2004 Yamaha Kodiak 450 Auto 4x4

kodiak 450

I was a staunch Honda owner for years, but when I decided to look for a new machine I compared the Honda 450 Foreman to the Yamaha 450 Kodiak and was surprised at the added features the Yamaha provided. I was unsure about the belt drive and "Ultramatic" transmission verse the shaft drive t...hat i was used to, but now there are no more gears to change , just hop on and ride! Another great feature is the "engine breaking", I ride in Eastern Ontario and we have a lot of hills and being able to have a secondary breaking system has proven to be very beneficial! I have always felt that having a high/low range on a bike is a benefit and unfortunately Honda didn't offer this. I like this feature especially when pulling a trailer. The other features that I like are higher clearance, straight axle (secure ride),liquid cooled, diff/lock, 4x4 on command and a slide choke.
I have actually pulled the cover off the belt drive and was amazed how clean it was after all the mud and swamps I go through. I have had great Hondas in the past, but this Yamaha has out done them all! Since I have moved over I have other convinced other camp member and friends to do the same! I have to say that I am very pleased with this machine and would (and have) recommend the KODIAK to anyone, it the right size for what I do with it! Read Full Review

Yamaha kodiak 450

Awsome that is all i can say! THeir is so much power. Good for any ages! can go anywhere. i have hardly any tready and i canstill go anywhere! Awsome awsome awsome. Read Full Review

Extreme Value and Performace for it's Class

The Kodiak 450 is a good value for everyone looking to save some cash and buy used.



The 421cc ATV delivers good performance, most noticeably in the mid RPM range. Power delivery is super smooth, thanks to the Ultramatic transmission that engages internally with a wet clutch. Trail riding, farming..., hunting or any other purpose can be energetically accomplished with the Kodiak 450.

The running gear and overall mechanics of the Kodiak are quality built. The only area on the Kodiak that could be better is the quality of the plastic. Plastic is somewhat thin and when buying used it may be hard to find one without cracks or discoloring. Likewise, replacing the plastics isn't cheap.

The Kodiak has a predictable ride and handles well. The rear straight axle setup is very stable, fun when you decide to throttle up and slide around corners and provides an adequate ride. The front dual a-arm suspension is tough, but not plush. Overall it's ride is comparable to others in this class.

We consider this ATV a great value. It has an impressive running gear, the added bonus of a front differential lock, is comfortable fun to ride and has enough power to cover a wide range of purposes. Read Full Review

Great ATV

I bought this ATV 15 years ago and I still don't even need to touch the throttle to start it. I just press the start button and it comes right to life. I am very anal retentive when it comes to caring for my belongings so there aren't even any scratches on it even though it's got over 3k miles on ...it. When I bought my side by side the owner kept pressuring me to trade in my Kodiak because it was so immaculate. Also....it plows snow like a bulldozer. I have an uphill 550' driveway and it plows it great. My side by side is more than double the weight, has more horsepower and torque and can barely even drive in the snow let alone plow it. It's definitely a whole different beast than my Raptor but the Kodiak 450 has the perfect balance of weight, power, traction, and is just awesome. Read Full Review

King of Best in Class

Bought mine with just under 1000 miles! In my opinion, for the year that it
is, it's the best quad in it's class.I highly recommend getting one. Read Full Review