2008 Suzuki KingQuad 450AXI Review

Just over a year ago Suzuki released the KingQuad 450AXi, and our first impression was that it was a very good quad. It takes more than one day of riding to tell the entire story, however. We wanted to know what it could do on the trails, in the mud, around the farm, at the hunting camp, and everywhere else most riders use their ATV. Before you hand the dealer a check, we want to tell you exactly what to expect. One of the biggest factors we consider in testing any ATV is long-term reliability, and when an ATV is completely new from the ground up, and even features a new engine design, we're especially concerned. The only way to really test any new model is to put in months of riding, and many hours on the engine, and that's just what we do. In the end, we'll know the good, the bad and the downright ugly about any new model.

The rear of the Suzuki KingQuad 450, showing the storage box, drive system and exhaustIn reality, all the manufacturers are making some very good ATVs these days, and overall fit, finish and performance generally improve each year. The really great ATVs have excellent quality, superb handling, predictable power from a healthy engine and much more. The list of ATVs that offer those traits is fairly short, however, and those are the chosen few that will always take their place on the trail, at the hunting cabin and in our garage for a very long time. The Suzuki KingQuad 450 is one such ATV.

Family DNA

Pete lofts the front end over a log. Climbing over obstacles is no problem on the KingQuad 450When it was time to design the new ATV, Suzuki's engineering crew had an excellent source to work from--it's no accident the KingQuad 450 looks very much likes its big brother the King Quad 750. And well it should. From the moment it was introduced, the KingQuad 700 dominated its class in almost every category and set a new standard for excellence in utility ATVs. It has excellent power both in its original 700cc displacement and now as a 750, it rides great and has been extremely reliable. All the traits that have earned the KingQuad 700 multiple "Utility ATV of the Year" awards remain in place, and it can do most anything that's asked of it. Simply put, it's never let us down.

The Suzuki feels nimble and precise, and has no problem carving its way through the trees.With a winning platform already in the stable, it was a no-brainer to design the new 450 chassis based on what was learned from the KingQuad 750. That meant a high-tensile-strength steel frame with fully independent suspension at every corner, and many parts that could be used on each model. From a manufacturing standpoint, commonality of parts is extremely efficient, and the bonus is that a dealer can stock one part but serve customers with either ATV. Bodywork is essentially identical to the 750, as is control and seat layout, suspension, storage and the steel rack system which is powder coated in "wrinkle black" for supreme durability. There are a few differences however, one being that the 450 comes with very strong steel wheels, again powder coated black. We've run the steel wheels through rocks, over logs, through mud and every other type of trailside obstacle, and although we've scratched them, we've never bent one. Only a cast aluminum wheel could make the same claim.

One of the few bodywork differences between the KingQuad 450 and the 750 is the headlights. While the 450 retains dual headlights just under the front bodywork, it doesn't have the handlebar-mounted center light found on the KingQuad 750. When it came time to design the new engine, however, only an all-new design worthy of the KingQuad legacy would do.

The KingQuad 450 suspension had no problems, regardless of terrain.

Mechanical Design

The engine on the KingQuad 450 is an all-new, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, single-overhead-cam (SOHC), four valve four-stroke. Bore and stroke is 84mm x 82mm for a displacement of 454cc, and the engine is tilted 48 degrees forward to keep the center of mass low for better handling and to help provide a perfectly straight air intake tract, which improves airflow. Most of the engine is well protected by the bodywork, but a backup pull starter is found on the left side of the engine, just above your foot. We've never used it, and battery maintenance for the electric starter should be no problem with the battery and electronics tray found just under the seat. Hopefully you'll never need the pull starter either, but it's nice to have an option. Regular maintenance such as oil changes and air filter cleaning are easy enough, and to check radiator fluid now and then, there's a little access door in the front bodywork, just above the radiator cap. Even the rear differential has a dipstick right where you need it. One of the features we really like about the new KingQuad 450 is the fuel injection system, and it works perfectly. We believe they actually leaned out the fuel injection mapping a little for better performance, longer mileage and cleaner emissions, and it starts and runs perfectly at all temperatures and elevations--no more searching for a choke lever or rejetting for higher elevation! Throttle response is always very good, and power delivery is very predictable and controlled. For utility quads, an important part of that control is engine braking, which can be both a blessing and a curse. To smooth out the bad traits and harness the good traits of engine braking, Suzuki incorporated a system that will help slow you down by minimizing freewheeling on steep descents, but won't cause a huge drag when backing off the throttle. It works!

Everything riders need is at their fingertips on the Suzuki.

Transmission

The transmission on the KingQuad 450 is a CVT system, which Suzuki calls "QuadMatic" , and features a V-belt and centrifugal clutch system similar to that found on most utility ATVs. The belt spins on two variable-pitch pulleys which, based on engine rpm and load, constantly adjust themselves to keep you in the heart of the powerband necessary for the job at hand. Gear selection on the automatic transmission is the best in the business, and is as simple as sliding the left hand lever out of Neutral and into either High, Low or Reverse. It always has positive engagement and has worked perfectly, and one thing that makes us prefer the Suzuki transmission over other models is that you don't have to take your right hand off the bars to shift. This is an especially great feature if you're plowing snow or anything that requires lots of shifting from forward to reverse. Simply grab a brake, and then slip it into gear and go.

The KingQuad 450 offers three different available drive modes for whatever type of terrain you will ever encounter. 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 worse than that, consider a winch or going around. When it comes time to stop, hydraulic disc brakes are found at both ends, and at the rear the brakes are enclosed in an oil bath multi-disc system that we can all but guarantee you will never have to change. It simply works and does not wear out!

The Suzuki isn't afraid of a little mud, but be aware that the tires don't always find traction

Miles To Go

If you've spent any time on the KingQuad 700 or 750, you'll feel completely at home on the 450. Everything is exactly where it needs to be, but one feature we really appreciate is the easy-to-read and understand center-mounted digital display that shows what gear you're in, your speed, engine status, fuel and trip mileage (both per trip and total). In front of your right knee is a 12-volt accessory outlet and a small, sealed compartment that should keep anything inside it dry. For bigger items the Suzuki features a large water-resistant compartment just under the rear fender; the more storage we can get on a utility quad, the happier we are. Bodywork on the Suzuki extends all the way down to a sturdy, serrated foot peg, and the floorboards offer good protection from splashing, yet drain quickly as well. Only in water over the pegs will you begin to get wet, and more importantly than dry feet, the filter stays dry and clean as well, even when the water approaches seat height. We've taken it in deep, and it never missed a beat.

With a flip of the center-mounted key the fuel injection pump spins to life, and a second after you hit the start button, the engine does as well. Fuel injection is a wonderful thing. Suzuki even planned for a short engine warm-up session by including an idle adjust lever on the left-hand bar, and when running there's almost zero vibration found in the bars or the footpegs. Once underway, the KingQuad 450 exhibits all the great traits and versatility that we had come to love on the 750, and even though the chassis is nearly identical, with a nearly identical weight, the KingQuad 450 feels rather light, nimble, and precise on the trail and in the trees. Suspension action is quite good also, and although the KingQuad 450 is a fully independent, full-sized utility ATV, very little body roll is noticed until really pushed into tight corners. Perhaps what's most impressive about the KingQuad 450 is the engine power delivery, which is very smooth and predictable from the bottom end, all the way through peak rpm. It will never have the hit or peak horsepower of the 750, but it will make most riders extremely satisfied. As a package, there's very little the KingQuad 450 can't handle, and handle well.

Suzuki 450AXI Review

Wish List

It's our job to tell you everything, and we want you to be well informed before you fork over your hard-earned money to the dealer. With that in mind, there are a few things we would like to see changed on the KingQuad 450. Our biggest complaint has to do with the tires, primarily the rear set. Although they were specially designed for a great ride and durability, which they certainly provide, they might be better on a golf cart. The 25-inch Dunlop tires feature a tread pattern that cowers at every dark rain cloud, and when it comes time to dive in and slog your way through the mud, you'll wish you had something better. We recommend a change to a more aggressive aftermarket tire of the same size, or even the stock Polaris 500 tires, which will wear out a little sooner but are otherwise excellent. Don't go overboard, however, since massive traction will put additional wear on the CV joints. The KingQuad 450 doesn't run out of power, but it will run out of traction, and many times the rear tires would load up, and we would simply sit and spin. If it rains or snows where you live, start looking for a better tire. You can thank us later.

The second area where we'd like to see a change has to do with a maintenance item. Although the Suzuki has a dipstick for a quick check of the oil, for some reason a plastic panel was put over it! That leads us to the third item we'd like to see changed. The plastic panel can't be removed without pulling a bunch of those "push-pin" plastic fasteners, and they can be a pain. Regular maintenance is extremely important to us, and our solution was to Sawz-All a hole through the panel, and although it's a little ugly, we've never regretted it. Now we can get to the dipstick with ease. We then visited our local auto parts store and replaced the push-pin fasteners with a screw-in variety.

Great Package

The KingQuad 450 has served us extremely well over the past year, and it doesn't take people long to really like it. Usually one ride has them singing its praises as soon as they get their helmet off, and for good reason. It's a well-built, well-mannered machine, and despite their being a few things we wish were a little different, we consider it one of those few truly great ATVs that make our short list of favorites, and will always have a place on the trail, around the farm and everyplace else we take it. Long live the KingQuad 450!