Gear: Answer Mode Rockstar...
Gear: Answer Mode Rockstar
Helmet: Answer Comet
Boots: Alpinestars Tech 8
Goggles: Scott Roll Off's
Suzuki KingQuad 400AS
Physically speaking, the Suzuki KingQuad 400 is a lot of machine. At first glance the KingQuad's tall seat height just seems to tower above the others.
The big feel is a recurring theme on the KingQuad, as everything just seems beefy. Maybe it's just due to the tall seat height, but the machine feels huge when sitting on it (the key word being "feels," as a quick look at the specs reveals it's right there with the others tested). Ergonomically, it's comfortable and plush to sit on. The controls are well-placed with the exception of the 2WD/4WD switch, which requires you to let go of the right grip in order to engage it. The floorboards are well designed, and the footpegs keep your feet firmly planted in place even while traversing water and mud. Speaking of footpegs, the tall feel of the machine could be easily remedied by lowering them an inch or two. Instrumentation is limited to an analog speedometer/odometer/fuel gauge, neutral, reverse and oil temperature indicator lights. There's no storage to speak of except under the seat. The cargo racks are big and roomy, and function just as they were intended to. As far as looks go, it baffles me why it's not offered in Suzuki yellow (Editor's Note: Quit nitpicking).
The braking on the Suzuki is top-notch and reassuring, while the other handling aspects are comfortably predictable. Suspensionwise, the KingQuad is in a class all its own, and the shocks really shine at all speeds. The steering is pinpoint accurate, and allows the KingQuad to squeeze anywhere you're willing to aim it through. As a whole, the handling on the Suzuki was absolutely phenomenal. The rear end on the machine has just enough slide to let you confidently hang it out around corners. The Zook really performs well under most conditions and at just about all speeds.
Powerwise, the KingQuad is comparable to the other machines in this test. It's fast and peppy enough to keep you on your toes, and strong enough to put in a hard day's work. With that said, to call a spade a spade, it's still only a 376cc machine and is exactly as fast and powerful as you'd expect. The tall ground clearance didn't necessarily translate to any advantage in the mud, but it certainly wasn't a disadvantage, either. All in all, the Suzuki's power delivery was predictable and sufficient for our test loops and work course.
As a total package, the Suzuki is really well-rounded. In fact, the Suzuki breezed through testing almost unnoticed, which is a good thing. The KingQuad just did everything right and as you would expect it to. As a matter of fact, it didn't necessarily stand out until the test crew couldn't come up with anything to really complain about, at which point we realized how well it actually did all the way around. Being well-rounded is a definite plus, and the KingQuad can hang with either the fastest rec rider or hardest worker with little effort.