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Posted by: DezDude
I have an 03 Kodiak 450. I don't think you can go wrong with it. I used the diff lock this weekend and could not have gone on the trail without it. I personally like the smaller more manageable size of the Kokiak. It does all I ask it to do.
Posted by: DezDude
For what it is worth.........I have used the diff lock on my 450 a number of times and have never had to back up to get it to engage. So far it has worked flawlwssly. The only thing I have to say about the plastic is that they all seem cheap. The fit on the plastic panels could be better, but for me it is not a big deal. I find it interesting to know what others think about the Kodiak 450. Most comments have been positive. All I can say is that it fits my style of riding and so far has been very reliable.
Later.
Posted by: Jeffro31
I own a 450 kodiak and ride with a vinsion manual , kodiak is more confortable , diff lock is a plus , vinsion has more power but not much , if we nail them I can stay real close , vinsion has the best seat I have seen on a utility machine , front plastic sucks on the vinsion , bump any thing and it breaks , can't go wrong with either one , I have not rode with an auto vinsion , but i really like the manual shift machine.
Posted by: Haymaker
I have the 450 and love it, I'm 6'2" and weigh 225lbs, the quad is plenty big enough for me and the power, sharp turning are great. I've ridden other quads and like them but this is the one that fit me best. I've never ridden the Vinson but have heard good things about it also.
Posted by: RINCON
If they were the same price i'd get the Vinson. Just an overall bigger quad, likely more power too.......................
Posted by: RINCON
true, so very true!!
Posted by: RINCON
If you think a Honda can't keep up in the tight twisty trails, than you are very wrong! That's the only area a honda can keep up, they are wide and low, which makes them handle very good. When the trail opens up it's a different story........................
Posted by: RINCON
Gee, i'll go do that right now! BTW your Icon fits you perfectly! lol
Also thanks for the Kodiak Handle bar fix, i'll have to do that to mine.
Posted by: HELLFISH
Thats a good 1,have'nt rode the vinson but it looks like a good machine,you can get a manual trans,faster to i'd say,but it;'s as heavy as the big bores 606lbs,50lbs more than a kodiak 450,and no locking front dif,i have ridden a kodi 450 and it's a fine machine better handler than my griz,either way you can't go wrong,but i don't like the handlebar headlight every quad with one there gets broke 1st time over it seems the bars take some abuse on a roll on a 4x4,but thats my 2cents.
Posted by: HELLFISH
When you OUTLAW GUNS only OUTLAWS will have GUNS...plain and simple
Posted by: HELLFISH
I have never heard of any yamaha with a diff-lock having to back up to get it out and yamaha has the best or near best plastic of any atv.the kodi 450 is the best in class of any 400/450 by a good margin.
Posted by: HELLFISH
i'm sorry i did'nt know that wash. state was so much more was the breeding ground for riding skills than any other place,i don't guess tellico ohv qualify's huh...you know where every magazine comes to test,it's not any more technical than east tn,western nc i promise you,and that honda is to slow to be technical on,and if you hit as much shi* as you let on like,a 49' mercury bumper won't help clipping tree's and shi*...i'll just set here and fear over your mad ridin skilz.
Posted by: HELLFISH
obiviously,everthing that comes out of your mouth goes in it too...*)(*&^ you!!!
Posted by: MnTurboPaws
..Go to the search column and enter yamaha warranty problems and then do the same with suzuki...result: Go with the one of the shorter list....!!! Do the vinson...We love ours...
Posted by: CANOEMAN23
I would recommend the Kodiak 450...the diff. lock is well worth having....especially if you are trying to get thru some thick mud...the digital readout and automatic trans. is real nice. It handles better than a Suzuki in tight woods and the one button in/out locking sys. is convenient. It comes in a variety of colors (mine is camo) and is not too big, but plenty big enough to get the job done.
Posted by: warrior50
Which is better guys? I am buying one of them and am very tied between them. Please help me. One is bigger and stronger, the other has locking diff. I just don't know. Give me you opinions
Posted by: warrior50
I went with the 450, pick it up tomorrow. Thanks for helping me out guys
Posted by: AdventureQuad
The Kodiak is a nice bike but it has some small items that are a little sticky. The front locker on it is a pain in the ,,,,,,, because every time you need to unlock it you have to back the bike up (this is really a design flaw I think yamaha shoud work on). The plastic is not very good for woods riding. I have seen several fenders smashed on the Kodiak (Yamaha's plastic is the worst. It look great but it doesn't take abuse like, say a Honda). Little things like that can get on a riders nerves if your using it for woods riding (technicle hard woods riding). Other than that, the bike is a dream. It is one of 3 bikes that are really suited for technicle hard, tight trails and woods riding. Anything bigger and it's either too heavy or just far too big to get through the tuff stuff. The Kodiak has a lot of great features and is light and nimble which makes it my choice over the two you speak of but be prepared to address the issues I have talked about if you use it for techicle woods riding.
Posted by: AdventureQuad
Quote
Originally posted by: DezDude
For what it is worth.........I have used the diff lock on my 450 a number of times and have never had to back up to get it to engage.
This is what I know (I have a friend that rides a new 450 and he has to back up every time he "unlocks" the front end). If he just hits the switch and keeps on going the bike will not unlock the front end on it's own. He is not the only one with this problem that I know (not that it's a problem, just a bit sticky).
Posted by: AdventureQuad
Quote
Originally posted by: HELLFISH
I have never heard of any yamaha with a diff-lock having to back up to get it out and yamaha has the best or near best plastic of any atv.the kodi 450 is the best in class of any 400/450 by a good margin.
Not a doubt in my mind that the Kodiak is most likely one of the top two bikes in it's class.
Plastic: Well, thats all a matter of what you do with the bike. The looks of the Yamaha plastic are in my mind the best on the market but if your looking to take the bike in the woods (tight technicle trails that require skirting around trees and difficult obsticles) think again. Most people don't ride their bikes that way but the company I keep and the riding we have here in Washington state requires technicle riding skills through hard, tight, muddy and wooded trails that have no remorse for ATV plastic. The Honda plastic is the absolute best with it's flexible outer rubber skirts on the fenders that either fold or pop the rivets out when hit hard. All others tend to crack the fenders. Wasn't meaning to start a big war about plastic but hopefully this explains my position on why "I" don't care for Yamaha's plastic when it comes to the style of riding in my neck of the woods. I do however like the looks as I stated earlier.
Posted by: AdventureQuad
Quote
Originally posted by: HELLFISH
i'm sorry i did'nt know that wash. state was so much more was the breeding ground for riding skills than any other place,i don't guess tellico ohv qualify's huh...you know where every magazine comes to test,it's not any more technical than east tn,western nc i promise you,and that honda is to slow to be technical on,and if you hit as much shi* as you let on like,a 49' mercury bumper won't help clipping tree's and shi*...i'll just set here and fear over your mad ridin skilz.
Wow, your kind of a Dick.
I was mearly justifying my point I made earlier to clarify why my opinion was the way it was. I never said anything about Eastern states being any less of a riding area or Tellico or magazines or that fact my riding skills are any better than anyone elses. Next time I will keep in mind how delicate your feelings are.
Once again: "Your a Dick"
Posted by: dravy
JUST SQUEESE FRONT BRAKE,THIS MAKES THE WHEEL WITH TRACTION HOOK UP. DIFF LOCK ,ALMOST !
Posted by: dravy
I DON'T HOW YOU GUYS KEEP FLIPING THESE 4-WHEELERS,BUT NOT TO BUY ONE BECAUSE IT HAS A HEADLIGHT THAT MIGHT GET BROKE OFF IF TRY TO CLIMB A HILL THAT YOU NEED TO BE WINCHED UP ???
YOU'RE SUPOSE TO BE HAVING FUN NOT TRYING TO GET KILLED. " GO FIGURE "
Posted by: Ozarkrider03
I would definantly go with the Vinson on this one. I have raced both of them and the Vinson kills the Kodiak much more power. The Vinson also looks better to
Posted by: TeddyTwoFire
I've found if you're on the gas and trying to disengage out 4 wheel drive then the servo has a hard time. This is due to splined shafts internal & external trying to pull out of each other.Too much friction. Now if you keep on doing this then you'll get burs causeing more problems. Try it!!
Posted by: twentycharacters
yeah ive thought about the utility market myself. and if i bought right now i would seriously look at a kodiak 450...but the honda lineup has alot to offer too.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
I like the kodiak 450 thats why i bought it. now someone might choose the vinson over it because it fits their type of riding. thats great too!!!!! but theres no need to trash one or the other. It all boils down to what the person will be using the quad for. I suggest trying both of them out to do the kind of riding that you will be doing, and see where each machine shines and pick it for your reasons, not because someone says that one quad will kick the others wazoo. I'm not too familiar withthe vinson, but the kodiak has a solid rear axle. if the vinson has IRS then i would think a soild axle would be able to pull more. once again it depends what you will be doing with your "Perfect all around quad" that suits you best.
Good luck with your purchase and happy trails!
Posted by: KodiakOwner
I havent had the handlebar problems on my 450 like others have talked about. what is it like and how do i know if i have it?
Posted by: KodiakOwner
The kodiak 450 vs. the vinson. Maybe you should check out the outlander too. its supposed to be cheaper and has a 3 year warranty and some other bells and whistles to boot. in the 400 - 450 class the outlander has been classified as number one with 450 in second. Thats what ive heard anyway.
Posted by: KodiakOwner
I own a Kodiak 450 and the only two things i dont like about the are:
1. the Reverse limiter
2. the seat feels like it is missing some paddinding towards the front. ( I also ride my fathers 99 Kodiak and i love that seat! in fact the whole quad feels similar to the older honda 300 4x4. both are great machines)
Posted by: puttputt
You are right on about the Outlander.
Posted by: JactUpVinson
Quote
Originally posted by: HELLFISH
Thats a good 1,have'nt rode the vinson but it looks like a good machine,you can get a manual trans,faster to i'd say,but it;'s as heavy as the big bores 606lbs,50lbs more than a kodiak 450,and no locking front dif,i have ridden a kodi 450 and it's a fine machine better handler than my griz,either way you can't go wrong,but i don't like the handlebar headlight every quad with one there gets broke 1st time over it seems the bars take some abuse on a roll on a 4x4,but thats my 2cents.
I rolled my Vinson sise over side four times and the front rack and the handlebars bent a little(Quick fix) I highly recomend the zuk.
Posted by: JactUpVinson
Quote
Originally posted by: KodiakOwner
I like the kodiak 450 thats why i bought it. now someone might choose the vinson over it because it fits their type of riding. thats great too!!!!! but theres no need to trash one or the other. It all boils down to what the person will be using the quad for. I suggest trying both of them out to do the kind of riding that you will be doing, and see where each machine shines and pick it for your reasons, not because someone says that one quad will kick the others wazoo. I'm not too familiar withthe vinson, but the kodiak has a solid rear axle. if the vinson has IRS then i would think a soild axle would be able to pull more. once again it depends what you will be doing with your "Perfect all around quad" that suits you best.
Good luck with your purchase and happy trails!
THe Vinson has a solid rear axle and the manny tranny is proven to be more reliable than a auto
Posted by: JactUpVinson
dil you weigh 120 and your 6'2'' you must be a stick. Im 6'4'' 200 and the Vinson has more than enough knee room and definately the most comfortable seat out of all ATVs sport and utility. I sat on a Kodiak and my knees rubbed but I am abnormally tall.
Posted by: Dil
The kodiak 450 is great for me i weigh 120 and im 6"2 and i have rode other 4wheelers and this is the one that fits me!
Posted by: Dil
Hey my weight is 216 my kid got on it he's a little kid he's 8 he's in trouble but i bet that fits you perfect but i like mine!
Dylan
Posted by: Dil
almost any 4wheeler is good but i put my mind the kodak450 honda's are good but i like the kodiak spealing of 4wheeler i just got my 13 year old kid a rally goes about 45 it good
Dylan (Dil)
