I have been looking around for awhile now, doing tons of research, talking with different people, reading reviews and evaluating what features I need. I originally thought the new big bear IRS would suit me but have decided against it for the fact that I may be out west eventually and need something that will be able to cruise a little better through the desert without screaming for mercy in 5th gear. So I'm down to the Grizzly 450 which I love, the King Quad 450 which I really like with the EFI, and the AC 500 which seems really great as well and has all the features of the other two for the most part. I'm not sure if the EFI on the KQ is really a deciding factor at all in my decision, but it seems to be all the rage as of late. Anyone got any feedback?

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Looking, Looking, Looking for my next Utility.

as always i would tell you to go with the AC. ground clearance, suspension travel, rack capacity, rack versatility, mechanical diff lock.

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2006 Arctic Cat 650 V2
3000lb Venom 3000XT winch
50 ft synthetic winch rope
ITP Mudlite XTR tires
ITP C-Series Type 7 rims
Arctic Cat handguards
Arctic Cat shock covers
K&N Air Filter

get some seat time on all of them, then decide...

gl

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If you never wreck, yer not riding hard enough...

04 yfz 450 Curtis Sparks Big Core Exhaust Kit
Cam mod
Airbox lid removed
GYT-R Jetting Kit, Grab Bar
AC Bumper, Nerf Bars, skid plates
TrailTech Xbars
HiPer beadlocks w/ razr's...

07 Grizzly 700 (Ducks Unlimited Edition)
Warn 3.0XT winch - Full Yami skids - 27" 589's all around
Dalton Clutch kit - Reverse rev-limiter override

Buy the one that has the most features that suit your riding style and where you ride. EFI has an advantage if you are changing altitudes often (there are work around's with carb - air jetting) I like a carb because I can work on it myself. If out of warranty and the EFI messes up, you could be looking at some bucks to get it running right.

My preferences would be AC, KQ, Griz in that order, but you have to get what suits you best. AC is geared more toward utility and really difficult terrain, the others are more of a sport ride and easier trails. The AC is bigger, stronger and heavier. Probably not as fast in a drag race but will run about the same on the top speed. Has more ground clearance and more wheel travel.

With other brands there seems to be more mods (tires, suspension, engine) just to get the needed ground clearance - that can add up to big bucks really quick. After the mods then their handling diminishes (if they had an advantage - my opinion is no because you can make the AC handle as well as any). also, they can't ever get the superior wheel travel needed for articulate riding over large objects. So the bottom line is - they invest way more money and end up with worse handling and probably still don't have a comparable machine. And more often then not their axle and CV joints have changed angle and putting extra strain on the entire drive line, reducing reliability and increasing breakage.

Any will get the job done and there is no single machine that will do it all, but some do certain things better than others. You need only to decide what features are important to you.

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I DON'T PRACTICE AT BEING A DUMMY, IT COMES NATURAL
DON'T LAUGH AT ME, YOU CAN LEARN ALOT FROM A DUMMY!!!

03 Arctic Cat 400FIS automatic
Front tires - 25x8x12 Innova MudGear
Rear tires - 25x10x12 Sigma TBC MudCats
Front and Rear bumpers
1" spacers on all 4 wheels
3000# Xtreme waterproof winch
http://mysite.verizon.net/buckaroo39/

Sounds good.I really do like all 3 of them. I'm hugely unbiased to any of the machines because when I think about it, even though It always sounds good in my mind, there won't be any Highlifter mudbog championships to win or any high speed woods racing events to tackle. So I'm sure any one will do great for me. I guess it will come down to price, among a few minor other things. Still tough to pick though.

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Looking, Looking, Looking for my next Utility.

I bought my KQ 450 a few months back. I have to say it is awesome. I can only speak for the kq and the grizzly. My father in law bought the grizzly 450 the same day I did. I prefer the KQ over the grizz now more than ever. His seems like such a smaller bike to me. He is a bigger guy than me and if he rides two people the shocks almost bottom out. I know you can stiffen them but that makes the ride stiffer for one rider. My king quad seems to handle two people better. Plus the dreaded brake squeak of the grizzly started not long after he got it. My kind is faster also. Topping out at 61 or so. And it hangs with a 660 in a drag race. Overal my vote of course would be the KQ 450. Can speak on the AC, I have never seen one. All my employees bought bigger models so I am thinking of giving my KQ to my wife.

Here is a review comparing a 450 Kodiak (Same as 450 Grizzly ,just had a name change) against a 500 AC . http://www.powersportsnetwork....rof_review.asp?code=85

Can,t tell you how a 450 KQ is though.

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2001 SP 500 H.O

Here is another good read. Helped me make my decision.

http://www.atvmagonline.com/output.cfm?id=1220599

Nice review. I knew the Can Am 500 would lose bottom and mid range in the slower driving. 500cc is just to small of a displacement to be a twin clylinder in a Utility ATV.

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2001 SP 500 H.O

I'm in the same throes myself. Looking at P360, AC400 and just found out about KQ450. I'm leaning heavily toward the KQ450 as it has everything, I mean everything I want- and the fact that I need a machine that will do it all the KQ seems to fit the bill best being a sport first, with it's wonderful CG gas tank under the seat then filling in utility duties and 4x4 for the snow and clawying up a mountianside. THe seat is nicer too. I seriously entertained the AC 400 but ruled that it was a bit too much on the utilitarian side, and the seat..........

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2000 Kawasaki Mojave UNI pod air filter 400ex carb. WhirlPull twist throttle KLR CDI and Supertrapp pipe, 22x8-10 Kenda Front Max Frnt 22x11-10 Kenda Dominators Rear TRX250R rear shock and Cycleworks 380 cams, 1983 YTM 225DXK 3- wheeler, 1997 Lakota dressed in Kawasaki Green, 2000 Prairie 400 Firecracker Red

I had the same problem. I hated the new Rubicon I bought so I traded it on a King Quad 700. Lost my butt, but the 700 has alot of power for only about $700 more than the 450. I'm not sure about long term yet though. I hope it stands up.
Buck

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2007 Suzuki King Quad 700 Camo
26" Interco Swamplites
Douglas Rattlesnake wheels
Uni air filter

2005 Yamaha Raptor 50 (son's)

I've got the Kodiak 450 and I did have to lift and widen the bike to get it up to the standard of ridin' I like. But I also got this one because I was upgradin' my 400 Kodiak with the straight axle to the 450 IRS. Yes... I also got the infamous Brake Squeel" that I got on my previous 400 (fixed with a $30 aftermarket set of brake pads) but, my brother bought a 2 up Sportsman 500 and has had nuthin' but "Pull startin', Axle snappin' FUN!!!"

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2007 Kodiak 450, Warn 2500, 2" lift, 26" Mud Lite XTR's on ITP SS112's (super sharp!!!), EPI clutch kit, HMF Exhaust, widened, Kimpex powdercoated push bar, Powermadd chrome handgaurds, Delta Challenger checkerplate ATV box. Oh yeah... camo eh?! I also slapped a windshield off a 2007 Phazer snowmachine on, it's pretty snappy lookin' too. (black & chrome)

i have some seat time on the 660 griz, 700 KQ, 450 KQ, and big bear (mainly from friends we ride with). i persanaly own 2 suzuki vinson's............the 500 suzuki is a hard engine to top! i would strongly concider the AC 500m!! same engine as the vinson! here's a good 500cc review ( http://www.powersportsnetwork....rof_review.asp?code=85 )! with quads getting larger and larger (why i don't know), a 500 is about the minimum i would go. it's not to small for a work hourse, but it's not a high dolor big bore. of the ones i rode (other than my vinny) i favored the 660 griz........the KQ lack in the low end grunt (as i'm not the only one to notice this). you can put modules and clutch kits in them to make up for it, but my friends 660 has a good amount of low end grunt even pulling 27's!

the EFI has a snappier responce, and will not be as much of a hassle when it comes to changing elivations! BUT with a carb, you can always upgrade with a dial-a-jet (soon to be added to my vinny) so jetting isn't as much of an issue as you think. for $60-70 it's not a bad upgrade, even for a stock bike.

and if you look into them you can probably find a great deal on the vinny or the AC since this is the last year for the 500 engine........i had to wheel and deal to get dealers down to a "rock bottom" price. i know a couple guys that went in with 90% cash and bought a vinny for 300 less than what i got mine for (purchased mine for $5100 sticker price).

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Jason
Team Mudd Racing Pres.
TEAM MUDD RACING

A friend of mine has a 500 vinson. Man, what a good lookin' bike!!! The headlights and speedo pod are sharp!!! If I wasn't so brand loyal the Vinson or the King Quad would definately be my bike of choice!!! Black is pretty stealth lookin' too. the Kodiak SE I had before this one was black and silver. But still not as easy on the eyes as your Vin with the C-Series ITP wheels. Good for you!!!

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2007 Kodiak 450, Warn 2500, 2" lift, 26" Mud Lite XTR's on ITP SS112's (super sharp!!!), EPI clutch kit, HMF Exhaust, widened, Kimpex powdercoated push bar, Powermadd chrome handgaurds, Delta Challenger checkerplate ATV box. Oh yeah... camo eh?! I also slapped a windshield off a 2007 Phazer snowmachine on, it's pretty snappy lookin' too. (black & chrome)

I will never own anything else besides Arctic Cat since i bought my first one. Get the AC, you will love it

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2006 650V2
Dynatek CDI
NGK Power Racing Cables
Iridium Plugs
K&N
Amsoil In Everything
26" Swamplites
Delta Chrome Steel Rims
Venom 2500XT Winch
Brushguard Front/Rear Bumpers
AC Handguards
Cargo Box
Gun Scabbard
Magellan GPS
Alarm System
Gel Grips
Baja Lights
Odyssey PC680 Battery

Consider:
You can get a leftover '07 KQ700 for the same price as a '08 KQ450... same chassis/size, bigger motor.
Grizz 450 is physically smaller, but a proven reliable machine (and a bit of a dog).
AC 366 will out-perform an AC 400, and is the ONLY AC that isn't overweight.

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'02 Big Bear
Supertrapp IDS2
K&N
26" Mudlites
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'06 Bruin 350 4x4
25" Mudlites
-SOLD-
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'06 Her Chee 90 (DS90)
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'07 Rhino 660
K&N
RAIS Powertube
EPI Clutch Kit
Hunterworks Tri-Fire CDI
26" Mudlite XTRs
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'08 Grizzly 700FI EPS
HMF Penland Pro + Optimizer
Twin Air Filter
FPS Clutch Kit
26" Mudlite XTRs

It all depends on priorities.
450 Griz: Best auto tranny in industry, most manuverable due to smaller size, excellent brakes, totally proven with zero surprises.
450 KQ: EFI nice if you regularly ride in radically different elevations, no bargin.
500 AC: I personally do not like linked brakes, If you can live with the 500 5 speed then you will have one of best performing and most reliable machines on market, wider and heavier so more hassle in tight situations, most wheel travel and ground clearance so the best in big rocks and logs and mud.

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08 KLR650
07 Grizz 700
04 KDX220
07 KTM525XC
01 GL1800ABS