How has a Four-Year Old Yamaha Kodiak 700 Held Up? We Hit the Mud and Find Out!
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- čas přidán 9. 05. 2019
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This is great! can we make this a regular thing? I'm tired of seeing ATV/SxS reviews of brand new $25,000 rides, want to know how rides hold up after a few years break-in. Talking with actual owners is something no one does.
Yes! We are working to bring you more used ATV/SxS reviews.
This is the true test of a vehicle like this, and it's always interesting to get an owner's perspective.
Thanks for watching.
I agree. We can see NEW show room reviews to death. But it is the year-5 year ownership that most of us never get to see. We need to know how it is going to hold up for the buyers. As for this thing being stuck in 4WD all the time.. IF it was a street legal vehicle this would be un-acceptable. Not sure why anyone would accept it not working properly. My 1st dirt bike was a Yamaha. And it was constantly needing TLC.
My kodiaks been awesome
They redid a lot of stuff for the 2019 king quad 750. After a year and 1300 miles I've had 0 issues. I heard my first strange noise yesterday, it was just me bottoming out is all. Lol
This is awesome! I agree on more used atv/sxs reviews.
The fact that a guy who tests off road vehicles for a living has one in the family says a lot about the quality of the product.
I bought a 19 Kodiak 700 EPS in part because of your review.
I picked up a 2021 700 EPS and my wife got a 2021 EPS SE . 👍🏼👍🏼
I just bought a new 2023 Kodiak 700 a few days ago, always been a Honda guy and it's been a great quad so far!
The 4x4 switch was recalled for 2016 on the Grizzly and Kodiak. Free replacement!
So was the de compression speing..mines in the shop not getting the recall taken care of.
2017 kodiak se 700 my switch kept turning on for no reason i tore it apart filled it with di electric grease works great now
Hade my 4x4 switch fail multiple times before dealer fixed it 2016 Grizzly. Along with multiple electrical problems. Very disappointed in Yamaha.
@@joeellis2692 i had the 4x4 kick on at high speeds, thats the only issue ive ever had though after 2600km
I love your dad giving you heck about the mud! Great review!
Four wheel drive issue happened to my friends 2016 grizzley. Turned out to be a simple fix of cleaning the contact surfaces. Its been fine since. He also has a 2015 kodiak that he bought for his friends to ride. It has been rolled, went over a 10 foot cliff, been in several accidents. The thing is bent up and crooked but still runs like a top. The thing is a tank. We nicknamed it Christine because so many people have been hurt on it. We warn people before they ride her.
I have the ‘17 Kodiak EPS. It has a manual lever to engage 4wd. No dif lock.
My ‘00 Kodiak 400 has the push button. Still works perfectly. Whole machine runs as well as the day I bought it.
My Dad has a 2016 Kodiak 700 Eps that has 8,800 miles on it with out any issues.
Great review. Our two 2007 Yamaha Grizzly EPS quads have been absolutely bullet-proof reliable. We bought them when Yamaha introduced the first electronic power steering to the industry, which was a game-changer. In fact, we are still running the factory batteries in these two beasts, 12 years later! I attribute the longevity of battery life to the fact that I religiously hook both machines up to their own Battery Tender Jr. whenever they're put away. I highly recommend the Grizzly line to everyone who asks, "what kind of four-wheeler should I buy".
(NOTE: I actually traded one of the Grizzly's in on a new Honda Talon 1000X - not because we didn't want to keep it, but because we just didn't have room in the barn for both. But, that doesn't at all diminish my respect for the machine.)
Steve
i get around 5-6 years out of my batteries, but i live in canada and its in an unheated garage
My Kodiak will be 20 years old this June. Rides like the day I bought it.
Yamaha seems to have great belt life. We have an 03 kodiak 450 and as far as i can remember. It still has original cvt belt. I believe it has well over 15k miles on it. Although its more than likley due for service no failures.
James Peters have my 03 Yamaha Kodiak 400 4x4 love it.
I have a 04 Yamaha kodiak 400
16 kodiak 708 over 18000 miles no issues still going stronger than ever
Really like the review format. Keep it up.
THIS is a review!!! everything looks/performs when brand new...Thank you for this video!
Good review 'Matt . I have looked at this brand of atv . There is a guy on here that has a couple of these and I watch what he put those through . The snowmobile drive system with a belt I wondered about .I have a 400 arctic cat with the manual 5 speed transmission with high and low range , This machine amazes me it mostly lives in 1st and 2nd gear either snowplowing a good size barn yard entry 300 feet x 60 feet or hauling out firewood from the back 40
It has lived this lifestyle for over 1400 kms . My boys use to go hunting where I .m sure it finds other gears , but it is the smallest cc engined machine in the group and always has the job of hauling the gear in a heavy homemade trailer . Enjoy all your reviews . Say why don't you come north to play and bring that Big Green truck , we can mount a snowplow see how it works for a bit . Not into the trail ripping but do. do the distance checking fences around 500 acres . Be safe
Me with my 02 Yamaha bear tracker running it every weekend in the summer ,and she still runs like a dream
I had an 02 Bear Tracker in the beige color for about 10 years, I was unbelievably rough on it as a kid growing up and it took all the abuse I could give it with minimal maintenance. I'm talking pulling the shifter up while in first gear then flooring it and dropping the shifter to do clutch launches in 2nd gear, thousands of times 😬. On the main road I'd hold it full throttle for 11 minutes straight until I got to my destination many times a week. That machine deserved so much better lol
Well done! Great review, full coverage!! Good job!
I have the exact same quad no issues had a compression spring recall my dealer fix both my quads. Great vid
Nice review. Thanks for covering it.
The 4x4 issue is the switch. Take it apart and clean the contacts should be good to go. Worked on mine.
Pack it with di-electric grease also.
Hoss 3444 easy fix
i took it apart and cleaned it it fixed it for like a year then did it again, i believe the switch is a free replacement so im just gonna do that and not have to worry about it again
got my grizz for years nothing have ever broke ...love it ...
we have a grizzly 450. no service for 11 years, i know stupid, but it still works great
Your dealer will replace that 4wd switch free of charge. There is a tsb on this issue
One of the better reviews out there. I want to know wear and tear toughness. I’m leaning towards a Yamaha and this went quite a ways with my decision. Thanks a bunch!
i have a 16 grizzly the only issue ive ever had with it was that 4x4 switch but i hear its a free replacement at the dealer so not a big deal, 2600km on it and just oil changes
Hey just bought a Kodiak 450 EPS just lacks storage but that’s no problem amazing machine so far. Love your videos keep up the great work thanks
Nice , I just bought a 2021 Kodiak 70” eps se,yesterday , through some ITP Mud Lites II ,on her .
Yamaha is to me the best ATV out . You can thrash it hard everyday & next day just begs for more !
I grew up with a Yamaha 350 4x4 and I loved how it came only in 4WD and had reverse. Where I took it I couldn’t even rely on 2wd so it worked out. It wasn’t til I moved to the states and got a Dodge Ram 1500 that I realized pickups came in 2wd! Shocking but I’ve learned how to drive it off road just by adding MTs a leveling kit and airing down...
I had a 2015 Grizzly 700. The reason I bought that, because Kodiak at the time did not have as much suspension travel as a grizzly. The grizzly also has a better clutch set up. The grizzly also came with skidd plates and kodiak didn't.
Best review! None of that over polished elite journalist BS like some of the other ATV channels (rhymes with Shirt Racks, lol), while remaining professional and well structured, thanks buddy.
I see you had some black flies lol I live near Minden and we haven't had them yet but a few I suppose. Great video on long-term usage!
Excellent Review!
I bought the exact same 4wheeler. Same year same model. Mine sticks in 4wd but it does release. Also you talked about the kodiak looking for higher rpms. If I remember correctly The cvt is weighted differently than the grizzly. It’s meant to be a workhorse. Akin to the tundra running 4:30 in the back instead of some trucks running 3:80. I have a 2” ball on mine as well and I do pull trailers around the yard.
I had my piston,rings and jug replaced by yahama for oil consumption 11/19 they paid the bill for that major problem and this month 10/1/20 the water pump nut cam off and my grizzly 708 over heat light came on . I have 600 very easy miles on this 16 . I am currently talking with yahama about the lack of lock tight on my nut . Nothing I have done could have caused this . That being said I love this grizzly!!!! It’s a beast and amazing in the woods hunting!
Nice review. I have a 18 base model i bought new. I use it round my property mainly. Have tuner, intake, 27 zillers, heated grips, full skids on it 🙂😛 its been a great machine i have manual 4x4 lever too and have had zero issues
Notice the tuner make a difference? Where did you pick that up?
@@First_Take. I wanna do the exhaust and tuner on mine. I want to do tires first. If it doesn't make a crazy difference then it may not be worth it.
I appreciate this one. The Kodiak is on my short list
Also Yamaha makes the best CVT Transmission the UltraMatic. I replaced the belt on my 03 Kodiak. And for 17 year old belt looked good. Yes it was worn clearance was out of spec. But never snapped.
You are due for: coolant flush, front diff oil change, and rear final drive oil change. All easy to do. Front diff and rear final drive should be done at the same time as the engine oil.
meh i went 20 years and never did that once on my old kodiak lol
Haha your dad’s awesome! Nice review buddy!
I have the exact same bike and the exact same problem with the 4WD switch Had to replace the complete switch @$166 can with 1/2 hr labour for total of $233. Have not used it a lot since but when i do it seems to work now.
I have a 2012 Grizz 700, only thing I've done other than oil changes was a battery, and to be fair I store it outdoors with winters hitting -40 so 7 years is pretty good. Still original belt, and most of its life is spent towing and plowing
i have a 2015 grizzly 550 no eps tho. 100 hours and no problem so far.
Yamaha definitely needs a better market price on they're 700 series.
There's no difference between the Grizzly eps base and the SE or LE other than a 3.5k price tag.
Back in 2016 Yamaha had a decent price tag on the base Kodiak at 6,499. Now it over 8.5k with a smaller motor.
No single cylinder should be over 10k.
I had all kinds of problems with my 2016 Grizzly 708. You name it I probably had it. Very unreliable machine. Basically a 13k lawn ornament.
Put in 2 wheel drive and select reverse gear.!Reverse a couple of meters back and the diff will disengage from 4 wheel back to 2 wheel drive. By reversing you will help take the pre load of four wheel drive off the diff. Thank me later 👌🏼
The weights in the clutching are what cause that lazy power off idle in high. It's more of a work focused ATV so Yamaha didn't want a huge hit of power all at once. Helps with not jerking around a loaded trailer with a touchy throttle and things of that sort. Just change the weights to those in the grizzly or even some after market performance one's. It'll have more than enough snap after that.
Great quad, love my 18 700 SE. Only thing it really needs is better 26” tires and better shocks… oem both suck. Elkas and Sedona for me. Also, the rear internal drum is better than the grizzly rear disk. Zero maintenance and will still lock up rear wheels. Way better for mud than exposed rotors, pad and calipers that are junk after 100 miles of riding slop. CVT vent is higher than engine intake buy 2”. Intake top is level with front seat tip. The 4wd switch is an easy fix, disassemble the switch and cake terminal contacts with die electric grease. Mine stuck 3 months after purchased new, grease those contacts and zero issues for 4 yrs now. EHS tuner and it runs cooler, a tad richer, and great linear power delivery. If you want snappy, toss in the lighter grizzly clutch weights or a grizzly/kodiak combo (4 of each) for the best of both worlds. Kodiak 700 SE A+++
The reason the power isn’t there at the low end is because of the clutching package, not the motor. The Grizz has much more aggressive clutching. The Kodiak is aimed at a different audience. You want more low end, revise the clutching calibration. It will haul down low. The new engine was brought on because Yamaha’s contract expired with Subaru.Subaru made the 708 dual cam engine. The new engine is amYamaha unit.
Jay Ellingsen its odd knowing my kody has a subaru engine but it runs great lol
The lack of jump when you hit the throttle has a lot to do with the clutch weights in the Kodiak.
rzl07375 correct. Put grizzly clutch weights in there and you’ll notice a difference.
Great content as always, but for safety reasons you should consider upgrading to a better fitting helmet!
Yamaha has a recall on the decompression spring for the kodiak and grizzly...if it goes out you will be stuck where you are. What it does is keeps your exhaust valve slightly open so if it starts it will die right away or within a fee seconds.
we had an issue with our 4 wheel drive on ours onw time and turns out one of the plugs around the front diff came unplugged. plugged it back in and no more problems.
I have a 2006 Kodiak wich has double arm rear suspensión, diff lock and a lcd screen among other stuff wich the Grizzly didn’t had. So i don’t know if the kodiak being the lower budget option has always being like that.
i like Yamaha... back when i used to ride i felt my buddies yz450 was the best single track bike id ever ridden . all the power youd ever need and perfectly tracktable and predictable power. it felt like a magic carpet
stickloaf yamaha is the best.
thank you , can you please give details about when they updated gearing made it more torquey ?
Wish they had the Ridge Red in a eps or even a base model with a locker... We'll see what 2021 has in store soon.
Funny about the 4wd issue your Kodiak. The base model has a cable actuated 4wd. Meaning it wouldn’t have been an issue on that lol.
Cool vid, I am on the fence on buying a 2020 Kodiak 700. my buddy says Honda Foreman?
Love yamha forever.....dude.for m is bad ass. Machine.!!!!
You need to be a commentator you have the voice for it
2 screws to remove the switch, clean it out and put new dielectric grease it in, good as new takes 5 minutes
The NEW 2019 Yamaha Kodiak 700 has a NEW 686 engine built by Yamaha, the 2016 has the 708cc engine built by Subaru
Interesting. I did not know Subaru made engines for Yamaha ATVs
@@ve3xtr Yup, I have a 2017 kodiak 700 se with the 708. Avoid the 708, you don't want it.
Connor Mahoney wrong.
@@thumperbangin2000 How do you figure that? The 686 is 10x the engine than the 708
That's because 'Dude Manbro' has the 708cc engine and he can't accept that it's an inferior engine to the 686. Just a guess. Just like you can't tell a Polaris owner that Polaris is a unreliable machine. Although I would take a 708cc over ANY Polaris any day.
Hey maybe you can help me out I love your videos I just got a Yamaha 2022 for Christmas Kodiak 700 I'm only 6 hours and to break in I noticed today writing it if I hit the throttle at a dead stop I hear a clunk or click by my right foot looks like coming from the clutch area if I start out super slow and then bury the throttle no problem is that just automatic clutching or is that normal please help thanks
I have a grizzly and i had that 4x4 issue except I just put mine in in 2wd and moved the gears back and forth and it disengaged
Dont know about 2016 but the newer ones you need to get the se to get the on demand locking front diff
A set of good tires and the handling will greatly improve. (that is where most of the body roll is)
Same with Suzukis. I'm about to put kinda bear claws on my 750. I head that makes a huge difference.
@@thecasualatvguy617 I purchased a 2021 Kodiak 700 EPS last Monday...purchased bear claws yesterday. Just waiting to get them installed. 👍🏼👍🏼
Good video. Cracks me up how everyone pronounces yamaha differently, no disrespect it's just funny.
Yup my parents had the cheapest costing 700 but boy was it a beast
Great review 👍 i had a 2017 grizzly with the 708 engine , there are several reasons Yamaha is back to their own 686 mill and dumped the backfiring Subaru POS .
Can you explain that please I'm just curious before I get it pls thanks.
@@alfonso1514 i have a 16 grizzly and i have no clue what hes talking about, mines been awesome
@@darrell5363 my 2016 has had no problems at all. Great machine.
@@bobcaygeon4533 same other than the battery being weak, but it’s like -30+ here. Damn I wish I had a heated garage lol
Yea that 708 was a terrible move.
You guys don’t use fuel stabilizer or change your diff fluids?
cool guy!
This video was therapeutic 👍😁
My 2016 grizzly that I bought new has the 4wd issue clean and greased the contacts in the switch twice valve cover gasket replaced twice first time was for the decompression spring recall and currently replacing it again due to oil leaks and the radiator fan went out just a couple months ago the machine has 2300 miles on it
WOW!
TEN YEAR CVT BELT WARRANTY IS OUTSTANDING!
YAMAHA STANDS BEHIND ITS PRODUCT
Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda had the best reviews for reliability. I chose the 750 king quad.
@@thecasualatvguy617 why Suzuki??
@@borismcgillicutty3042 why not? Reliable, 750cc, and i got it for less than the 500 I was looking at. It had a paint spot someone had bumped into. I've put 1500 miles on it and it runs like a champ still. I've seen a ton of older king quads still going strong. I also liked the rear fenders are longer than the kodiak or grizzly. My buddy has a kodiak and he gets mud slung on him way more than I do, until I changed the tires.
I like the Grizzly. 1 cylinder. like a dirt bike!
Typical kid, beatin on the old man's equipment :)
4x4 issue is probably the switch not moter take apart clean dielectric grease
Your dad should be a regular on the channel. lol
Nice
I like your reviews,your built like me!lol
Hey man, did you ever resolve that 4 wheel drive issue? Pretty sure you can get a free replacement for that part.
i had my 4x4 kick in and out while road driving, made a big clunk. im emailing the dealership right now
YAW-ma-haw. 😉
We say yah-ma-ha here in Canada. We also say Mahz-da instead of Mawz-da.
How much hours does it has?
I love my grizzly 700👍📽
Wayne c Menard rebel rider love my kody 700 too
Yama- ah?? Bruh needs speech class 😂
If it was a polaris it be on its third cv shaft and 2 motor rebuild or master cylinders your dad picked a great atv
It’s not a rear drum, it’s a sealed, oil bathed, multi disc system, base model is cable operated tho..and no diff lock on base and eps models, but 501 Parts makes a cable and electric diff lock for lower end models. I have one on my base model. You have to be mechanically inclined to do this kind of job but, I am so, I bought one and I like it.
Daniel Johnson i got a base too, may get the 501 kit eventually, but right now mine goes fine
Do you use diff-lock often?
@@foothillskid5535 better to be in diff lock when going thru/up something and making it the first time easily vs not and getting stuck then going to diff lock and
Maybe not getting out/up. And looking silly getting stuck on a big bad 4x4 😂
@@foothillskid5535 it started kicking out of diff lock once I put the mud tires on it tho. So I had to make a daisy chain of zip ties and an S hook, hooking it to my lever and over to the other side of my handle bars to make it stay. Long as I stay straight it’s ok but when I turn the lever wrenches down and I have to go back and forth trying to get it back in diff lock. I hope I don’t blow my diff by making it stay in diff lock. 🙄
@@thumperbangin2000 I had to have it. I got buddies with 450cc Polaris and didn’t wanna look dumb without diff lock 😎
same 4 wheeler, belt gets wet though
Water inside 4 wheel switch on bars.
The only difference in the grizzly clutch over the kodiak is the weights in the clutch.
I thought the engine had a 5 valve head (you mentioned 4 valves in the review).
Yamaha has moved away from the 5 valve...been about 5 years now maybe
The Grizzly 660, and the Raptor 660's have the 5 valve.
That could be a lose wire or fuse
Knowing the genius engineers at Yamaha, they probably made that 4x4 servo with a fail safe in it, so if it does go out, it's in full time 4 wheel drive.
Nah it just gets dirty mine had a spider web in it I just took it apart and cleaned it and re-greased it, 5 minute fix
Hi. About your 4WD switch problem, check this out. From one Canuck to another 😉. A fix from Maritimer in New Brunswick.
czcams.com/video/UiKSoUBhM6Q/video.html
take apart the switch its 2 screws clean it and regrease, takes 5 minutes and thatll fix the 4x4 switch
2024 rubicon vs kodiak?
The kodiak was meant to be for smaller riders the grizzly was meant for a full size rider. You can really tell the difference when they are side by side
whats the difference between the Grizzly 700 and kodiak 700? Why even make 2 same size atvs? kodiaks use to only be 450s.
This is literally a video telling the difference
@@christopherbassit2757 yeah, my comment was more of a "why" even bother. Its a huge waste of money on yamaha's part.
The 850 Polaris is going for $10-11k right??? I dont own either but it seems like the Polaris is a better buy. Am I missing something?
Donnie yep its a Poo.
Missing the reliability and build quality
i switched from a polaris to yamaha glad i did, the polaris was constantly at the dealership getting fixed and the yamaha , nothing
Matter of fact at the end of your video and you said goodbye and took off you put it in gear and then hit the throttle I heard that same cloak so is that normal
Yamoha
Should handle and perform exactly like a grizzly except with heavier clutch weights that's about it.. little tuning..
To bad it doesn’t come in Red i would Trade my Red 03 Yamaha Kodiak 400 4x4 in.
My 2018 Grizzly needs the top end of the engine replaced at 3000 km so that doesn't bode well for reliability.
happens when you fill the engine with mudwater and keep driving it