I think the gearing is too low for Low range in this 450. Does anyone know if the 700 has a different trans or possibly higher gearing in low? I was reading the ATV Magazine review this month and they were complaining the 700 low range was too high for their liking? Or is it a terminology thing? high=low and low= numerically high? I think the 450 revs out too quickly to be useable.

I'm not sure about the exact gearing on the Hi/Low ranges in the KQ 450 vs. 750. But all the bikes I've riden with the H/L transmissions seem to have a really "low". The only thing you can use them for is pulling trailers or really rough or steep hill climbing. They are just too slow for trail riding, etc. I have a Polaris Ranger 4x4 with the H/L and I use the L to pull trailers and duck hunting boats on our property. That L is sure handy for those things. Have you tried to go to Momentum in Mt. Pleasant? They sure have a variety all in one place

TX,
I used to own a 450KQ and I traded it for the 700 KQ. I haven't used low much on my 700 but when I have used it I can't recall any difference in revs or overall performance other than I can really feel the HP difference. They both seem pretty much the same to me. I think the gearing could be different in the 700 to make most advantage of the higher power but I'm not familiar with either's ratios. I don't really feel that the low gear is too high for my liking, but this what I'm used to I suppose. Maybe Popo's and Yamahoo's lows are lower but I've never felt the need for lower in either rock crawling or steep downhill situations. I would prefer my low to need a little manual braking on a really steep downhill to help me control whether the machine wants to freewheel or skid against engine braking. I know my steering control is at a disadvantage if I'm sliding rather than rolling down the hill. Just m opinions. I would say take that quad out enjoy it and learn the way it works best for you no matter what anyone says. You could always trade up to the 700, I did. HTH

I am just borrowing a 450kq from a buddy and it is a wet duck with no power IMO. It has low end bog and no power hit. Is the 700 a huge increase?

I think it is a big difference. I can't wheelie mine yet but I may end up doing a clutch mod and a kit to try and help it. I can definitely keep up on fast straightaways thatI couldn't on the 450. Drag racing from a stop, the 700 is a whole lot stronger. My 450 did seem to have big bog on low end before it got spooled up and took off. I really liked my 450 and it took me anywhere I wanted it to go (just not as fast as the big-bores) but I have never looked back with regret at trading up to the 700. I have ridden the BF 750 and an Outty 800 and both of them have real raw power. They both get up and go "right now" but I felt that I could get into trouble with that much power at my thumb. Great machines both but they both felt very different in setup to my KQ.

Wasn't there some thing about the ZUKI having that BOG that you are talking about.

The first thing I noticed when I rode a KQ700 was that compared to a Polaris or Outty, the low range was a lot higher. I was most comfortable in mtn trail riding in low range on the KQ where the Polaris/Outty was in high range. If I ran those speeds in low range on the Outty, the engine would be reving pretty high. I talked to my friend and he does use low range most of the time on the trails where I use high. I think that is how they get the high top end speeds they get out of the KQ. Which is use less 99.9% of the time.

In bad terrain I notice the KQ needs more gas to get up and moving, but it is very smooth, predictible and effective power. One of the things he likes about it. To him the power of the Outty and Polaris are too much and harder to control. I have to agree.

The final drive gearing on the King Quad 450 is 'lower' than that of the otherwise identical drive train equipped 700. That's how the 450 is fairly snappy, despite having little more than half the displacement of the 700 in a machine pushing exactly the same weight.
The final drive gears have different respective numbers of teeth. Thus the 450 tops out at 61 MPH where the rpm limiter kicks in, and the 700 tops out at 70-72 MPH before the same rev limiter set at the same RPM, limits further speed.
The 700 is indeed a tad 'tall' in gearing for my preference for technical rock-picking type stuff but there are mods you can easily do that correct a lot of this. IE: The drive gearing can be reduced by 5% on either machine for just a few dollars and an hour's wrenching.