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By: Tim Donaldson
Examining the Sibling Rivalry of Suzuki’s
KingQuad 750AXi
Continued from page 1...
Personal Thoughts
The 2008
Suzuki KingQuad 750AXi is a blast to ride!
Providing all the benefits of the KingQuad 450,
the 750 is a very comfortable ride with a lot
more power. As mentioned before, the IRS is
great for long distance trail riding. Rider
fatigue is greatly minimized. Hurdling rocks,
logs, and other typical trail obstacles are made
almost effortlessly by the suspension system.
One of my prejudices towards Independent Rear
Suspensions (IRS), prior to riding the KingQuad,
has been that it was not able to provide a
stable feel in aggressive cornering or on
off-camber slopes. Not so with the KingQuad. It
has really changed my perception of IRS. With
this quad, I was able to aggressively push
through corners and ride the off-camber
gradients with confidence.
Steering the KingQuad was also a light duty. As with the
suspension, the light steering greatly reduced
rider fatigue. Very little feedback was
transmitted through the handlebars to the rider.
Not knowing differently, several riders on our
test model questioned whether it was fitted with
power steering. In fact, my first thought about
performance upon riding the KingQuad was its
ease of steering. This only became problematic
when riding aggressively and the steering kicked
hard to the left or right. If you’re not
prepared, you may have to check your drawers
after the first occurrence. Also, riders
fitting aftermarket tires with high sidewall
traction may find the tugging to the left or
right a bit excessive which requires more rider
input.
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Also, with
the 722cc, the KingQuad delivers quite a punch.
Mashing the throttle resulted in an
instantaneous delivery of power. The wheels
trudged through the mud effortlessly. With the
fuel-injected delivery system, the throttle
provided precise, continuous power to the
wheels. Even with the added horsepower, there
was never a situation where the quad felt
over-powering. The throttle gave a sufficient
range to control the power of the machine. If
there was any special circumstance from the
terrain, the 4WD was just a push button click
away. However, I was not as big of a fan in
engaging the differential lock switch. Although
it was fairly easy to use, it wasn’t as seamless
in its operation as other diff lock controls on
the market. Also, once engaged, the engine
limiter kicked in. Only in pressing and holding
the override button would the full range of the
engine be available while using the front
differential lock. I do, however, respect the
safety considerations for such a feature.
Another great
feature, the fender-mounted gate shifter was
fantastic in its operation. It smoothly shifted
from one gear to the next. In order to prevent
any transmission grind, it was important for the
engine RPM’s to be rather low. This was fairly
difficult at start-up, where the engine RPM’s
were typically running higher at idle.
Cold start-ups were rapid and effortless with
the fuel injection, especially since the system
functioned with a choke.
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Once on the
trail, the KingQuad felt maneuverable and
nimble. The entire quad had a very light feel.
We were able to easily catch some air with a
flick of the throttle, as the suspension easily
absorbed the landings. Roosting dirt and mud was
a blast, after we darted in and around trees of
the trail. Sitting on the quad gave the unique
feeling that would be had if sitting on the
inside, likely aided by the placement of the gas
tank. Simply shifting the rider weight
around would result in a sport bike feel.
Although, not pressed as a work machine, those
wishing to use it around the farm will not be
disappointed by the
ample rack space, dry
storage compartment, low range for towing, and
diff lock capabilities of the 4WD system.
In terms of
sibling rivalry, the 2008 Suzuki KingQuad 750AXi
lives up to its reputation as the big
brother–stronger, faster, and just all-around
better. Although, my little brother would argue
that these points have little merit in real
life. One thing is for sure, Suzuki can be proud
of its KingQuad family.
For more information about the 2008 Suzuki KingQuad 750AXi and their other ATV products,
please visit the following link:
www.suzukicycles.com/Products/QuadRunnerATVs/Default.aspx
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