2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Kodiak is available with two different engine options, but for simplicity and accuracy comparing the same engine, we will still use the 700cc class. Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS 2020 replaces 686cc and liquid-cooled four-stroke has a compression ratio of 10.0: 1 and is connected to Yamaha Ultramatic transmission. The company likes to call it a “big drill force” but what you need to know is that it’s tuned to snort low-end, making it a strong choice for towing and thrashing about other work.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Off-Road Prowess
The 2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS offers up to 10.8 inches of the land permit, enough to get more than the bait bucket left by your farmer halfway on the way back to the warehouse. High installed air intake must maintain most of the gunk. Yamaha went further by installing a high-capacity radiator, knowing that this engine would primarily be used for low-speed driving, an activity that is not conducive to good natural airflow. Stout Rad must help offset the challenge.
With an extra two-inch width compared to Kodiak (48.4 vs. 46.5), the Grizzly Yamaha is a bit more stable when running at high speed on the trail. It’s also half an inch taller, giving the same amount of additional ground clearance. Remember that the turning radius is almost two feet higher than Kodiak (146 inches vs. 126 inches), so be sure to make a budget for that extra space if you try to turn around in tight situations.
Read next: 2020 Yamaha Grizzly 700 EPS: The Best‑Performing ATV Review, Specs and Review
Bottom line: For 2020, choosing the Kodiak EPS trim gives a different 3-way Yamaha On-Command locking, but another way in which the two machines are increasingly similar to each other (the Kodiaks base has a lever that operates with a 4WD system). Grizzly has a half-inch front and rear wheels, measuring 7.6 and 9.1 inches respectively.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Brakes and Suspension
Independent double-wishbone suspension appears on the front and rear of the Yamaha 2020 Kodiak 700 EPS, along with an anti-shake bar at the rear. The rear brakes are multi-disc wet variety, compared to the dual hydraulic discs installed in the front and rear of the Grizzly. A cool argument can be made that the latter arrangement offers more stopping power.
The basic suspension arrangement on the Yamaha Grizzly EPS is the word for word, identical to its cousin described above, saving for an extra half-inch of travel. Grizzly does have a bigger tire, wearing a 26-inch Maxxis bracelet compared to 25 inches on Kodiak, which has a slight turning circle. Keep in mind Grizzly is about two inches wider, a difference that adds a bit of high-speed stability.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Rider Comfort
Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS has a seat feature that is designed lower than Grizzly to facilitate installation and disassembly. This decision was probably made thanks to Kodiak’s desire in life, which is focused on work and may involve many things that go in and out while the owner is repairing the fence behind forty.
Although the basic suspension geometry is largely the same as the Kodiak, Grizzly EPS adds nitrogen-charged shocks for a slightly more speed-driven ride. Riders will sit a little higher in the saddle with Grizzly than Kodiak, but it’s up to you whether it’s profit or not.
Read next: 2020 Yamaha Grizzly EPS XT-R: The Extreme Adventure Review, Specs and Price
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Cargo & Towing
Taking the Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS 2020 out on a farm for a day’s work will be productive because it can attract a special 1,322 pounds (that’s exactly 600kg for those of you who don’t live in the United States). This will cover 110 lbs on the front cargo rack and 198 lbs on the rear rack, so please load the items with straw or feed or whatever you carry to get the job done.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Price
When it comes to sticker surprises, the 2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS starts at $ 8799, a few hundred bones more than last year. That makes up for the price increase by including aluminum wheels as standard equipment. A bank draft for $ 9049 will make a net buyer of Kodiak in Fall Beige trimmed with Realtree camo, which is actually $ 150 less than the price of 2019.
As for the Grizzly 700 EPS, Alpine White and Tactical Green units are priced at $ 9899, both of which come standard with aluminum wheels. The good Ridge Red last year disappeared. Be prepared to spend an additional $ 400 on the camo-painted version, because adding Realtree to Grizzly brings the price of stickers to three bills of more than ten thousand.
2020 Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS Style
To be honest, these two four wheels look very similar. In fact, most people will have difficulty distinguishing them especially if they are not parked next to each. Alpine White’s new Grizzly colors for 2020 are a little bolder than the muted Kodiak option if you care about such a thing. The more expensive Grizzly features 26-inch tires, which seem to fill the rig’s profile a little better than the smaller 25-inch Kodiak. This is the dealer’s choice here, friend.
