Twenty-five years of ATV engineering has kept Suzuki in the front row of utility manufacturers. That's right, it's been 25 long years since the first four-wheeled Suzuki ATV rolled down the tunnel and out onto the playing field. Suzuki has forever adopted the phrase "first on four wheels" and rightfully so as many would duly note that the 1983 QuadRunner 125 was indeed the first. When we found out that there was a new 750cc fuel-injected utility with a claim to royalty in its wings, we could hardly wait to throw a leg over it and hit the trail. The new engine size coupled with fuel injection has become a lethal combination of power in the world of ATVs these days, but did Suzuki get the balance of fuel, air and power delivery just right on the newest member of the King's court?
And just in case you haven't noticed, there are some extra letters added onto the end of our KingQuad's description. These represent a few of the added features you might've become familiar with in years past. The description is "KingQuad 750AXi." The "A" is the mark of an automatic transmission. The "X" represents the independent rear suspension, and the "i" is an indication that this King is equipped with fuel injection. These are all significant characteristics and features that make the KingQuad what it is today: an innovative work of art.
What's New For 2008?
From the 750 marking the side of our KingQuad, it was clear that Suzuki had raised displacement in the engine department just a bit. The cylinder bore has been opened up to 104mm which brought our overall engine size up from last year's 695cc to 722cc. When you put large displacement with great fuel injection, the outcome is a smooth-running, cleaner and more powerfully tuned engine. Add to the fact that Suzuki has built the throttle body of its fuel injection system in a perfectly straight line with the cylinder for even more midrange grunt to the already hearty package for 2008. Suzuki claims that the most noticeable improvement will be the torque delivery from low to midrange and then a slight nod on the high end of the power spectrum. The air filter is similar to years past with a paper main filter, but a new foam washable prefilter has been added to make the maintenance of the air cleaner a bit more enjoyable as the main filter can be used longer with a simple wash. Digging deeper into the engine, we find that with bigger motors you must now strengthen the surrounding more submissive parts to handle the increased torque and torsion, and that's just what Suzuki has done. Counting in all the past features that have made the KingQuad a proven winner, you'll find that even more of the same features remain on the 2008 version.
Transmission And Drivetrain
The power in the new KingQuad is delivered to the "QuadMatic" continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT for short. As the power on the KingQuad has drastically increased, the additional torque could put a strain on many of the moving parts. Engineers concluded that beefing up the driveshaft and everything around it wasn't just an option, but rather a must. When shifting the new KingQuad 750AXi, you'll notice the same gate-style shifter as last year's model with a high and low gearing as well as neutral and, of course, reverse. The '08 KingQuad 750 is possibly the best-shifting ATV on the market. The rev-limiter has changed this year for the reverse gear. The KingQuad will now get to 7000 rpm before choking out, and this will give riders better control in situations where there's not a lot of traction and more power is needed.