

Have you decided which trailer you are going to get? After I get the ATVs I plan on getting a trailer. So far I like the Polar Sport but I know there are other good ones out there.

dsb

 

[Boondox]

Boondox,

Have you decided which trailer you are going to get? After I get the ATVs I plan on getting a trailer. So far I like the Polar Sport but I know there are other good ones out there.

dsb

Not sure. It's not something I ever thought I'd resort to so am still checking out alternatives.

Pete

 

[Dargo]

So today I signed on the new Grizzly 700EFI and will get a small, rugged trailer with fat tires. It won't handle the loads I was hoping to haul, but it's much faster and more comfortable so I'll have fun making twice as many trailer runs.

I pick it up on Wednesday.

Pete

Sounds awesome! When you pick it up, you gotta start a new thread and include pics and your thoughts on it. The EFI ought to be fantastic and I'm really curious as to how the PS works out on an ATV. Now you have me wanting one of those. Hey, Christmas is just around the corner...

 

[Boondox]

Sounds awesome! When you pick it up, you gotta start a new thread and include pics and your thoughts on it. The EFI ought to be fantastic and I'm really curious as to how the PS works out on an ATV. Now you have me wanting one of those. Hey, Christmas is just around the corner...

Thanks, will do. When I first read about power steering on a quad I thought it would be nice for my wife, who is rather petite and still recovering from surgery. And while it certainly helped her get around on the test drive, the thing that really convinced me was that the handlebars hardly moved at all when I hit a boulder the size of a soccer ball with the right front tire. On my Honda quad, the bars would have practically been ripped out of my hands!

Besides, the Yamaha fits in my truck bed while the RTV requires a trailer to get around. It was one of those things where the best just didn't fit my needs.

Pete

 

[Dargo]

Besides, the Yamaha fits in my truck bed while the RTV requires a trailer to get around. It was one of those things where the best just didn't fit my needs.

Pete

Oh, I agree with you 100% on your choice for your needs. I kind of need both and had an RTV and a Rhino for the last 2 years. I sold the Rhino a couple of weeks ago for the simple reason of money. I was able to get what I paid for it 2 years later. Unless something big changes, I plan to get the new RTV1100 in the spring when it comes out, but that will leave me short on a "go fast" and fun machine that can also work. I do have a 4X8 old trailer that I used to haul ATV's on. I figure it would work fine behind the 700 Griz.

 

[rdbrumfield]

I picked up a Rincon last April. I wished I had looked around a bit before I bought it. I had heard so many stroies about slipping, broken belts, that I went with the automatic. The only drawback is that there is no compression help on those steep downgrades. Other than that, it will go where I point it and has amazed me with the ride and surefootedness.
As I didn't want to haul it in the back of my pickup, I built a trailer. It has several functions. Is a tilt deck, has sides that fold down to create a flat-bed so you can store all camp gear underneath and put the toys on top. The sides slide off easily to use as a common utility trailer, and the one side can be put back on to create a 10x31/2 foot table to the side of the trailer. Of course a person could build to any size, but I built this one to pull behind my Dakota and will work for two units plus gear.

 

[dsb5610]

rdbrumfield,

Have you posted pics of your trailer. Sounds like a good setup.

dsb

 

[rdbrumfield]

I did a year or so ago up in the tractor attachments or build it yourself dicussions. If I can find my camara charger or the disc I have them on I will put them down here. I didn't have the quad when I built it, but it sure has been nice to have around, and very handy for the quad. Sure saves on the pickup.

 

[_M_]

I picked up a new (2007) Grizzly 450 this summer to replace a '92 Polaris 350 TrailBoss 4X4. We've got 20 plus acres of various terrain. Much of our trails have a steep sideways slope to them. The TrailBoss had a solid rear axle, was 2 inches wider and thus was a little more stable feeling than the Grizzly. I found that setting the Grizzly's preloaders to the firmest setting made a significant difference in stability without negatively affecting the ride. So did raising the tire pressure a bit. Both my wife and I are very happy with the Grizzly. The 450 is fast enough for me and has never come close to not having enough power for pulling loads, etc. I pull a 4.5' x 8' Floe aluminum trailer through our woods with a 2" ball hitch. I've likely exceeded the rated tow load by 1.5 times if not more and it did great. I have also used the winch to pull the ATV with trailer (loaded with logs) up some really steep stretches (not because of lack of power, but because the dirt was soft and I didn't have enough traction. I estimate the trailer load was about 1500lbs or more). I've also gone down hills with a heavy trailer (slowly) and all was fine including the brakes. Only things I wish it had were a 4 or 5 valve engine (instead of 2) and EFI. 25 hours on it and no problems so far. If I could back, I would buy it again.

 

[dsb5610]

I finally finished the deal on the pair of 660s and brought them home last night. We did not get to run them much and it was after dark but our first impression was these are going to work well. One thing that was obvious, you pack an engine that size in a little container and they really scoot. I will get a picture up when I can take a shot in the daylight.

dsb

 

[rutwad]

I feel certain they will meet your needs and should satisfy you for along time.

A little late for buying advice, but I owned an '02 Kaw Prairie 650. Absolutely loved it and bought the '04 700 next. Same atv, just slightly larger engine. To me, the prairies have to be some of the most versatile ATV's around. Plus the braking system is second to none, and brakes always seem to be problematic on most atv's.

The side-by-side units seem pretty nice, but I have always been worried about riding with my ATV buddies and encountering a low limb crossing the trail. No ducking to keep going oin these. Plus the weight has to be a negative factor when in the mud, especially if you get it stuck!

Grizzlys> I've only been around 2. One was bought used and the man had trouble with it cutting off all day. Probably not a grizzly proplem, just something that could happen to anyone. The other grizzly was new (well, 2 yrs. ago) and when he got stuck and engages 4wd-lock, it broke a front axle. I have heard other grizzly owners say this as well, but with stock tires and no agressive mudding, that should not be a problem.

Polaris- I don't think anybody's sitting on the fence about these. Either thay love them or they hate them. I fall into the latter group based on the ones I have been around.

Ford or Chevy, Honda or Toyota, blada, blada, blaaaah. Everyone has their opinion, but take care of any of them and you should get good service from it.

 

[dsb5610]

Thanks rutwad.

We haven't put more than 20 miles on them but I think these are going to work well for us. I've installed the winches since the picture was taken. That was more of a job than I expected.

dsb

 

[BabyHuey]

Speaking of Suzuki's, I just sold my 2003 Twin Peaks 700. It was both FAST & reliable. I bought it in Feb. 2004 as a 2003 leftover. I bought a seat and installed it on the back rack for my wife. It was padded (seat & back) & had storage boxes on each side.
We did a lot of riding the dirt roads and fire roads in the woods in my area.
In the two years that I owned it, I never had a problem, other than a factory re-call for the front end, and dealer took care of in a day. (Replaced top & bottom A arm on both sides.

Just my Two Cents.
Good Luck with your choice.

Bob in N. Florida

 

[praha]

dsb,
congratulations, little late.

Now you will need new tires!!

I have 8000 miles on 2 Grizzlies,bought the first one 2002. Always had gas boiling issue, Yamaha never solved the problem. 2007 model may be different.
Otherwise, 660 was the best machine on the market between 2002 and 2006.
Power steering is a great feature.

Enjoy,
Joe

 

[dsb5610]

Joe,

I got the 2006 models. They do take a bit to get warmed up but always start right up. We've had some real cold spells where it was too cold for me to ride but I have no doubt they would have started.

I don't see new tires in my future until I wear the stock ones out. I'm shopping for a decent trailer to use around the property as well as some type of storage for the long trail rides.

dsb