Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/575161
www.PowersportsBusiness.com ATV/UTV Powersports Business • October 5, 2015 • 35 What's neat, though, is that the seats are easily replaced, so a rider could buy the Grizzly but purchase a Kodiak-style seat separately and switch between the two with ease, or vice versa with the Kodiak and a Grizzly-style seat. A number of other features also show how Yamaha product developers worked tirelessly to make each model fit its unique niche. "Something as simple as the brakes — when they're developing the brakes, and they're set- ting them up for the type of usage that they want, getting that power and getting that strength and getting all that they need for the recreational rider, that doesn't necessarily translate to a work vehicle or the durability perspective that those guys are looking for, so it's kind of a compromise. And we wanted to try to build machines that were a little more specialized and a little bit less of a compromise for everybody," Hollins explained. I spent most of my day traversing Windrock Park on a Kodiak, and among the features that made riding all day easy was the Ultramatic automatic transmission, which took away the worry over shifting while tackling obstacles. Hollins said that the Ultramatic — combined with the 708cc engine — should be appealing to farmers and ranchers and others who rely on staff that might be inexperienced with off-road vehicles to use them for work. "If you ride a 450 or if you ride a 420 or any of those models, they tend to be busy feeling. The engines are higher RPMs. If you have to go from one place, to the next and it's a fairly long distance, they tend to be revving a lot," Hollins said. "What we found, particularly on some of the bigger farms where they're using a lot of manual transmission models, a lot of the people using them weren't necessarily enthusiasts. They didn't know how to use the product, so they might leave them in first or second gear, and they just run them wide open, and they're just revving to the moon, and so the Ultramatic automatic transmission eliminates all of that, makes it easy for them to ride." When Yamaha introduced the 2016 Grizzly and Kodiak to dealers this summer, Hollins admits there was some skepticism, especially as dealers were concerned that their custom- ers might not want the power of a 700 in their ATVs. However, early sales exceeded Yamaha's expectations, and models turned immediately. Hollins reported that one dealer who was ner- vous about taking on the 708cc models soon changed his tune as the units started leaving his showroom floor. "One of the dealers basically called his dis- trict manager and said, 'I wasn't quite sure if this was going to be acceptable or not, but I need more. I've already sold the ones I've got; I need more.' So it's good to hear that they're get- ting that feedback," he told me. During my ride, I found the Grizzly's stance lent itself to some fun that the Kodiak didn't bring. It whipped up dirt around corners play- fully and tackled the trail with ease. But I also fund the Kodiak was more than capable of taking on some of the same hurdles, scaling the mountains and taking on steep declines and deep ruts without hesitation. When I told Hollins how impressed I was with the capabilities of the "work" machine, he explained that though the Kodiak has a lot of work-focused features, it's still a Yamaha ATV that's ready to handle a little after-work fun as well. "That's what an ATV's all about," he said. "You can use it in all different scenarios and all different seasons, and they're very capable." The MSRP for the Grizzly starts at $8,899 for non-EPS models and $9,699 with EPS. The SE Grizzly is $10,299, and the LE model is $10,899. The Kodiak 700 starts at $6,999, while the EPS model is $8,199, and the SE ver- sion is $8,899. PSB Below: With its Ultramatic transmission and 708cc motor, the Kodiak was designed specifically for work use. Right: The Grizzly, built for recreational riding, proved its worth at Windrock Park near Knoxville, Tenn. PHOTOS BY FRANK HOPPEN PHOTOGRAPHY