07 Grizzly 700 first ride report

[slopoke]

I took the grizz to HM last weekend and rode 250 miles.
We rode rockhouse Saturday Sunday and Tuesday and Pineville on Monday.
It ran great the powersteering is super for an old fart like me.
The suspension was superb.
On my foreman I rode maybe 35 to 40 miles in a day because it just wore me out.
Not the grizz, 70 miles average at rockhouse per day and 40 at pineville.
Captjack was great and helped me with an overheating problem.
I am used to hitting most of the mudholes, now on the grizz I need to guard the radiator a little better to keep the mud out of it.
Only other issue was the gas boiling which is pretty well documented now.
I  :oops:  took the tank cover off after going up trail 26 and it was a little hot and  gas actually shot about two feet in the air.
I think Yamaha should issue a service bulletin on this issue.
After that when ever we stopped and it gurgled I would just slowly twist open the tank cover and vent the tank.
Too early to tell but it looks like a great choice for me and I can't wait for Indian Ridge in June.

[Mud-Pitt]

Have you had the issue fixed yet?   (Gas boiling)  As a potential buyer for this quad, should I be really concerned about it?

[2tv]

My 700 Grizzly does it (the gas boiling) and so does my 660, particularly when either are ridden slow.  I know other people with them that have noticed that situation too.  I haven't noticed any ill effects associated with it, but I do tend to loosen the gas cap from time to time just to let the pressure out (whenever I stop and hear that it's doing it).  Cracking the gas cap lets the pressure out slowly and it makes a loud hiss just like opening a gas can that's been sitting out in the sun.

Somewhere I've read that putting a 660 gas cap on the 700 helps with the pressurization thing on the 700.  I will have to try that sometime (since I have a 660 handy)...

[Mud-Pitt]

Would it be something that could potentially affect the overall performance of the machine?  Thank you for your response.

David

[2tv]

I sure don't think so, I have not noticed the machine ever being down on power...

[BascomJohn]

FWIW, it has been reported that Yamaha has a new check/roll over valve available.  If it does bother you, you can take the check valve out and replace it with a fuel filter, this also seems to alleviate the problem.

[slopoke]

Just an update.
After the dealer replaced the check valve I have had no more gas gurggling or boiling gas issues.
I felt it best to have the dealer do it as it was under warranty and could have become a "liability issue" if something was changed by me and it happened again.

[Mud-Pitt]

Well, I ended up buying the 700 grizz.  I like it.  My brother will be the one riding it majority of the time.  For a utility quad, that thing can get up and go.  I will have to say this, I still think my polaris is a better machine.  If they ever come out with a 800 that is about 100 - 200 lbs less, I will have to buy it.

[onrope]

Why do you think the Polaris is the better machine?  Just curious.

[onrope]

I may add that the gas boiling issue is due to the machine running dangerously lean to pass California emission standards.  Trust me when I say this the head pipe temps on a stock machine reach in excess of 550 degrees F.  Once I installed my fuel box this problem went away completely an dropped my head pipe temps down to 428 deg. F.  Not to mention it will run much better.  I will p.ost a video of a 700 grizz smoking an 800 popo on the HS.  Of course the 800 caught up but..........

[Mud-Pitt]

Why do you think the Polaris is the better machine?  Just curious.

I don't really know to many technical terms so I will give my reason the best way I know how.  IT WAS MADE IN THE USA BABY.  LOL.

All kidding aside.  I felt like I had better control over my Polaris than I did the Grizzly.  The Polaris handles around corners and sharp turns better than the Grizzly did.  You felt like you had more control over your machine.  The Grizzly acted like it wanted to tip around those type of turnes and corners.  Also, I think the power steering is a great feature but, I can see it potentially causing issues with over compensating your steering when you get into a sticky situations.  I think the only thing the powersteering is good for is the indviduals that do not ride aggressively.  I don't know if it is just the machine I bought but, it dies a lot for the machine being an EFI machine.  I think I should get that checked.  I have a couple more issues that I will add to this later.

[2tv]

As a 700 Grizzly owner and one who often rides quite aggressively I can attest to the power steering advantage when blasting over rocky trails.  The EPS is progressive, more “assist” is applied the slower the machine goes so the steering always feels very light (but with seat time on the machine it doesn’t feel out of control).  Where this feature really shines is it also works like a steering damper so you stay pointed in the direction you are going with less tendency for the bars to be jerked from your hands if you were to hit a rock just wrong...

[captjack]

Why do you think the Polaris is the better machine?  Just curious.

I don't really know to many technical terms so I will give my reason the best way I know how.  IT WAS MADE IN THE USA BABY.  LOL.

All kidding aside.  I felt like I had better control over my Polaris than I did the Grizzly.  The Polaris handles around corners and sharp turns better than the Grizzly did.  You felt like you had more control over your machine.  The Grizzly acted like it wanted to tip around those type of turnes and corners.  Also, I think the power steering is a great feature but, I can see it potentially causing issues with over compensating your steering when you get into a sticky situations.  I think the only thing the powersteering is good for is the indviduals that do not ride aggressively.  I don't know if it is just the machine I bought but, it dies a lot for the machine being an EFI machine.  I think I should get that checked.  I have a couple more issues that I will add to this later.

I had a polaris before my grizz.   It took a while to get use to the machine. I agree that the grizz  dives into corners stock, i set the shocks up 2 notches and that was fixed,  It took me some time to get use to the way griz handled, now that I have 1200 + miles on it, i love it and will never go back.   My polaris was a great bike never had a bad word to say about it ever,  I just really like the power steering and the ride of the griz after having it for a while.  I think a lot of this has to do with riding styles as well every one is a little different and some bikes fit some people better -

[onrope]

Why do you think the Polaris is the better machine?  Just curious.

I don't really know to many technical terms so I will give my reason the best way I know how.  IT WAS MADE IN THE USA BABY.  LOL.

All kidding aside.  I felt like I had better control over my Polaris than I did the Grizzly.  The Polaris handles around corners and sharp turns better than the Grizzly did.  You felt like you had more control over your machine.  The Grizzly acted like it wanted to tip around those type of turnes and corners.  Also, I think the power steering is a great feature but, I can see it potentially causing issues with over compensating your steering when you get into a sticky situations.  I think the only thing the powersteering is good for is the indviduals that do not ride aggressively.  I don't know if it is just the machine I bought but, it dies a lot for the machine being an EFI machine.  I think I should get that checked.  I have a couple more issues that I will add to this later.

Well I will give you that it is made in the USA.  The Grizz 700 takes a bit to get used to the handling.  I usually ride very aggressively.  Since I hurt my hand a month ago this has prevented me from doing so.  But I still enjoy riding as much as I can.  The Grizz 700 has allowed me to ride even better that before.  Ask a few of the folks who are buying the 700 for the XC races.  Less feedback on the handlebars.  The Polaris will do better in turns that the Grizzly due to the fact of weight, COG and the suspension the popo has.  Don't get me wrong.....I like the popo's and most who know me and ride with me know I am not brand loyal by any means (except Arctic Cat).  I aint trying to lobby for a decision.

The machine will die when new but the goes away after break in.  What are the other issues you are experiencing?  These forums are for learning as well.  Someone may be able to help or we will at least know there is an potential issue to BOLO for.