I done went and done it.
Gave'm $$ this evening. Picking up tomorrow AM.
Check modified sig. below.

Good Deal Geauxtiger, be sure and let us know how it works out!

Got the new KQ home a couple of hrs ago. Have only ridden a couple of miles around the yard and neighborhood. Just some very early 1st impressions....
- At idle, fair amount of vibration (can see vibration in body panels).....but when you take off, its as smooth as silk....Honda like IMO.
- Very little transmission lag; smooth feeling.
- Nice sound to the transmission/engine combination.
- Taking side panel off to check oil is a SERIOUS PITA. The engineer who signed off on this design should be denied his bonus this year. Same story with air breather....having to pop rivets to check routine items is a real boo-boo.
- Handle great. Easy steering. Soaks up bumps well. Sportier feel compared to the PoPO. Seems flatter in turns.
- Nice agressive stance at standstill. Looks great in black. Of course, when it starts getting scratched up, I may regret the black decision.
- Comfortable seat. Good ergo's.
- Sitting next to my SP500EFI, it becomes obvious where the weight difference comes in. The PoPO has heavier suspension components, bigger overall dimensions, MUCH better OEM 26" tires, POD light, and thicker body plastic.
- Haven't really gotten on the throttle, but it's appears the head to head comparisions of the SP and the KQ were accurate....the SP still has more grunt and faster acceleration despite being considerably heavier.
- Gotta get the Zuki front bumper....too much plastic out front in the line of fire right now (just like the PoPo).
-I like the SS exhaust
- I hate the tires...doesn't matter whether they perform adequately or not, they look gay, sissy, cheap, [insert your favorite 4 letter decriptor here]. Told kids they need to start saving for some MudLite XTR's.
- I would miss my PoPo's storage if this KQ were to be my only ride.

I think the KQ and SP complement each other well....each has strong points to counter the other's weaker points. Give me the KQ for romping and playing and the SP for getting serious (hunting, farm work, extreme trailblazing).

I don't think anything I've said here is in conflict with the pros and cons that have been stated througout QuadSquad. Guess that speaks well to the vast amount of honest knowledge available here, huh?

Bottom Line: In the short 3 hrs of ownership, I am happy. Exactly as advertised on this forum. And most importantly, the new owners, my kids, are thrilled. And, everyone in the neighborhood agrees that it looks great in black!

Grats to you and your kids geauxtiger

Now we can get a good compair between the two machines. First impressions are good and they usualy wind up being the final one as well but you just never know till then.

quote:

Taking side panel off to check oil is a SERIOUS PITA. The engineer who signed off on this design should be denied his bonus this year.

I agree fully with you GT, especially the first 500 miles when you are checking OIL be-for every ride as part of break-in procedure's. I removed that side panel and will not replace it so as to have access to the dipstick with out the hassle. Now the Quad will look just like all of the rest of the quads on the road and unless a lot of heat is causing a dis-comfortable situation on the riders lag,.... I am at a loss as TO what the hell the engineer/STYLIST was thinking ABOUT.

Thje ZUKI forum is getting alot of traffic that is a good testimony that there will be even more on the trails. Congrats on the buy.

STUTZ, Leaving a panel off for a while sounds like the way to go...thanks for the tip.

COB, Thanks for making this forum possible. I have learned a ton over the past year, coming from a complete novice last year (still a novice, but trying hard to improve!).

I think my subliminal message I was relaying in this "1st Impressions" post is that ALL brands on the market have something to offer....else they would not exist in a free market economy.

Anytime I see a post trashing a different brand (other than in jest), I know immediately that this person is not to be relied upon as a source of learning. What I like about QuadSquad is that this behavior is held to an absolute minimum....maturity (when speaking seriously) is encouraged here.

At the same time, it is great fun to watch/read trashing in light hearted humor here without any hard feelings as a result.

GLENLEVIT - I appreciate all of your Suzuki reviews here and across several other ATV forums (and thanks for keeping your same screen name at other forums so I know who is writing!). I learned a lot of honest pros/cons from reading the variety of posts.

quote:

I hate the tires...doesn't matter whether they perform adequately or not, they look gay, sissy, cheap, [insert your favorite 4 letter decriptor here]. Told kids they need to start saving for some MudLite XTR's.

That's hilarious!

Did you really mention Cob and maturity in the same paragraph?

Enjoy......

quote:

Did you really mention Cob and maturity in the same paragraph?

Hit 'Post Now' before engaging brain.
Too many Bud Lites .

I predict that one day,...in not so distant future time,....that Cob will purchase a SUZUKI !!! MuuuuuHaHaHaaaaa

Thanks Geauxtiger.
I may be restating the obvious but this place is the best for King Quad information, particularly the 'tech tips'.
Have fun. And yes, the stock tires are dog food.

Daughter and I had some fun yesterday PM.
We were just put-putting around my 3 acre yard, when I challenged her to some short sprints just for fun. She said 'bring it on!'
Approx 50-55 yds... in the grass.
Did several runs with my PoPo in Lo and then Hi.Daughter, on the KQ, stayed in Hi for all runs. I weigh about 115 lb more than her....and I have that heavy 500EFI.

Round 1. PoPo in low, KQ in Hi:
PoPo jumped out to 3/4 length lead off the line and held to ~40 yrd mark. Afterward, the PoPo started winding out and the KQ started getting into it's power band and making ground quickly. If the 'drag strip' were 5 yrds further, she would have won.
Winner: Fat daddy and the PoPO

Round 2. PoPo in High, KQ in Hi:
Embarassing. Daughter's KQ hooked up immediately allowing her to jump to a 3/4 bike length lead while I'm sitting at the start line waiting for the belt to grab. After the PoPo gets over that initial fraction of a second engagement lag, all I can do is hold that 3/4 gap between the PoPo and the KQ. (starting at idle...no pre-revving to get belt on the edge of the engagement RPM).
Winner: Daughter and KQ, easily.

Today's challenge: ME on the KQ and Daughter on the SP. How much difference does my lard-arse make? Stay tuned.

She loves it....
New KQ450

Nice geauxtiger

Didnt realize the KQ was that much shorter than the SP. You see them at the dealers then drive to the next dealer and see the other one they look about the same

Warith, if you go to the PoPo site, then the zuki site and compare the physical dimensions of these two rides....they are almost identical.
My PoPo does have front and rear bumpers that give it the illusion of being longer, and the PoPo is 'full figured' compared to the sleeker, sportier KQ. But if you take out a tape measure, dimensions are actually VERY close to each other.