2011 suzuki king quad 400 review

2000xplorer250 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 08:42 AM

Hello everyone. I could use some input.
First off, which of these two would you recommend for reliability and ease of repair? I know that the sportsman has irs and a bigger engine, but the kingquad has fuel injection on not as much to go wrong with the rear end. I like to work on these myself, just not sure i can do that with the sportsman.

Next pricing I have a quote of $5,300 otd for each of them. Is that a good price?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Also, i am selling a 2000 xplorer 250 if interested

800touring · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:10 AM

ok i will say the sportsman parable will be the funner bike for fast trail riding but it will not be as reliably i have a king quad 400 and not 1 problem with it and its is at 3200 miles and it has got its butt kicked but it runs fine and nice bike and it goes Thur skinner trails and it is better on gas because it is liter and it will top about 58 the 400 sportsman will top about 55 to 60. i do like the king quad but i also like the sportsman my on complaint with the king quad is that they are harder to tear down like take all the plastics of but it is not to bad tho but the sportsman has more storage then the king quad.

so at the end it matters how u ride if u are doing sporty trail riding and some work and don't want to worry about something breaking i would go with the king quad but if u want heavy duty work machine and don't worry about working on it alot more u go with the sportsman but both bikes are good just matters what u do.

i also have 2 850s and 1 800 so i ride sevral sportsmans

2000xplorer250 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the input. Mainly i do trail riding, nothing crazy. I like a good booze cruise

I don't need a work horse by any means.
I just want something fun, yet reliable. I was thinking the kingquad is a little sportier while the sportsman is more plush.

800touring · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 09:42 AM

the king quad is sport yer and liter and a fun bike when my Polaris is broke down i am riding the king quad 400 haha u will like ether bike

bgirard420 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 11:06 AM

Wish I had EFI, but I think IRS is more important IMHO. You can overcome carb issues easily, but you are stuck with whatever suspension you get. Is the 5300 with tax? If so not bad, got my 2010 500 for 4999 plus tax.

SportsmanJohn500 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgirard420

Wish I had EFI, but I think IRS is more important IMHO. You can overcome carb issues easily, but you are stuck with whatever suspension you get. Is the 5300 with tax? If so not bad, got my 2010 500 for 4999 plus tax.

I enjoy having the IRS I think it has a smoother ride, EFI is not a big selling point over Carb. I got my 2011 500 HO for 5500 Rides smooth, turns really nice, handles gravel and rocks very well. 4 Wheel drive was my biggest selling point but it seems to me that most ATVs 400cc and up are now getting awd and IRS or i could be wrong.

But IRS and AWD make this thing ride like a Cadillac.

bgirard420 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsmanJohn500

it seems to me that most ATVs 400cc and up are now getting awd and IRS or i could be wrong.

The suzuki 400 doen't have IRS, that was my discussion point (IRS more important than EFI IMHO).

antoniodef · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 03:58 PM

The Polaris 400 is really 455cc. If you go with the Polaris, the 500 is only 2 or 3 hundred more and comes with the front storage box.

Good luck either way, what new quad to pick is always a "rough" decision!

2000xplorer250 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 04:08 PM

I know that the sportsman will have a smoother ride due to irs, but the irs is one of my main concerns. just a lot of moving parts back there, even compared to other atv's with irs.

what are your guys experience with durability of that irs system? I don't much care if the quad is carbed or efi, doesn't matter to me.

As far as price, they are both at $5300 out the door. this includes all tax title license, etc. how is that?

bgirard420 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011, 05:04 PM

I haven't read too many posts about problems with the IRS on the 500's. They've been doing it for a while and have it pretty much down to a science now, but you're right there are more parts to break. What are you riding? If it's a lot of smooth packed surface then swing arm single coil may be just fine for you. I ride the bumpy glacial till zones of New England and I feel IRS is a must despite of more moving parts. At least my back thanks me

And $5300 is OK, maybe strong arm the dealer for a winch or something at that rate, but once again it depends on what area you live in.