Help!

31340 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by dashaint, Aug 11, 2016

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · Apr 9, 2016

Guys and gals that own a new Kodiak 700....I'd like your overview of that machine since new..
I'm thinking very seriously of purchasing one 700-base, but the one review I read here is one of constant dealer service and apparent fuel injection problems. I have a 2005 grizzly 660 I've had for ten years and want to upgrade, but I don't want problems. My machine has been solid as a rock! I live remotely and can't deal with that repair/recall stuff.

Please take a moment and post a 1-10 rating on your new machine and if you would, leave a few words to review.
Many thanks....

Frank

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Ronbo

· #2 · Apr 9, 2016

fullkurl said:
Guys and gals that own a new Kodiak 700....I'd like your overview of that machine since new..
I'm thinking very seriously of purchasing one 700-base, but the one review I read here is one of constant dealer service and apparent fuel injection problems. I have a 2005 grizzly 660 I've had for ten years and want to upgrade, but I don't want problems. My machine has been solid as a rock! I live remotely and can't deal with that repair/recall stuff.

Please take a moment and post a 1-10 rating on your new machine and if you would, leave a few words to review.
Many thanks....

Frank

This my first quad, though not new to wrench-turning and maintaining machinery, spent 23 years maintaining Naval aircraft and a few more on construction equipment, also owned a few street bikes in my youth. MS has pretty much sidelined me on street bikes due to balance issues thus the quad.

I love the machine. I have the base model with about 20 hours on it (estimated), mostly around the yard. Did a safety course with it and a one day ride in the hills east of me. I have no experience with other quads to compare with, but mine seems solid enough, though some of the body fastening parts seem cheesy and low budget. Doing the first service on it now, engine oil and filter, diff and final oil (the diff and final seem like overkill to me but checking the block to cover myself during the final few months of the warranty) I live quite a ways from a dealer also (whom I will never buy from again). All in all I'd buy another one but go with the upgraded model for the power steering (MS issue) and give this one to my wife to ride.

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Ronbo

· #3 · Apr 9, 2016

oops, forgot to rate. Keeping in mind this mu first quad, I'd have to say 8.

Tennessee Cattleman

· #4 · Apr 9, 2016

(8.5) Rating. The Kodiak 700 is a fine machine in my opinion, but could use a few improvements. Yamaha needs to do something about the heat from the exhaust on your leg on the left side and use or have a option for a paper cartridge air filter. More grease zerks on bushings would be nice also.

Reactions: 1

Ronbo

· #5 · Apr 9, 2016

I agree about the heat. I did a (first) day of riding last week, it was fairly cool in the 60's and it got quite warm between my thighs. My friend has a Polaris and he said the same experience, but I didn't get on it to compare.

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 9, 2016 (Edited)

Thanks for the posting guys, appreciated.
I hope more Kodiak 700 opinions/ratings will be forthcoming here.

Regarding the panel/leg heat, I think that is manageable, hopefully with enough complaints Yamaha will retrofit a foil insulation or something of the like for a quick install. It is what I'll do should I bite...I'd glue a foil backed insulation on the inside of the panel.
My first Grizzly, a 2002 660 in wetlands camo I bought brand spanking new; it had that bad fuel boiling problem.
Great machine, but it never did fare well with that ridiculous fuel tank heat--even with Yamaha's recall retrofit.

My '05 has never had any such problem, Yamaha figured that out.

schmeg

· #7 · Apr 10, 2016

The exhaust heat is a product of running lean. Catalytic converters work most efficiently when they are hot in which the factory uses a fuel injection routine that is quite lean. The easiest fix is to install a fuel controller and richen things up a bit. For more money, a complete aftermarket exhaust would go well with that controller, but not necessary.

Ronbo

· #8 · Apr 10, 2016

Where does one acquire one of these controllers?

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 10, 2016

I wouldn't touch one...
I'm going to start a blitz of the internet and see if anyone is dealing with stall problems etc.
Maybe there are some answers are there. I won't plop down a dime without some diligence; my '05 660 is still a fine bike.

Ronbo

· #10 · Apr 10, 2016

I've had no problems whatsoever, keeping in mind I don't have much time on it, either, was asking out of curiosity. I want (need) my machine to be as reliable as possible. My days of walking outta the bush 24 miles because my machine is broken are long behind me. I want it o go vroom when I turn the key.

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 11, 2016

Ronbo...many thanks for your comments, much appreciated.

I'm going to continue to look around the web for reviews, I think maybe the machine reviewed here that I read about was a one-off deal regarding the problems.

jacusmc18

· #12 · Apr 12, 2016

I give it a 9. I've ridden mine(base Kodiak 700) for a little over 20 hrs and everything from mild to wild and it has held up GREAT. i ride with some guys that have can-am and brute force and grizzly and they are all thinking about getting a kodiak.

The only downfall i see, is that it's so new there are not much upgrades to it but really it doesnt need much anyway.

Hope this helps

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 12, 2016

Many thanks, JA. Appreciated. Glad that machine is all you hoped for!

offroader

· #14 · Apr 13, 2016

jacusmc18 said:
I give it a 9. I've ridden mine(base Kodiak 700) for a little over 20 hrs and everything from mild to wild and it has held up GREAT. i ride with some guys that have can-am and brute force and grizzly and they are all thinking about getting a kodiak.

The only downfall i see, is that it's so new there are not much upgrades to it but really it doesnt need much anyway.

Hope this helps

That last point is why I always wait, and while waiting just follow developments going on around the vehicle from what owners have to say, industry news, aftermarket news, etc. I just like to get in when the time is primed.

Reactions: 1

Deanno33

· #15 · Apr 21, 2016

So far happy with mine after about 15 hours. I was hesitant to sell my 03 kodiak 450 as n I had it for 10 years and it was flawless. My 2016 is so much more fun to ride and handles like so much better than the 2003...although the old had solid rear. My couple minor gripes. The heat thing on leg. Haven't really looked but hoping to add foil insulation to help. The fan seems to run alot and it's not even warm yet in Wisconsin...assume that is normal. Also...it can't handle toon much hitch weight ...feels like front end starts to come up a bit. Not literally off ground but steering doesn't feel as connected to ground. All in all...I like.

ka64

· #16 · Apr 21, 2016

Um Badassery!!!

YammyPower

· #17 · Apr 22, 2016

i would give it 9 , Bikes amazing on trails through it around like a 350.. fun bike good low end and high end power picks the tire if yah wanna ! ive just got a base model 700 Bikes a ball!

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 22, 2016

Great to read these reviews, many thanks guys...

fullkurl

Discussion Starter · #19 · May 25, 2016

Well, I passed on the bare-bones $6700 Kodiak...but picked up a nice bike last night off of CL.

I'm a devoted Yamaha guy but this Arctic Cat 500 is super clean with only 230 miles. The gal was selling her deceased husband's machine and just wanted it out of her garage. For $2500 it was a no brainer. It was probably a $7000 machine if not more.
Bike has about every option A/C offered.

The thing is an absolute beast, it makes my 660 grizzly look small in comparison.
My petite wife will have to take the griz, and I'll take the cat.

Build quality looks excellent.

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Sizzler

· #20 · May 31, 2016

Just bought one on Friday night and now have 72 miles on it. You guys think these Kodiaks run hot you should ride a canam. The Kodiak I can ride in shorts and crocs the canam it would burn your legs. The reason I'm on a Kodiak is my 15 xmr 1000 was so hot it melted the seat and plastic. It actually got so hot it burned on April 21. Went back to Yamaha and couldn't be happier. Half the money almost half as heavy and reliable.

And no offense you couldn't give me an Arctic crap. Had a 500 and it was a POS.

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