Yamaha Grizzly 350 2x4 Automatic

[dks7895]

I'm thinking of buying a 4 wheeler.  It would be used for hunting, trial riding, etc.  I've been leaning towards a Yamaha Grizzly 350 2x4 automatic.  MSRP is $4199, and I've been seeing new 2007 models going for $3500.  My budget is very tight as we just built a house on 6 acres.

I'm thinking I could put a snow plow on it as well.  Is this model enough brawn to plow snow?

[30-30man]

I have the 350 Bruin 2006 model 2x4.  It is the same model as the Grizzly with just a different sticker.  It is an awesome machine and can tow some unbelievable loads. I've had no problems with mine except squeaky brakes that are annoying. 

If money is tight, I suggest looking at the Kawasaki Bayou.  It is only a 250 but you can not tell a difference.  Many people say that there is a difference but you can not tell it when you get on one. I've heard of some people plowing snow with them but can't speak for sure.  I've lived in SC all my life and never have seen snow over an inch or two.  The Bayou pulls harder with the gears.  The gears help with low range torque.  The Yamaha has to rev a bit to get moving.  The Bayou I have is a 2008 model and I like it better than my Bruin.  It'll out run the Bruin, the front tires will come off the ground if you get into a hurry. I never race my quads but was curious to see which one was faster.  The Bayou out ran the Yamaha by at least 15 feet.  The Bayou sells for $3000 and is much better on the wallet.  I wish I'd bought two of them.  The Yamaha is great don't get me wrong...the Bayou just does the same thing for $1200 less.  It also has a fuel gauge, accessory lighting plug, and compression release for easy pull starting. The Grizzly/Bruin does not have these.

[Old Syko]

If you need the use of a plow you're going to want something bigger.  The smaller quads just don't have the weight or suspension to support a plow.  Guy down the road has a Bruin 2x4 with a plastic plow.  Not enough suspension to hold up an Eagle plow or equivalent without collapsing the front springs.  In about 6" of snow he came out of his garage, went about 15' and came to a complete stop due to lack of traction.  With the plow angled to the right the quad made an immediate left turn and was unsteerable.

Friend of mine has a Kodiak 450 4x4 with a 4' plow and it is all it will handle.

For a plow you need power, weight, 4x4, and a heavily sprung suspension.

[dks7895]

I appreciate the input.  The problem with the 250 is the overall size.  I am 6'2" @ 210lbs.  The 250 class is physically too small.  I'm not looking for a speed demon, I just need something for the woods.  The snow plow is not critical.  I really do not want 4x4, and I do not want to drop $7k on a 4 wheeler.  I may be better off buying a snow blower anyway.

I checked out the Kawasaki web site and the Prairie 360 looks like an option too.  So now the thread thickens.....Yamaha Grizzly 350 or Kawasaki Prairie 360? 

[Graybeard]

I have a 2005 350 Bruin and am really pleased with it. The power of this machine is awesome. I've pulled my 17 cu. ft. trailer loaded with dirt and gravel that had to weight well over a ton with it all over my place here and it gets the job done. My old Honda 250 couldn't pull half the load this machine does.

When I got it I got the $69 winch special and have a Warn 1500 winch on the front. It has been used only once so far when Matt decided to ride around on the bottom of my pond when the water was down low this past summer. He buried it and had to get his SUV to drive down to use as a tie point to hook the winch cable to and pull it out.

It goes places I'd never have thought it could and pulls loads that are over twice it's rated max with ease. I don't think you'd go wrong in getting one. But like was said I don't think it would make a good snow plow machine as you really need 4x4 and a lot more weight for that task.

[Old Syko]

The Prairie 360 is basically a Prairie 650 or 700 that has been neutered.   Of the Kawasaki and Yamaha my choice in this case would be the Yamaha and this comes from a Kawasaki fan.  The 2 have similar performance abilities but the edge for durability seems to go with the Yamaha.  I've seen a lot of both loaded with 200# of gear + the rider out for multi day rides and that just seems to be the end result.  Aside from having to be helped along once in a while by my non neutered Prairie due to trail conditions, they both have performed well.

As far as the plow goes, I guess you could always find a snow shovel that would do the job!   They're plentiful here but I can't seem to find a place that sells operators for the durn things. 

[30-30man]

If you were anywhere near SC, I'd let you come over to my place and ride both of them and choose for yourself. The 250 Kawasaki is no slouch and is just a capable. The 250 Kawasaki bayou and the 350 Yamaha are so close, I can't tell the difference.  The Kawasaki will haul me and my nephew with ease and pull a garden trailer loaded with turkey manure.  I am even a little heavier than you are so don't count a 250 machine out if the money is tight. To plow snow is a mystery for me as I have never had the need.  A bigger machine would be needed for sure but then I have tractors for heavy work.  Whatever you choose, make sure it will do the job you want.  If an automatic is in your future, the Yamaha Ultramatic is better than what Kawasaki offers. If you don't want gears, forget the Kawasaki.  The belt on the Yamaha is auto adjust but the Kawasaki has to be adjusted at intervals.  It is more likely to have belt problems...Slipping etc than the Yamaha.    Good luck.....

[Old Syko]

  If an automatic is in your future, the Yamaha Ultramatic is better than what Kawasaki offers.   The belt on the Yamaha is auto adjust but the Kawasaki has to be adjusted at intervals.  It is more likely to have belt problems...Slipping etc than the Yamaha.    Good luck.....

The only thing I will believe from this quote is that the 2 systems are different.  As far as 1 being better than the other......I'll put it like this.  Takes me about 20 minutes or so to change a $50 belt in the Kawasaki after a bit over 5,000miles of use and abuse and about 4 hours to repair a worn Yamaha clutch with a couple hundred bucks worth of parts after the same treatment.  I own and mistreat both equally.  As far as cluthes and belts go, they're about a toss up with the edge for me going to the Kawasaki, but just barely, just for it's simplicity. 

[30-30man]

Any atv that is used in mud/water is going to require more maintenance.  The Kawasaki requires adjustment intervals and will be more likely to slip if left alone.  Ask your dealer about the difference, odds are he has more Kawas with belt problems ( slipping) than the Yamahas.  No reason to lie about anything as it is not my money.  Buy what you want, relay your experiences as you will, but don't call it a lie. I relay my experiences as I have them..You relay yours....

[Old Syko]

When Kawasaki first started with the variable clutch system it was thought that belt tensions had to be adjusted occasionally.  This is no longer true nor has it been for a few years now.  There were some growing pains with the system just as there is with everything new.  Proper installation techniques, along with the advent of proper springs and clutch and belt angles being tuned to today's standards assure there is no longer any adjustment necessary.  If your dealer is working with up to date info (as of about 3 years ago) he can confirm this.  Average belt life is 4 to 7,000 miles with either Kawasaki or Yamaha's system in my area and overall performance is equal.  This info was first brought to me by my my local dealer and has proven correct in my experiences with both.

[30-30man]

The info I shared was relayed by my dealer in 2006 when I bought my Bruin and then again when I bought my Kawasaki this year.  He sells Kawasaki's, Yamaha's, Suzuki's, and Honda's.  I don't know why he would give me wrong information as he never cared which one I bought.  I do know the Yamaha is self tensioning, is the Kawasaki? I was told it was not, thus leading to more maintenance.  He even showed me the Kawasaki's belt design on some that were in the shop with slipping belts.  I will say that right now Kawasaki has one of the longest warranties of the Japanese atvs now so the belt issue could not be that big of a problem. Most warranties are 6months and the Kawasaki's right now are 12.