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Hi all, looking at updating my old Honda TRX500 for something newer, with power steering etc
On the list of likes is the Suzuki 500 King Quad. What year is the better model to aim for?
I still like the Honda's & the TRX500 or 520 with IRS are on the watchlist too.
Cheers
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What's the plan for your old one?.
New home for someone. Will wait until I find the right replacement before moving on.
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A lot of the newer Honda's a not getting as good a rep as some of the other brands - I don't think it's a failure of the Honda's more that the other brands have introduced a lot more new tech and creature comforts. Me farmer mate seems to think the Honda's are a better machine for towing though?
2019 on Kingquad is the current model, I'm pretty sure under the bodywork they are actually the same bike right back to 2012, we have one bought last year and it's a great bike, really comfortable for extended periods in the saddle and it's been reliable so far, only issue we have had is having to replace all the rear suspension bushes which grinded my gears a wee bit considering how little work it had done but we are dairy so it's gets a good workout most days and we waterblast the bikes at least twice a week which is a damned if you Do/Dont situation as keeps the bike tidy and clean etc but dealer also told us we are blasting all the grease etc out of bearings and bushes. Don't have power steering on ours and they are reasonably heavy in the steering but couple extra weetbix sorts that out. We have a manual TRX420 which is a much lighter and more nimble bike, I actually prefer it to the Kingquad for towing though as having proper gears is always better than a cvt in my opinion for towing, the TRX also has a much smaller turning circle than the Kingquad so is much nicer in a tight spot, I can turn around on our cow lanes where I have to do a three point turn on the Suzuki. Suzuki feels like it's built a bit more solid than the Honda, it's a bigger bike fullstop but has thicker plastics etc and just seems a bit more durable all round.
Cheers for the replies, esp your feedback Ryan. Would like power steering as it takes out the nasty flicks you get in ruts. A 420 could do what I want too but having a bigger bike has its merits. Mates have CanAms but I don't like them, starter sounds like it's a rock crusher & a prick to service as everything is covered in plastic covers & shit.
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We had a horror run with the Honda 520 quads - gearboxes. Have gone to Yamaha 700 Kodiak's and really happy with them - quite a lot of horsepower for our needs but bike never seems to feel as though its working and have had no problems with them.
Ahh yep that tallies with the mate's comment - your note there reminded me of what his opinion on the Honda's is for towing and it's the manual (real) gearbox being a lot more confidence inspiring.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst
@Ed123 manual or auto honda?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed123
Knowing what I know for reliability comfort and reasonable servicing I wouldn't go past a suzuki king quad.
Ours has the power steering.
The neighbour has been trying to kill his for 5 years.
His father in law has got the 500 now and he has bought the 750.
It's a fucking weapon!
Yep I would buy another one in a heart beat!
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Not sure about the Suzuki 500 but I’ve been on a Suzuki 400 king quad and crikey it was unstable in steep tricky terrain in comparison to my Honda 420 and the Honda 500s i’ve used. I had to hold the bike in one spot for my mate to not roll it while I was able to just ride it on my Honda. The 500 Suzuki might be better though as I have no experience there.
Yep 500s way different to the 400sQuote:
Originally Posted by stagstalker
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It was the autosQuote:
Originally Posted by bigbear
I've got a 2012 kingquad 500 and really enjoy it, got it at 31000km and now sits at 40000km, its take the last 8k like a champ bouncing through rivers and hills.
The auto is kinda stupid if you get any water in it you almost instantly lose drive being belt driven so put a higher intake on it if going above waist height , the rear bushes as Ryan said can wear faster but my local shop put grease nipples on all joints not long after i got it as usually they are a wear part but haven't had to replace them since.
cvt is smooth and you can tell if belt is worn by its top speed, mine does 105kmph now i've replaced it vs the 75-80 max before.
overall id buy another and again as Ryan said I'm also sure the frame/motor hasn't changed for a few years, however recently they made the frame tubing thicker by 1mm from 2.5mm to 3.5mm or something similar
I discovered this using a mates Honda 500 with solid rear axle in nasty terrain. Felt exceptionally tippy, compared to the planted feel of a Honda 420 with IRSQuote:
Originally Posted by stagstalker
So to sum up so far, manual box and solid rear end better for towing.
Auto box and IRS/power steering and heavier machine much more comfortable off smooth tracks, and feels safer/less tippy.
River crossing, avoid the belt driven machines and raise the intakes/breathers...
Belts are a service item, bushes need to be lubed to stay doing the bushes thing.
Looking at a later model Zuki 750 in weekend. Gotta make sure it'll fit on trailer width wise.
Work colleague up north was a bike mechanic for years & he confirms what most have said.
Cheers everybody
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I use a 750 from time to time. Compared to my 400 Suzi its next level.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mathias
My farm was 13km long and almost impassable with mud during the winter. Over the 20 years the fixed axle Honda's lasted the longest but the Suzukis were more stable and better all round. My current auto 400 Suzi is at least 12 years old and has been very reliable, and carts me and Brian (he's a big bugger) and a couple or three deer through the mud and hills no problem. A real work horse.