First of all I want to say, I was not a fan of Yamaha at all before I bought this ATV. I didn’t have much experience with it, but a Kodiak a friend of mine owns, is the worst ATV I have ever been on. Having said that I read a lot of reviews and eventually decided to get this bike. It is amazing. It has all the power I want and it has it from 0-60. You can push it more than that, but the power starts to drop off. The comfort is amazing. Between the seat and the suspension I can ride some of the roughest trails imaginable in the Rockies and at the end of the day I feel fine. Along with that, the power steering is so amazing I can’t possibly explain it to you. If everything else I have said is a perfect 5, then the power steering is a 15. That is not an exaggeration. I thought it was a gimmick when I first read about it, and I was skeptical about it. I took the ATV on a trail in the high Uintah’s in Utah. The peaks here are in the 12-13,000 feet range and the valley floor is 5,000 feet. This is the rockiest place in the Rocky Mountains. This particular trail is brutal. So brutal that it remains virtually unused. Top speed is maybe 5 mph and most of the time you are literally crawling over boulders. We had to abandon the Foreman(absolute tank of an ATV) my wife was riding because it was getting high centered every 30 seconds. I hope that paints a decent picture. We drove several miles along this trail and back in the same day. Normally riding the Honda, or even my friends horrible Kodiak, that kind of punishment would have made me steer clear of ATVs for a while. But, after all of that my arms were perfectly fine. I wasn’t fatigued at all.
OK, now the one knock I have, and this applies to all Yamaha bikes I have been around. Even though the low end is great for most situations. These bikes need a 1st gear/ super low end. Every Yamaha I have ridden has a lag before the power kicks in. And this bike is the same. For most situations that is fine. But sometimes you want a constant response from the throttle with all the power the engine has. For instance, I just finished moving 6 yards of concrete base rock for an RV pad with the Grizzly. The low end was OK. This was a situation that I only needed to go a couple of miles per hour and didn’t want to go faster, but instead I would be moving the rock and as the rock was leveling out and the resistance decreased the bike would speed up way too fast, great for riding some steep trails, but not so great for real work.
I hope this helps.
Reviews are provided on an "as is" basis with no warranty and should be considered entertainment only. Reviews should not be used for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to, making decisions about any referenced vehicles, products, modifications or other information.
ATV Disclaimer & Safety Information
Riding an ATV can be dangerous. To ensure your safety proper protective gear should always be worn. Remember to always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Never carry passengers unless the ATV is specifically engineered to accommodate them. Riding at excessive speeds or engaging in stunt riding is extremely dangerous. Be extremely careful on difficult or unknown terrain. Never ride while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Many ATV’s are recommended only for highly experienced riders 16 years and older. Please make sure that you are riding an ATV that is age appropriate. Riders younger than 16 years of age should always be supervised by an adult. We recommend that all ATV riders take an approved ATV training course and read their vehicle owner's manual thoroughly. When riding your ATV always stay on established trails in approved areas. Keep your riding areas clean and respect the rights of others. Always obtain permission before riding on private lands, and obey all the laws and regulations governing your riding areas.
