Get the Kodiak! Trust me, I have one and haven't hadone problem out of it.

Just talked to the sales guy at lunch...told him I wanted the Kodiak with the $69 winch. Thanks for all the input...can't wait to get it out in the field.

Shop around, I know you said the money difference was not a problem. I bought a Kawasaki praire 700 last january for less than a yamaha dealer up the road would sell me a kodiak 450. The way I looked at it was I could get 300 more cc for less so why not go with the bigger bike. It really all depends on what you want.

The Kodiak was atv of the year a couple times! My shop has sold about 30 of the 450's and I have yet to do any warranty work on them other than the headlight bulbs s#^k the rim comes off the bulb and it falls into the lense housing! Minor thing! engine trans rearend and electronics are bullet prof!

Honda is the only way to go.

in my opinion the large framebikes are to big for getting around in the woods. now imm a big guy 320,6'3" my 02 rancher has NEVER let me down.i`ve had it up to about 56 miles an hour[my brothers bike has a speedo. on it]and thats plenty fast enough for me!i could go on and on about it but i dont want to bore you guys.unless your overcompencating for something any small frame bike will do just fine[250-350cc].

Probably to late, but if buying a 2006, be sure to take a look at the new Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. now with EFI.