I actually just picked up a 2014 Grizzly Special Edition and I absolutely love it! I got it last Thursday and it already has over 200 miles on it. Its perfect for what I need which is something reliable, snappy, easy to ride and fun on the trails.
I like to ride atvs but I own one to use as a tool/work machine so I have to calculate longevity/resale into the equation some how. The Yamaha may produce a bit less power than a Polaris but when it comes time to sell/upgrade your ride who wants a used Polaris??? Not too many people, even the local Polaris dealer doesn't want them as trade-ins. My ATV is a working asset. I need it to do what I want and when I'm done I need to recoup some of my costs with resale. Good review though, love the show.
I've seen a review of the 2014 Grizzly before, I didn't realize they actually made it 2 inches wider. That is a noticeable difference. Still, a bigger engine would be the ultimate upgrade. That would affect the ergonomics dramatically. That single cylinder makes for a narrow engine and more comfortable riding position. Get on board a Can-Am Outlander 650 or Kawasaki Brute Force(both of which have more power and are faster) and you'll see how much wider the engine is and how you really have to stretch your legs out and straddle it, like riding a horse. The Grizzly holds its own on low end but the single cylinder limits top end speed. I'm sure you could do modest upgrades like a high flow air intake and exhaust system and improve performance somewhat to narrow the gap as well. But if you want the fastest utility machine you're going to have to tear the motor apart and spend thousands and void your warranty to get there. Modified engines are never as reliable either, many times requiring high octane race fuel that is a lot more expensive as well.
Greg Rowe That's why the longitudinal mounted 850 motors that Polaris uses are such a hit. Narrower between the knees and a comfortable ride to boot. As for the Grizzly.....I love em. I don't have a problem with the single cylinder motors producing less than 50 HP as these motors will likely last far longer than my 850 mill producing 77 hp and the big 1000 cc monsters producing over 90 hp. Sometimes having the biggest and fastest quad on the block isn't worth it when you're broke down far from home and you're looking at a hefty repair bill.
I wonder if they were able to keep the new 1000 engine in the sportsman narrow as well. Looks like that will make it more comfortable than the 1000 outlander v-twin engine. But honestly, that 850 is plently powerful enough, 80 mph seems fast enough for me on a 750 lb utility 4x4 quad.
Great and very complete review my friend. One thought that is bothersome when reviewing all of the reviews is the ever present industry push to be bigger, faster and more competitive - how about applauding the Grizzly for filling that simplicity niche' that some of us want? A high-torque single that is relatively simple - read that very reliable in the back country.. is desirable to some. Now, i realize reading this that it is really about whatever floats the stock price of course! keep up the great and positive reviews.
I've got a 98 model 600 with less than 2000 miles, needless to say it still is a good trail rider and stout ole work horse. I have only had to replace the carb to motor boot, other than that nothing else, the mechanic once told me that it is bullet proof!
bought my 15 brand new in 15 and still love it, haven't had a single problem yet, well in the name of honesty i blew a fuse in the 12 v auxiliary input when i was running a air pump inflating a mattress, but that's not anything real serious
Not everyone needs 1000 cc quads. Don't knock Yamaha for producing a quad with "only" 40 plus hp! That's as much as most people need in a quad. Please review the 2015 Honda Rubicon. Thank you for posting your shows! 😀
A decade ago, 45 hp would have been on par with everyone else. The Grizzly is a great machine but the competitors, other than Honda and Suzuki, make something that has a lot more power. I think the Grizzly is a higher quality machine but a lot of people will go for the the machine with the most power and the Grizzly is not that. Granted those performance machines will not be around most likely 10 years from now but a lot of people don't keep them long enough to wear them out. For the buyer wanting good performance and the best long term value, the Grizzly still can't be beat.
Well I bought the 2014 special edition 700 and am very satisfied over my old 2006 660. The critter handles far better than the 660. Not all that happy on how you remove the plastic side panels and they are not as easy to remove as the 660 was. With the new design however you don't have to remove the side panels anymore for cleaning. It is easier to clean up and other than the air filter fairly easy to service. Also found it is easier to remove the rear wheels when you need to grease the rear A arm joints. You want be unhappy if you purchase one. buletpoint
buletpoint You'll come to curse those push pins too, if you haven't already. Maybe the 2014 model is more intuitive as you've said, but my 09 certainly isn't. I said in an earlier thread that my biggest complaint about my Grizz is the lack of low end power, but you've just reminded me what my actual biggest complaint is! Getting at anything on the Grizz is a monumental, time consuming task that takes far more time than it should. Need to check the air filter? Spend the better part of 20 mins or more getting those damn push pins out so you can take off the front cover that houses the air box. Need to check the battery? Spend another 20 min removing side panels and plastics. I curse and swear every time I need to do basic maintenance on my Grizz because Yamaha makes getting at stuff so hard. It's the price you pay for having the most reliable atv on the market.
I have an 09 700 and I don't notice any problems with body roll when I take corners fast. Maybe it's the Big Horn tires I have that make the difference. The stock dunlops were crap. My biggest complaint about the Grizzly is it's lack of low end power. It's not horrible, just not awe inspiring. Reliability is second to none though. You can beat the piss out of these machines and they don't break. Yes, it would be nice if they had more power, but the 686cc the Grizz supplies is more than enough for the trail riding I do. I don't get crazy when I'm out riding.
I own a 2008 Grizzly 700 (Ducks Unlimited Edition) and I love it! It does everything I need it to do and then some. I actually think Can Am may be the best out there, but for what I do, a yamaha grizzly just fine and plus it's a lot cheaper.
I want to like Yamaha but they are still 5 years behind the others. My brothers 09 was the most nervous ride ever. Very tippy. I'm glad they widen it that probably fixed it. My brother rolled his the second week he had it following me. They also have small racks and a short seat and the single cylinder has got to go. Put bigger tires on them and they really don't have the twin cylinder power to turn them very fast.
I traded my ktm 525xc this summer for a grizz 2014 so I could work on my land. I owned yamaha 4x4s before my ktm and so I knew they were reliable. I must agree the grizz's racks are too narrow for the fenders. And its kinda tippy ( or maybe thats just me being used to the power and stability of my ktm..) but even my old bigbear was less tippy then that
I used to own a can am. It's the biggest scam out there. My transmission blew in less than a year, biggest waste of money. I will get a Grizzly next time. Why change something that isn't broken?
I had three Outlander 650's before my Grizzly. None of them broke but they did do glitchy things once in a while. Would go into "Limp Mode" for no reason on all three of them as an example. Three guys in our group ride Outlanders and myself and another guy have Grizzlies. All the Outlanders have had multiple problems this year and none of the Grizzlies have had any issues. We ride the exact same area. The Outlanders have overheated, Broke Axles, Limp Mode, Seals Leaking etc...And they are all new 2014"s
Ross MK "Limp Mode" only allows the Machine to move at a very reduced speed so that any further damage will not occur as a result of the condition that put it into Limp Mode in the 1st place. For example. My friends 2014 Outlander 1000 Max went into "Limp Mode" last week on our ride because his rad got plugged up a bit and over heated. We had to find a lake and flush it out as best we could but his machine would not go over 20 Km's per hour all the way back to the trucks.
My17A it's probably because the grizzly has shit all for power so it's impossible to break and the can ams are just really powerful so thing get broken easier
Hey, I am buying a atv for the summer and I am looking at 3 different ones. Yamaha grizzly 550, can am 500xt, arctic cat . Xr 550 limited. Witch one is best?? Thanks!
4500 km later at 280 lbs of me and probably carrying another 250 in gear and pulling a 12 foot aluminum boat and trailer into places a person wont walk... its a 2008 and its great... Never replaced a thing but oil and diff fluid once a year.. Never needed to change my diff oil.. just like to do it. its always been mint...
I say baloney to putting more power in the Grizzly ! You don't need it. And YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING A QUAD LIKE A STOCK CAR AT DAYTONA!!!!!! You can do what you want to do, and far be it from me to dictate how to drive an ATV.........BUT........Consider the short wheelbase of all the brands out there, keep in mind that that thing you have positioned between your legs weighs 700 pounds, plus or minus, you're just sitting on top of that thing { no air bags, roll cage, your mommy to protect you should something go wrong } , And I have to say, being much wiser in my older age, I would be TOTALLY BUMMED OUT, TOTALLY........by some kind of debilitating injury, ie: crippled for life, brain damaged, missing a valued body part. You young people out there heed my words. Those particular machines were REALLY NOT INTENDED TO TRAVEL AT 90 MPH ! I've had two Grizzlys, a 2004 Griz and a brand new 2018 Griz. And I loved both of them. Yeah, I like their power, but I will tell you.........I will never know just how fast either of my machines can travel. No thanks, does'nt interest me in the least. I am having too much fun riding sanely and safely.
This isn't about what people "need". This is America. More power and speed. Why?? Because we can. If u want to get technical everyone could see be using a 1086 honda fourtrax 300. Nobody needs a 800 or 1000cc quad. But nobody needs a corvette or a Lamborghini either. Buy what u want. Yamaha makes quality wheelers. I have a 660 se that I love. My next one will be a can-am tho. Or maybe even a new AC since the release of their new designs
