Yamaha Viking vs Kawasaki Teryx

70219 Views 50 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Michiganviking, Dec 29, 2014

vixx

Discussion Starter · Sep 11, 2013 (Edited)

2

it's an interesting comparison when you dig into the numbers. The Kawi has the Fox shocks and great warranty plus that strong V-Twin. The Viking has 3 seats, the Yamaha Ultramatic CVT, and apparently they've got the 700 single running strong....

I'll leave it to you

Kawasaki Teryx:

Engine: 783cc Liquid-cooled, 90-degree, four-stroke V-twin, SOHC, four valves per cylinder

L:117.3 in
W: 61.6 in
H: 74.8 in
Clearance: 11 in

Towing: 1300 lbs
Cargo: 600 lbs

Yamaha Viking:

Engine:686cc liquid-cooled w/fan, 4-stroke; SOHC, 4 valves

L: 122 in
W: 61.8 in
H: 74.1 in
Clearance: 11.8 in

Towing: 1500 lb
Cargo: 600 lb

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1 - 20 of 51 Posts

mr.smith

· #2 · Sep 11, 2013

This is a no-brainer for me. The Viking can hold one more person comfortably and can tow a good 200 more pounds that the Kawasaki Teryx. Sure the Teryx has some more horses powering it, but if that doesn't translate to towing capability then what is the point?

Do you have the prices for the different models? Maybe if the Teryx was less expensive it would seem like a more fair comparison.

GNXGuy

· #3 · Sep 11, 2013

Having Kawasaki ATV's I really like the V-Twin and the sealed rear brake system. But the bed on the Teryx is only 43.3 W x 27.6 L, I guess you could put 1/2 of a pallet of something in it.

Joe

VikingRyder

· #4 · Sep 11, 2013

Viking is just the better all around UTV to me, it beats the Teryx by a lot

Hunter

· #5 · Sep 12, 2013

Both machines are well built. The Teryx in the past has had problems while under hard driving to push oil into the air box causing problems I didn't want to deal with. There was an aftermarket fix but just thought it was a problem Kawasaki should of addressed not me. Not sure if that was addressed on the new motor.
That said one other consideration is, and I have this problem with my Commander is heat. The Teryx motor sits under you and in the Summer you will feel the heat. Yamaha addressed this by putting it under the bed. You will get very uncomfortable after riding in the heat of Summer and frustrated after a while. Guy's out West park there sxs's during the Summer months because it's just too hot to ride.
My pick will always be a Yamaha if possible just because of experience and there reliability and now the engine placement. It was a very good move in my opinion. No it may not be as fast as the Teryx and even though it may be faster it's still one of the slower machine compared to my Commander and others out there. If all you do it drag race then your in the wrong category and you should be looking at the pure sport machines. JMO
I will own a Viking in the future as soon as the finances allow.

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vixx

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 12, 2013

Kawasaki makes a 4 seater as well, but Teryx 4 is a whole different game though, the Teryx 4 suffers dearly for its 4 seat configuration...

Cargo Capacity and Box Dimensions
249 lbs., 47.6 W x 17.9 L x 8.7 in. H

Overall length 125.2 in.
Overall width 62.0 in.
Overall height 79.4 in.

length increases substantially as well as height by a small margin...

Then there is the price factor. Teryx4 MSRP is ~$15K while Teryx 2 retails ~$13k. Compare that with Vikings $13,199 MSRP and Viking EPS' $14,199 MSRP... Viking gets the extra seat over the Teryx 2, and a Teryx 4 cant haul half of what a Viking can...

Teryx2k16

· #7 · Sep 12, 2013

I was watching an Review on the Kawi Teryx yesterday that ATV Television did on Youtube, and they where wrapping up a longterm test on a 2013 Teryx 4, and he said he felt the engine braking at low speeds was to much, which i feel the Viking is the same way. He said it was good at higher speeds, but below 15mph, it was to strong. He also said the Power steering was to overpowering.

cheeyz

· #8 · Sep 12, 2013

+200lbs towing FTW.

bosssmannn

· #9 · Sep 13, 2013

From what I understand the Kawasaki belt slips and wears out faster because of the design The yamaha has continuous tension

Teryx2k16

· #10 · Sep 13, 2013

i had a 2010 Ranger 500, sounded like the belt was slapping every time i took off...

VikingRyder

· #11 · Sep 13, 2013

Hunter said:
Both machines are well built. The Teryx in the past has had problems while under hard driving to push oil into the air box causing problems I didn't want to deal with. There was an aftermarket fix but just thought it was a problem Kawasaki should of addressed not me. Not sure if that was addressed on the new motor.
That said one other consideration is, and I have this problem with my Commander is heat. The Teryx motor sits under you and in the Summer you will feel the heat. Yamaha addressed this by putting it under the bed. You will get very uncomfortable after riding in the heat of Summer and frustrated after a while. Guy's out West park there sxs's during the Summer months because it's just too hot to ride.
My pick will always be a Yamaha if possible just because of experience and there reliability and now the engine placement. It was a very good move in my opinion. No it may not be as fast as the Teryx and even though it may be faster it's still one of the slower machine compared to my Commander and others out there. If all you do it drag race then your in the wrong category and you should be looking at the pure sport machines. JMO
I will own a Viking in the future as soon as the finances allow.

Great read!
I think I will also be parking my viking during the hot summer days when the sun it out in full, going to use my truck during those times if i can.
it will be interesting to hear what reviewers have to say about the heat issue.

vixx

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 13, 2013

VikingRyder said:
Great read!
I think I will also be parking my viking during the hot summer days when the sun it out in full, going to use my truck during those times if i can.
it will be interesting to hear what reviewers have to say about the heat issue.

Theres no need to park your viking during hot summer days. The Folks at Yamaha have moved the Vikings engine under the dump bed to mitigate heat leak, especially on those HOT HOTTTTT days... from what I've read there little to no heat leak from the Viking

Reactions: 1

Schroeder

· #13 · Apr 22, 2014

I would like to see a comparison test between the Viking and a 2014 Teryx 2 and 4 seater. I saw a 2 seat Teryx next to my Viking when I was picking it up and noticed the Kawi had Fox podium shocks, a smaller bed but two nice storage bins behind the seats.....It was pretty nice looking.

Teryx2k16

· #14 · Apr 22, 2014

The Kawi Teryx is all play, they got the Mule for the work side, i hear the new 800 is really nice, id love to have one. But hey, im happpy.

Quack addict

· #15 · Apr 23, 2014 (Edited)

I owned the 750 Brute Force, V-twin is a powerhouse, everything else it's hooked up to isn't durable. Changed 4 belts in 5000 miles and adjusted the lifters every 1000m. Did not mud bog it and tried to keep all fluids and filters changed at 250 miles. Another thing that may not have bothered other Kawi owner's but drove me up the freakin wall was the 4-wheel drive engagment. Un-like the Yamaha, the Kawie would not instantly enguage when you pressed the button. It would have to roll forward 10-12 feet to get the 4X4 engauged. ( sorry for so much engagement). I like to have tore out the front splines on the drive shaft once I was stuck and needed 4-wheel drive. Basically, if you thought you might need it, you'd had better put it in before. Also, I had a mysterious oil leak that would fill up the drive assembly and empty the oil our of the crank case, and there went another belt. Dealer never figured that one out.

Yamaha, Just a more durable machine IMO. It's not the fastest, yet I haven't tried to get 60mph through the woods. Second verse to that is I'm not going to.

The Tyrex is in a very awkward situation, Kawasaki is trying to cross between a working SXS and a sport SXS. To me, your either or.......JMO

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Reactions: 1

PowerStroke

· #16 · Apr 25, 2014

This is all very interesting information. I actually am looking to purchase one of these two machines. I really like the power of the Teryx and like the dependability of the Viking. I'm seriously on the fence. If the Viking had the V-twin it would be a no brainer. I really could care less how fast I can go but it is a real possibility I could be hauling in excess of 1500 lbs on occasion.

Dubweiser

· #17 · Apr 27, 2014

3

I went out for my first real ride today...and it was with the gf's parents who own a 750 teryx

they both work good...although for being so close in specs the Viking looks huge sitting beside it

they both get equally stuck...especially when Viking owners....me.....try to show up certain Teryx owners

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Quack addict

· #18 · Apr 27, 2014

Dubweiser said:
I went out for my first real ride today...and it was with the gf's parents who own a 750 teryx

they both work good...although for being so close in specs the Viking looks huge sitting beside it

they both get equally stuck...especially when Viking owners....me.....try to show up certain Teryx owners

That's " Sympathy Stuck"

!

Reactions: 1

joe55

· #19 · May 4, 2014

This is an interesting thread. I like the idea of comparisons with feedback from folks who have "seen and done". Very useful to a guy like me, who is in the research phase. A lot of great machines out there with neat and useful features. I am impressed with the quality of build of both the Kawi and the Viking. I comes down to your needs and intended uses I guess. For a mix of utility and fun the T2 and the Viking rule. The T4 has great features with the fabulous seats, Fox Podiums on all for corners - good for a trail ride if you only need to haul a cooler with you. If you are a hunter, or doing a bit of work the T4 has no interior storage and would be cramped if you were riding in cold weather and dressed accordingly.
The Kawis are also going through issues regarding sticks coming up through the floor which has a lot of loyal Kawi people seriously irritated as they feel they are not being supported by Kawi. (Recently I have seen that the weak skid plate is showing up in the Pioneer forums as an issue). Another issue with them is belt failure - getting this from their forum, which one may have to take with a grain of salt. That said, the motor being between the front seats a belt change is not something that is easily done. I have seen where several '14 model Kawi folks have fried belts, but I have not heard, so far, of any Viking owners destroying a belt.
The Viking's engine placement with easy access is a huge plus and the steel skid plates are another huge plus - the current apparent problem free drive unit for the Viking is also attractive.
The biggest minus for the Viking that I have heard of is noise; supposedly Kawi made big improvements with their '14 model in this regard. I have some hearing loss already so this is a big issue for me personally.

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mxzgirl11

· #20 · May 4, 2014

I did some 40-50 mph rd running yesterday and at this speed the viking is
Loud. I've done some foam behind the seats which helps at lower speeds. At 40mph plus it seems a lot of noise comes from motor and trans. I'm doing the herculiner to the bed and think this will help with noise bouncing off the metal bed. My only complaints so far are its loud and squeaky brakes. Other than that its been a blast to run. To me the seating position is perfect. Also it handles and rides even better on rough trails loaded down in the bed. Also with stuff in bed it seemed to help with noise.

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