New ATV Purchase

[markc]

It isn't brand new, but I bought this off Craigslist today, and put a few miles on it already.


 
It's an 04 Yamaha Kodiak 450 4X4.  It has the same motor etc. as my 06 Rhino.  Getting it tuned up tomorrow, new battery and adjustment on the brakes.  Bought it from a prison guard, has 116 hours on it. 

[Bugflipper]

Be careful around turns. They can be a bit tippy 'till you get used to them. Those tires will help though. I have an 01' was hoping it would wear out so I could get a new one. Doesn't seem to be cooperating so I'm going to get some wheel spacers to widen the stance. I normally hunt bottom land, but last season hunted behind the house in the mountains. It tried to dump me a few times so it's time to solve the problem before it succeeds. 

No problems out of mine mechanically. Has been a decent one.

[Old Syko]

Mark I know ya didn't ask but in my opinion the Kodiak is probably the best bang for the buck of all the intermediate sized quads out there no matter whether its the older 400 or like your new 450.  A friend of mine has an 02 that has been through it all in the worst possible way and still goes on just like always with only minor repairs.  Not a fan of the Mud Lite tires though.  Extremely soft rubber compound that wears much too fast.  Next time ya go to Colorado you'll have to take it along.

[Lloyd Smale]

we had one at work and it was about indestructable. We even used it to back fill ditches with a snow plow and got it so hot it siezed up 3 times that day and that was 10 years ago and it still runs like new and doesnt use oil. Only warning ill give you is about our tires. they look like the same ones I have on my grizzly and it is about dangerous over 45 mph. It darts all around on a dirt road. I even put one inch wheel spacers on mine. that helped but sure didnt cure it. those tires sure do work in mud and snow. I ride with a bunch of freinds and family and they will all tell you that my grizzly with those tires is about the most unstopable atv they ever seen. But when we hit fireroads and everyone cranks it up im usually in last place. Yours might be a bit better then mine though as mine has power stearing with makes stearing quicker too.

[markc]

Thanks for the replies guys. Good to read good reviews on this quad.  It has been years since I drove an ATV, been driving the Rhino since Dec 2005, and prior to that purchase, drove a Kawasaki Mule 550 after buying it new in 2000.  The balancing and all that was tricky my first ride on the Kodiak, but it comes back to ya pretty quickly.
 
 Let me tell ya why I was so keen on making this purchase.  My 2006 Rhino is a 450, the same motor, tranny, 4WD system etc.. as this 2 year older Kodiak.  The Rhino has been worked pretty hard and has never let me down. 

The Kodiak dry weight is less than 1/2 that of the Rhino. My thinking, I like Yamaha's (and all others really), the motor has proven itself to me already in a much heavier side y side, the hours were low, the plastic was in better shape than my Rhino, and everything works on it.
 
I am not a big mudlite tire fan either, and will be sliming them before it makes a trip to the ranch.  I prefer these tires on the Rhino, Goodyear mud runners.


 
After 4 years of rocks at the ranch, I do see some damage to the ends of those large lugs on the mud runners, but they still hold air, and climb steep rocky stuff very well.
 
The Kodiak is at the shop getting a tune up, and some adjustments to the brakes, etc..
 
Old Syko, that has crossed my mind, taking the Kodiak to Colorado. Our current plan though is to stay in Lake CIty next July, for 2 weeks, and rent a Jeep.  Thinking of leaving my Jeep at home, and driving up in the Kia Soul that gets over 30 mpg.  My kids are all planning to fly up and spend a few days off roading with us.  Anyone interested in going July 2012, let me know.   
 
Best news is the National Forrest, 30 minutes away from me has miles of ATV trails that I was not allowed to drive in the Rhino, but can on the Kodiak.  Will be purchasing the permit real soon.

[Rex in OTZ]

 
You need more flexability that only a tracked vehicle can afford
 
we have snow 7 months out the year
 
 
 
 
http://youtu.be/nePw2GWAfAs
 
http://youtu.be/sw1Sr1h5CDU
 
http://youtu.be/Getrkultck0

[markc]

Rex, I've heard of snow, even saw some in Colorado.  Not sure tracks or skis would last on the dry rocks of Texas though.  LOL   

[Rex in OTZ]

Selawik search and rescue drive them across the tundra all the time, even during summer searches, they plane right through brush and over swamp that would hinder ATV's just remove the hood and set them rich and stop to cool them off once in awhile
 
http://youtu.be/Q8ctS3_LTjw
http://youtu.be/xph-yhX6qqw

[Lloyd Smale]

we had tracks for our 6x6 argo at work and left them on all year long too because it went through everything better with them then just the wheels. It didnt handle as well though. It did still float with them on though. the tracks were in fine shape after a couple years when i retired. We also use an old snowmobile at camp to drag deer out of the swamp. It works great other then the fact it doesnt like to steer in dirt and you have to get off once in a while and pull the front end over to get it to go where you want. To use one all the time you would be wearing out skis or ski skins more often and slide bars on the track wouldnt last long but there all realitively inexpensive. Youd have to use a fan cooled snowmobile though as the water cooled ones rely on snow on the heat exchanger to cool them. There fine for a drag race or a lake crossing but any more then that and youd be overheating.

[markc]

Always wanted to try out one of those Argo's.  A snow mobile? No, not a chance at our place. Our hill country place is quite steep and rocky, cactus, etc... a tracked vehicle is not necessary, there is no tundra, just rocks, rocky creek crossings and very steep rocky hills.


 
 I would enjoy the chance to try one out on the trails there, but there isn't anything the Rhino, or now Kodiak can't access that a tracked vehicle could. Now back home at the local lease, if it ever rains, an Argo type vehicle could come in handy. Even more so, down in Katy Tx area, if it ever rains, hunting snow geese, an Argo or tracked vehicle might come in handy because of the deep sticky mud.  But right now it will take  more than 12" of rain to really create a real mud issue.

[Lloyd Smale]

want my opinion of an argo aquired from many hours behind the controls. RUN dont walk away from the dealership. There a crudely built unit that is very unreliable. Way overpriced when compared to the quality of your rhino. There also slow and very very rough riding and with tracks on you about have to wear earplugs if your going to go any father then you can see. I wouldnt buy one for 5k let alone the 14k our company paid for this thing. ONly thing its got going for it is its about unstoppable. We have one stretch of transmition power line that this unit was the first vehicle of any kind that ever made the trip from one end to the other. theres 5 rivers to cross and many miles of swamp land that at times of the year is completely under water and this thing will go though it any time of the year. After the 40 mile trip your about ready for a weeks vacation though.

[BBF]

I wanted an Argo so bad I am drooling every time I see an ad. Now after reading Lloyd's post and the fact the the Missus just bought herself a new set of wheels the Argo is floating away from me.