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Posted by: cc1999
If I were in the market for a grizz I would wait for the 2007, It rumored to be a 700 EFI. I agree with goblin for the price of the Grizz I would buy the King. The King is far superior in many ways to the Grizz. I would add that I would only buy the 2006. Since there is still a chance depending on the production date you could get one with the reverse problem. I had herd Suki is only fixing them if there is a problem and not going back through all of them like a recall. Also some of the early built ones had ECM failures that has also been resolved. I would play it safe and only buy an 06' since both issues would be resolved for sure that way.
Posted by: doolin64
Go with the KQ. I own a Grizzly that I just bought a year ago last December. This was before they solved the reverse problem on the KQ's. I ride with two guys that have one and man it's anice machine for the price. Don't get me wrong I love my Grizz but the KQ is a better Grizz for the price.
Posted by: doolin64
If you're not into mudding or extreme rock crawling, the rincon is a nice ride. I will admit though I saw my friends Rincon have problems on the trail (overheating), and my Grizz has been great. I had no problem starting it this winter but I have heard that EFI is nice to have. I'd ride the Grizz and the KQ and see what prices you can get. I'd go for the cheapest one. Because they're both great.
Posted by: 2TV
From the type of riding that you are describing I think you'd like the manners of a Rubicon better than that of the Grizzly. They are both good workers, my tenant has had a Rubicon since the first model year (got it in 2000) and I've had an '02 Grizzly since July of '01. They both have pulled a lot of logs out of the woods but we've had the Rubi in situations where it won't move, then unhook it from the log and put the Grizzly on it and it will break the log loose and pull it out of the woods. However if you are not trying to tow to the machines maximum capacity this won't be an issue with you.
The Grizzly is more comfortable (and with ITP C-Series wheels making it wider it is very stable) and has more ground clearance. However the Rubicon is quieter, has a smaller feel, a lower center of gravity and has a better / smoother power delivery (it was a better vehicle for towing a trail mower than the Grizzly because of the slow speeds that were required and the Rubicon is more responsive at these slow speeds). I didn't like the fact that it was permanent 4WD but the new models are switchable (plus you can buy an aftermarket unlocker for the older models as an extra expense (about the same as the cost of the ITP wheel switch on the Grizzly). Overall engine braking performance is better on the Rubicon, although engine breaking on the Grizzly is excellent in low range and 4WD.
Now enter the King Quad. I have two friends that have them locally and I've had plenty of seat time on them as well. I like the slow speed handling characteristics of the KQ. It feels cat-like at low speed, very easy to steer and it is quieter than the Grizzly. It feels a little loose at high speed though (compared to a C-Series wheels equipped Grizzly) but it sounds like high speeds are not important at all to you.
However what has impressed me most with the KQ is it's fuel economy. I've ridden with them at Hatfield McCoy (WV) and the Paiute Trail (UT). The KQ uses less fuel than even the much smaller (engine size) Rubicon. After a busy day at Hatfield McCoy my Brute Force (with a slightly higher fuel consumption rate than my Grizzly) would have used over 4 gallons of fuel where the King Quads would have only used about 2 1/2 gallons. On the Paiute trail where our elevation varied from 5500 ft to over 11200 ft (both my Grizzly and Brute Force had the stock jetting that is set for my east coast riding (between 400 and 3000 ft) the Dynatek Ignition equipped Brute did well but the Grizzly (I had taken both my Brute and Grizzly out there) was way down on power and sputtered some at the higher elevations. The EFI on the King Quads however had no problems at all. On day two of our Paiute ride we covered 101 miles. I had emptied the entire contents of my fuel flat pack (about 3.2 gallons) into my Brute Force tank at the 65 mile mark while one of the King Quads made it all the way back (101 miles) without adding any extra fuel in the tank. The other KQs that were riding with us topped off before getting back just to be sure they didn't run out (we all carried gas cans or fuel packs on the Paiute ride).
So IMO between the Rubi and the Grizz it's a toss-up but if you aren't typically in a hurry you might like the Rubi a little bit better. However if you are reconsidering the King Quad that would be my first choice...
Posted by: 2TV
Downeaster - those Paiute Trail pictures in my collection are only the beginning. We rode for 5 days and I've only managed to get days 1 and 2 posted so far. The pictures I have from there include mine and two other riders. Between the three of us we took over 2000 pictures (that includes the drive out, the trail ride, a side trip to Bryce Canyon and the drive back). I'll get them all posted eventually within the next week or two. I even took some helmet cam footage on an 11 mile ride that started from camp (5500 feet) on trail 74 and ended on trail 01 at a locked gate at 9100 feet. That gate was locked due to impassible snow drifts on the trail and wasn't opened until the afternoon of our last ride day (and we didn't find out about it until too late).
Test riding each quad will be very helpful in making your decision because fit and feel is very important and varies with the individual. I stored a King Quad for a period of time for one of my friends and he gave me permission to use it whenever I wanted to. I liked that machine more each time I took it out. It was great for picking your way through the woods (off trail) with it's precision slow speed handling characteristics, and it's quietness was a nice bonus too. I used it frequently to get near some of my morel (mushroom) spots back in the spring...
Posted by: RedGoblin
Reverse problems with the KingQuad are D-O-N-E. If you've thrown the King out of the mix because of the reverse issues, bring it right back in. For the same msrp as the Grizzly, I would honestly make that your machine because it's basically a Grizz on steroids in about every category and with EFI to boot.
Posted by: RedGoblin
There will be people that will try to tell you otherwise about the KingQuad reverse. If so, let me know and I'll direct you to a conversation I had with a few people on a different forum that KNOW their stuff. I'm not trying to promote my machine, but if you're considering a Grizzly, then you pretty much HAVE to consider a King.
Posted by: RedGoblin
Which type of riding do you enjoy, downeaster?
Posted by: RedGoblin
If you want a locker, I'd have to honestly still have to stick with the KingQuad for comfort, EFI, price and just bang-for-the-buck. I would have told you the Rubicon until you mentioned a locker. While many may tell you that you don't really need one, I know that when you say you want something, by god you want it and that's that.
Posted by: RedGoblin
Very well-put 2TV.
Posted by: CaptainQuint
Grizzly. Honda doesn't have a locking front differential.
Do a search back through the forums on the reverse problems. Just make sure you get one with a good VIN and you are all set. The good VIN numbers are here on the forums if you look. DO NOT buy one of the older ones the dealer still has in stock and DO NOT trust the dealer to tell you if the ATV you are looking at has the defective reverse gear. You have to check for yourself. If we're talking about older KQs that are still sitting at dealers then the reverse issue is far from dead even though there will be people who will try to tell you otherwise. If you aren't careful you could pick up one with the defective reverse gear.
Between the grizzly, rincon and KQ I would go with the KQ as long as it was one with a good VIN number.
Posted by: CaptainQuint
Quote
Originally posted by: 2TV
However what has impressed me most with the KQ is it's fuel economy...
I think that is something that those of us that use ATVs on a daily basis are going to have to look at. At 3 bucks a gallon it does start to add up. I've never had enough seat time on a KQ to observe the fuel mileage but the guy I know that owns one says it seems to run forever on tank of gas. That is one thing (among many) that computer controlled EFI has over carbs. They are so much more precise and can really stretch the mileage all while producing more power. A little programming and you can have totally different characteristics. Power or fuel economy or a combination of both. Amazing gadgetry EFI.
Now if someone would produce a diesel powered ATV with EFI and possibly a mini turbo or something.
Posted by: hondabuster
I cant imagine two quads more unlike each other.
Anyway, the rubi will have lots and lots of low torque, will be more stable with the sra, and be more of a workhorse. If you had both on the trail, the rubi will be eating dust all day...it wont keep up with a grizz...anywhere. Ground clearance and suspension are the big reasons.
The grizz will want to rev, its just the nature of the cvt tranny, and will offer a better quality ride, but will feel alot tipier than the rubi, due to the irs.
The grizz has full differential lock, and in low range, is geared lower than the rubi. The grizz is rated for higher towing...but the rubi will pull as much, its just the braking that the rubi lacks for the higher tow rating.
Both should offer many years of trouble free use.
Posted by: propnut
Except for the locker, it sounds like the Foreman 500 (non ESP) would be a pretty good replacement for the 300 (not that an 05 and up Rubicon wouldn't). Simple, plenty of power, and rock solid. Improved ride, discs on the front, and 2 or 4wd. You know it will last...and not saying the others won't...
You should look at the Kodiak 450 too. A friend has a Kodiak with 3500 miles on the original belt. (I have had to pull him out of a river that got too deep though). It's been trouble free except normal maintenance. What I like about the Kodiak (for your type of riding, not for the work I do with my quad) is that it is small and light, which makes it agile and easy to ride in difficult situations, very manageable. Locker, IRS, discs, price, they look good in factory camo too. Check one out.
Posted by: downeaster
ell first off let me tell you I am just a little more than disgusted with Hondas
announcement yesterday of the changes in the Rincon. I want a new machine
and have now narrowed it down to the Rubicon or the Grizzly. I realize the size
is a little different, but for some work, and mostly riding in hilly brushy country
with not much mud. I am not fond of mud. I do like to go where I want while
hunting. What should it be the Rubi or the griz. And oh did problems ever
get solved wtih the KQ reverse situation, I thought that was a good qualifier
until they had there reverse situation...
Posted by: downeaster
Red Goblin
Thanks for that reply I tried out the 2005 KQ this spring and loved it. I lost interest in
it because of the post on how bad the reverse was. I saw it for about $400 less than
the Grizz. I want a new quad this fall, and was waiting to see what Honda was doing
with the Rincon. They have disappointed me for years never catching up with tech..
I will take another KQ for a ride..
Tnx agn
Posted by: downeaster
ed Goblin
Well i am 63 this October, and just trail ride some but at slow speeds for the most
part. Most of my friends that ride with me are at least 55, so we aren't into speed or
mud. We all have hunting camps out in the woods, so it is fun to go to anothers camp
for a weekend and explore, and search for good stand locations, and check out
strip lots, left over from paper companies, slashing the timber. Big bucks love them
especially when the lots are about 3 years old. It seems everyone around me in Maine
has an atv but you never seem to encounter one another in the woods. There are a
lot of trails left over from timbering, but they are rocky and very rough. Its not a place
for fast trail riding. This new purchase will probably be my last so I want a machine
that will hold up and give me a decent ride. My old Honda 300 is getting to seem like
a rough ride. I sure have been wanting one with better brakes, a winch, locker,
and irs. We don't see mud here in Maine, but we do see water, a higher ground
clearance with floorboards would be nice. Oh I use it for ice fishing during the winter
too, the ponds freeze over and snow usually blows off most of the time, so you
can almost always ride on the lakes and ponds. I like it better for ice fishing, because
you don't make a lot of sled noise when you are approaching your tip up. I found
that sometimes sleds spook wary trout. Well thats pretty much how I use my machine.
Posted by: downeaster
Good Responses
I believe I will give the KQ the first hard look. I know I liked it last spring. One thing
I want auto tranny, may just take Rubi, Kq, and Griz all for a ride and decide what
I feel would be best.
2tv _ checked out some of your photos, simply beautiful, and that copperhead, it
looked like it was relaxing on your steps. whew! That would have been the big
one for me. Nice winter scenes too. Some of your riding is just fabulous..
Luckily I have two atv dealerships close by, Yamaha about 15 minutes, and Suzuki
is about 20. Honda on the other hand is 45 minutes. I don't want a Rincon, as I have
been stuck hundreds or times, and don't want to have to try bulling out and atv
anymore. About the only thing I really would have to tow, is an Ice shack and just
about any atv can do a fair job of that.
Thanks again all
Posted by: downeaster
Captain Quint
I saw a diesel yamaha a few years ago. The guy that had it hated it, as it made so
much noise, and the diesel smoke was terrible. Cripes the engine wouldn't even be
broken in when the atv would be a bucket of rust.
2tv
I will check back in a week or so and look at some more of you pic's.
I have had a Honda atv for so many years now its seems sacriligous to change. It
hasn't been without numerous brake problems, and choke problems. So I guess
it really shouldn't be that hard for me. I am now leaning #1 King Quad camo..
I have received alot of insight during the past two weeks, especially on the bushing
being replaced by a bearing, and weep hole for oil...
Posted by: Grizzman42
go with either the kq or grizz. honda aint that good compared to them (no offense)
Posted by: ReliableSources
downeaster,
My pop is 63 also and has some back, neck, and arm muscle problems. He claims after testing some of the bikes, the Griz was easier to steer and has a much smoother ride. His goal was to find those qualities in an atv. What ever keeps him on the trails with me is a plus in my book.
If you get the Griz make sure you put some protection on the lower coolant hose under the coolant reservoir. I put a stick in my hose riding in a fresh cut-over. Stand in front of the Griz, look between the left front tire and the shock, at the reservoir and you can see the venerability of the hose. That, to me, was a design flaw from Yam.
That's not trashin my Griz. I just dont want anyone else gettin hung out to dry (like I did) with no fluid, no way to patch the hose, and an engine running hot.
Tony
