Posted: Jul 28th 2008 (Monday)
In thoroughbred racing, family bloodline is often an indicator of the capabilities of future generations. That seems to hold true for ATVs as well, at least in the Suzuki KingQuad family, and when Suzuki released the KingQuad 450 AXi a little over a year ago, we expected it to be something special. After all, it was the firstborn of the KingQuad 700 AXi (now the 750 AXi), which had won numerous "ATV of the Year" awards of its own. As it turned out, the new KingQuad 450 AXi was everything we had hoped for and more. 
We’ve spent a year with the Suzuki KingQuad 450AXi, and whether on weekend trail rides or on work duty, it has never let us down. Although we’re always happy to have the extra power of the KingQuad 750, there are very few times that we ever needed any more horsepower than the 450 AXi could offer. The "heart of the beast" is a single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, single-overhead-cam, four-valve, four-stroke engine, fed by Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and cradled in a high-tensile-strength steel frame. The motor runs strong, crisp and smooth, and powers the Suzuki “QuadMatic” CVT drive system that requires nothing more from the rider than selecting a gear with the left hand shift lever (which features the best shifting in the business) and pointing the quad wherever you want to go. The 450 AXi is perfect for exploring but it can handle just about any kind of chore, and do it with ease. On the trail the KingQuad handles very well, due in large part to the suspension, which features dual A-arms at the front, independent rear suspension, and disc brakes at both ends to bring everything to a quick stop. 
True to its bloodline, all the 450's controls are exactly where they need to be, and one feature we really appreciate is the easy-to-read and understand center-mounted digital display that shows what gear you'e in, speed (in mph), engine status, fuel status and mileage, both per trip and total. Just ahead of your right knee is a 12-volt accessory outlet and a small, sealed compartment that should keep anything inside it dry. For larger items there's a water-resistant compartment just under the rear fender (we’re always happy to have plenty of storage on a utility quad). Bodywork extends all the way down to a sturdy serrated footpeg and the floorboards offer good protection from splashing, yet drain quickly. On the right handlebar riders can choose from among three different drive modes--most of the time two-wheel drive will get the job done, but when it gets a little slippery slip it into 4WD. However, when it gets really ugly, a flick of the right thumb will engage the locking front differential and four-wheel drive. If it gets any worse than that, consider a winch. About the only limitation we found for both the KingQuad 450 and the 750 are the tires, which ride well but are definitely lacking in the kind of traction you find on its competitors' models. Our solution was to simply put on a quality aftermarket tire or the stock Polaris Sportsman tires, which work extremely well.
With its excellent power and precise, predictable handling, the Suzuki KingQuad 450 AXi has earned the ATV Illustrated Mid-Size Sport/Utility ATV of the year title. For the average owner it will be perfect, and we’ve heard from many who are extremely pleased with the KingQuad 450AXi, but more importantly, we’ve never heard from owners who said they were disappointed. It’s one of those very few ATVs that we always want to take to the hunting cabin or simply on a trail ride. The Suzuki KingQuad 450 AXi will have a place in our stable for a very long time. It’s a winner!