In-Depth Look: 2018 Yamaha Kodiak 450

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Mark gets the full low down from Yamaha Product Planning Manager, Travis Hollins about the redesigned 2018 Kodiak 450 and learns how the vehicle is forging its own path in the competitive 450-class.
More details on Yamaha's reinvented 2018 Kodiak 450 can be seen here:
www.yamaha-mot...

[@Monst780]

My hunting friends and I are in our 50's range +/- a few years. We have three Kodiaks, two with dif lock and one that is a 2018 model without. I have to say a we are in far greater need of the small frame size and nimble outmaneuvering in thick forest than we are in need of dif lock. We are not looking for deep mud, or getting overly wet because it's cold at 6000 feet in November! What we need is to be able to duck below the alders overgrowing the trail and slapping us in the face, sure we sometimes hit deep snow but the reality is they all perform extremely well in three feet of snow (that's 36" deep) without needing to use their dif lock and the one that doesn't hasn't needed to be pulled out of anything. Now I realize allot of people are in their 20s or pretending they still are at 40 and they occasionally WANT to aim for the deep stuff, so they should get dif lock, we on the other hand just want to get our deer and get back down the mountains of British Columbia to a warm campfire. Dif Lock is way overrated for the amount we might actually use it, the extra weight and maintenance.

[@Chukartramp]

Don't agree. Why do against the diff lock feature? It's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have. I have been stuck in a snow drift over the road in 4 wheel drive, the differential lock got me out bitch!

[@jessepoorman2621]

@@Chukartramp If you need diff lock to get unstuck then you can’t ride bro!

[@pauljanveau6883]

I purchased an eps kodiak 450 about 5 weeks ago and I can tell you it is unbelievable. I am a former grizzly 700 owner and don't miss it a bit. my wife and 12 years old love it and its quick ,comfortable and amazing on fuel. DIFF LOCK NOT required stop wining about a feature you use twice a year in the snow. That's what winches are for!

[@mr.workhardplayhard6550]

Proud new owner of a 2019 Kodiak 450 with power steering :) got it in the Mat Blue! Really more for my wife and 11 y/o daughter to ride since me and our sons mostly ride two wheels in the dirt. But I can easily see myself enjoying this bad ass Yamaha just as much as they will

[@tsmith4564]

Easily one of my favorite new bikes. I got to test drive a friends a week ago and I love it. We traded my 420 for his 450 for half of our trail ride and I was very happy with it

[@1kukini]

I personally am glad the manufacturers are breathing new life into this back to basics low budget class. Not everyone wants to spend 12 grand on a 1000cc monster just so they can have "bragging rights".

[@brandoncrimmins6296]

It's not always about "bragging rights"...Personally, I have a 1000cc Scrambler that I just bought this year. A couple weeks ago actually. And the reason I bought it is because of my riding style. I do only trail riding with my Wheelers. I have a small tractor I can use for work around the property. So I use wheelers for fun only with the rare exception of using my old 400 sportsman for plowing ...So while I'm riding trails. I prefer to steer with the throttle and that just ain't gonna happen with a 450. Or even a 700 single. Big twin power is what I need for my driving/riding style. I bought the Scrambler to replace my rapidly aging 700 Twin Sportsman. I kept it but it's about ready to be retired for parts. And with all this said...If you wait for the end of the season like I did...You can get a 1000cc Scrambler for $8,800 if you're good at talking with the salesman...

[@bull5919]

curious as to what is end of season

[@arnoni11]

Brandon Crimmins they sold it cheap too you because its a polaris.

[@joerutkowsky3261]

True that !!

[@666dynomax]

me too. funny thing is ive got friends that all got in to that for a few years, spent more than i spent on cars on bikes, so i went to a street/trail to keep up... now they're over the power and you could keep up to them on utility bikes... i find them better in trail.. just bought an 18 for $7800 taxes in Canadian... no power steering tho!!! (70miles used)

[@jamesjannell8706]

I really like this machine for the money. I just ordered one and get wait to take delivery. Like others noted spending 10,000$ on a four wheeler is getting nuts. I’m 55 haven’t had a quad since my old Honda back in late 80s but after taking the new 450 for a test I was sold. Great size not to big for the tight trails and power seems decent for what I need it for. I plan to do a quick review on the quad in a few weeks.

[@megan6228]

How are you liking it?

[@chrispchicken313]

What is the difference between the 450 and 700 chassis

[@dirttraxtv]

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure they're the same size, it's just the engine. I can guarantee you someone will correct me if I'm wrong 😆

[@robertsimon5447]

I just bought one with power steering.I researched and tested many machines but this one is the star winner handles like a dream nimble and lightweight with lots of pep and response from the fuel injection.I have a big beast and when I tried this I one I was hooked.Plus with Yami you cant go wrong on quality and toughness and not to mention it is good on gas too.

[@AppalachianMountainRiders]

Every one complains about it not having a diff lock but think about the people this is marketed to. The kind of rider who buys this is going to be some one who doesn't fly down the trail as fast as they can or always aim for the biggest, deepest mud hole. Most who would find this atv appealing would be using it for light to moderate trial riding with an occasional light to moderate mud hole. Any one that plans on using an atv for more than that is going to gravitate towards the machines with the bigger bore engines anyway. Just my two cents but I think Yamaha thinks this way too so they know they can keep the cost a tad lower without the locker making it even more appealing to those this is marketed for.

[@TheGreatBeard]

I came so close to buying this one. I've had a Yamaha scooter for 5 years and it still runs like new so I was favoring Yamaha when I was buying a quad last week. I ended up getting the Honda Rancher 420 mainly because it has the pull start as well. I'm in Canada and it get's pretty damn cold here so that one detail sold me on the Honda.

[@TheGreatBeard]

Im not selling the Honda, but i may buy a Kodiak in the future. Would be nice to have both so i can see the difference on the trails i ride

[@Chukartramp]

I'm very unhappy with my honda rancher 500. My Kawasaki is twice the age and pull starts, Honda s shifting sucks so bad with the buttons cannot drive with one hand plus mine won't shift up or down very well now gets stuck, I want a hand shifter

[@_WebersWorld]

You guys need to review the new 2022 kodiak 450 eps se, I will be soon! Stay tuned!

[@juddmaddix5299]

Do a comparison video vs the Honda Rancher

[@BoyFindsTako]

One more thing, I’m 6’ 200 lbs. and still prefer the 450 cc class quad over the bigger gas guzzling heavy ass quads. 450 is more nimble, smaller and more compact, easier to drive and throw around, better on gas, cheaper, and way easier to get unstuck out of the mud or snow.

[@thethiefonthecross9092]

Anything under 500 is a little bit underpowered we just got the same exact ATV but it's a 700cc that thing can almost claim any Hill you throw at it I weigh around 280 lbs so to me that extra horsepower makes a big difference.

[@steveleichner3845]

@@thethiefonthecross9092 I'm 250# Hunter and my 450 Kodiak did outstanding on my trip to the Rockies. The HI & Low transfer case work as well or better than everything I've owned. Plenty of power packing me through the hunt. The Auto trans in the Yamaha are the best in the market.

[@quick475]

Needs a front differential lock. Add that and you'll have a winner.

[@haroldhaggman4285]

I have a 2005 Kodiak , bullet proof. No diff lock steers me away. How much does it really cost to keep the old.

[@gizmoman2008]

four wheeler prices have really shot up in the years, as a rider with 14 years of riding experience i will most likely buy a kodiak 700 as my first atv that i can call my own, ive rode everything from a suzuki quadrunner 250 to a can am outlander 1000

[@Packinheat1175]

Why can you get it with optional power steering but not optional diff lock? The price point is important but I would pay extra for that as an option before I would pay extra for power steering.

[@jamescarey9197]

That's 1 nice ride, I don't need alot of power where I ride, i need maneuverability around sharp turns, wide curves and trees

[@montanaelkwhisperer1744]

Wait six momths and Sgroi industries will have a manual diff lock kit for this machine (if they don't already!)

[@kykirker]

I have a 2019 Kodiak 700 and I am having some vibration problems. No problems at slower speeds (0-45ish) anything faster than that it shakes the handle bars pretty good.Ive heard it could be a bent rim or out of alignment. It seems like it still does it when it’s jacked up off the ground. Any suggestions on what this might be? Thanks. I’m new to the sport so any info would be appreciated.

[@slimjim7411]

Could be a broken engine mount.

[@kykirker]

Slim Jim thanks for the reply! I think it is in the drive shaft. I’ve made an appointment to get it looked at while it still has warranty

[@heatherherold4444]

Hey Yamaha how about an 850?grzzly rspec with onboard lcd with gps

[@jamesdickson3616]

Can you fit a roll bar for safety say for farm work just a though .old jimmy WA

[@ericwyatt4973]

If it had diff lok, it would be perfect.

[@toddhurley1237]

and a 2 inch receiver and the rear brake disc on the outside not in the rear diff...freezes up

[@tittledieselperformance]

It's a nice atv but honestly if I see this and the 700 kodiak next to each other I'm gonna grab the 700 every time. The 700 engine is truly a beautiful engine, and it's not about bigger is better I want the 700's low end torque for the low price they offer on it. The 450 looks like fun yeah and I'm sure it's powerful for its size but I'd spend the extra $1000-1500 for the 700 engine. Diff lock aside it's just that big of a deal to me to have the low and mid range grunt for work. And I work my atv hard.... For those complaining of lack of diff lock, if you drag the front brakes like a cutting brake system it will spin both front tires do to brake torque equalization. Every atv can do it, though not as convenient it will help in those extreme situations

[@tittledieselperformance]

If Yamaha put a 5 speed manual floor shift on this 450, it would be epic😧 total head to head bike against the rancher 420, y'all would sell faster then you could make them!

[@thumperbangin2000]

yargin i bought the 700, got some mods on it, its nice

[@scott78911]

No front diff lock?

[@tylermatthews7655]

scott78911 yea I was wondering the same?

[@Mixwell1983]

Id be a 1st time buyer but being in my mid 30s i think the 400-500cc quads are more than enough.. Im lookin at the Rancher, kodiak 450 and kingquad 400fsi.. I want foot shift and ideall no cvt trans so id go with Honda rancher 4x4

[@davidhillbrand2302]

They lost the front locker - why??

[@jamesssss621]

diff lock?

[@themuddman2038]

James Stinnette no

[@isaacsanchez3966]

So what's the price point

[@benolsen1414]

Too bad it lost ground clearance from the old 450 kodiak. I had a 2014 kodiak eps and it was great. Liked the 43 inch width. Great for trails. I was so excited when I heard they were going to make the kodiak 450 again but disappointed in the dimensions and ground clearance. It is probably a great machine and would be great for the wife and kids but for me I would get the kodiak 700.

[@rickygreer7288]

That,s a good looking bike.Why no diff lock? To keep price down? I will take my 18 Grizz I can low/slow 4 wheel true diff lock crawl through just about anything I want.

[@jarmstead4]

What's the top speed

[@BoyFindsTako]

I’ve been riding for years, no diff lock on these types of quads is a big mistake from the manufacturer. Other than that, seems like a cool quad. But you’ll get stuck in thick snow with 2-3 tires spinning about to get stuck. When you needed all 4 tires to spin Yamaha, why did you skip the diff lock? That was stupid of you guys to not include that.

[@bigseff23]

Keeps the price down. Plus most people buying these aren't hard core off-roading them

[@MatthewRizzi]

You make awesome videos

[@RaptorbrodayneCole]

We have hat exact quad

[@danieljohnson3492]

They went with a gauge cluster vs diff lock..hhmm.

[@josh29356]

I am not saying it is...but boy it sure looks like a kymco built machine...looks alot like mine

[@clav3l388]

I would love for Yamaha to make a new blaster and a new banshee

[@markalan4026]

I dont like the fact that the Kodiak 450 doesn't have differential lock as a standard feature.

[@drec.134]

It would have been much better if they would make it a inline twin or V-twin to give the torque for task and performance! I don't understand why they don't use the small cc engines from there small street bikes, it would be much more cost efficient for the company! Yes it would need different cams, ecru mapping, and transmission but............ it would save tons of money!

[@booya6437]

Dre C. They would be doing the consumer a huge disservice by using engines not designed for that application just to save some money. That's why I buy Yamaha, they take their time with vehicles to make sure they're right the first time.

[@spartangamer5850]

They should bring back the Bruin

[@chrispchicken313]

Have they changed that shitty are filter design if not motor won't last long in dusty areas

[@JoshuaOverman]

Oh trust me after abusing my 2018 Kodiak 450 since I got it in 2017 and never changing the oil or air filter with thousands of miles my air box is full of mud and dust she still runs great no issue

[@chrispchicken313]

@@JoshuaOverman how many miles have you put on it?

[@stevenvanheel3932]

I checked out a new kodiak 450 when I bought my '17 kodiak 700 EPS SE, and they seemed like nice wheelers but the things didn't run worth a shit! They all had fuel injection problems right off the showroom floor. I couldn't even take one for a test drive because it wouldn't idle for more than 3 seconds.

[@natedodd2977]

Shoulda had diff lock

[@chasinthewind8649]

Seems like the focused more on rider comfort then rider performance. They could have made a top seller machine but seems they dropped the ball at least for experienced riders. So they made it bigger heavier with same motor added power steering witch is not really necessary exspecially on a small bike like this and it’s just one more thing to go wrong witch still would have ben cool but really added power steering an took away the diff lock. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@murphslife6481]

No differential lock and very heavy machine.

[@thefall3551]

No diff lock? Fail

[@melissareed8927]

The Fall I never really used difflock

[@marvinwegner6119]

I agree, after owning 2 with I would never buy one without. Rather look for a low milage japanese built one with.

[@daltonblower7607]

Ya what were the thinking. I have one and I loooove riding through sand or mud

[@thumperbangin2000]

they make a aftermarket jefflok for it

[@michaelgarza567]

Its a rebadged wolverine.....

[@ricardoarevalo6369]

Why is everyone bitching about diff lock, I have it on my 2017 grizzly and truly it sucks, once you're stuck in 4low then you are stuck, difflock won't help

[@hatchet157]

Ricardo Arevalo you need to know how to use it and not just expect it to magically get you unstuck

[@slimjim7411]

@@hatchet157 Yeah once you've dug the hole you're stuck.

[@polarisace9089]

No diff lock and shitty tail light, as add 2 taillights and a diff lock

[@noodler2979]

one of the lowest priced atv's in the 450 range what is this guy smoking. Can am cheaper, Polaris cheaper they have what are called rebates stingy Yamaha rarely gives them.

[@ACH91332]

Factor in maintenance cost and fuel from trailering Polaris and Can-am to the dealer and back for repair. Yamaha wins.

[@fliguy4]

Its still not as hardcore as my 05 Kodiak

[@thumperbangin2000]

ya it is i have the 700 its a beast

[@JM_Nieto]

First like

[@ClipBitss]

whooptie fucking doo

[@montanaelkwhisperer1744]

Rubber engine mounts....one more thing to wear out every five years.

[@JoshuaOverman]

7 years later they aren’t wore out yet brutal abuse thousands of miles

[@dustinshepard3166]

Its one of the cheapest in the class because its Made cheap, there's a reason Honda is the most expensive

[@dustinshepard3166]

JoshuaOverman heck yea I've had Yamaha dirt bikes but never four wheelers but I love the bikes and I'm sure the four wheelers are just as good

[@dustinshepard3166]

ANT NEE I'm sure their good but u can't tell me they look cheap

[@thumperbangin2000]

yamaha is a fine product.

[@Chukartramp]

He sounds very bias

[@diegoatencio3706]

Jjajajajaja

[@chasecook8901]

Polaris is better

[@zachwood8562]

f*ck off

[@321mudmafia8]

No

[@LifeWideOpen780]

My new kodiak is a piece of shit and yamaha canada sucks

[@TheHotandshot91]

BRP and Polaris offer much better atvs in this category sorry Yamaha this is junk

[@thikkdaddy7003]

TheHotandshot91 this is much more reliable than a can am or Polaris

[@nttk-4929]

No polaris is the shit

[@nttk-4929]

Canam and yamaha has the best atvs

[@jamespeters3907]

I can't speak for BRP or Polaris. But I can speak for some of Yamaha's atvs. And they seem to be very reliable. They may not be the biggest, fastest or most powerful. But definitely but to last. I had some experience with a Polaris. But I wasn't impressed. Seemed overcomplicated and not very reliable.

[@tedsims6221]

Polaris? HahahaahhHa