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The first ride on the 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4
The first ride on the 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4

The first ride on the 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4
Missoula, MT - In 1998, Yamaha redefined big-bore Utility ATVs with the release of its Grizzly 600, which was the largest in the ATV industry, and it was an instance success as it became the number one selling Utility ATV on the market. This top seller remained virtually unchanged till 2002 when it received a large displacement 660cc engine from the newly released Yamaha Raptor 660, and just five years later, the 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 has been completely redesigned from the tires up to incorporated some of the latest advancements in Utility ATV technology.

For starters, the new Grizzly received a modified version of the 686cc engine from the Yamaha Raptor 700, which comes paired with the highly anticipated Yamaha fuel injection system (YFI), and if this wasn’t exciting enough, an Industry first, Electronic Power Steering (EPS), has also been added to the Grizzly, which redefines ease of steering on a 4x4 utility ATV. To further assist with handling and steering, the Yamaha engineers also focused on increasing ground clearance, reducing weight, and lowering the center of gravity of the new Grizzly. Finally they focused on maintaining the Grizzly’s sporty appearance without sacrificing rider comfort and ease of use, so the new Grizzly will remain at the top of the food chain in Utility ATV sales.

2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 ATV
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 electronic power steering
The Grizzly 700 has a very appealing apperance and it is available in Hunter Green, Steel Blue, Red and Realtree Hardwoods High Definition Camo
Yamaha's Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system is an industry first, and it worked beyond my expecations by lightening the steering and absorbing rocks and stumps

Yamaha was so excited about their new proclaimed “King of the Forest” they invited out virtually every ATV media outlet to the Paws Up resort in Missoula, Montana to spend a day riding their all new Grizzly 700, so we could decide whether or not, the Grizzly actually lived up to its hype, and the Paws Up resort provided the perfect stomping ground for testing the Grizzly as it had it all with its several thousand acres of riding trails, which incorporated fields, stream crossings, mud, rocks, logs, hill climbs, and dramatic elevation changes from the valley to the mountain tops nearly 9000 feet in elevation. After riding the Grizzly from sunrise to sunset and covering over 80 miles of terrain according the odometer, there was ample time to draw a conclusion about whether the new Yamaha Grizzly was a success.

At a Glance
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 new fender design
As demonstrated in this photo, the new fender design provides excellent protection from water and mud encountered on the trails
We arrived at the riding spot early in the morning, and a row of Grizzlies were just itching to hit the trails, so we geared up and picked our machine. Before hitting the trails, I did a quick look over of the Grizzly, and I found that the Grizzly’s new fender design to be very appealing with its curves and body contours, and more importantly the fenders paired with the heal guards and floorboards provided excellent protection from the mud and water that you are bound to find on any trail ride. The floorboards also incorporated large drain holes. The body work also includes some new larger dual 35 watt headlights, which will surely provide for better night vision than its predecessor, and a conveniently located waterproof storage compartment is located on the right front fender for easy access without leaving the seat and another larger storage compartment is located in the rear fender. As for the front and rear rack system, they provide plenty of room for cargo and allow for easy mounting of accessories with Yamaha’s new secure rack mount system, which utilizes minimum bolts and hardware to mount accessories with confidence, and for a sportier look, the racks can easily be removed with a simple four bolt mounting system. The thicker and wider seat provided for a very comfortable feel, and all the controls were easily reachable and visible while sitting on the seat, and the handlebar mounted On Command switch for 2WD, 4WD, and differential lock was within a thumbs reach for quick engagement, and the front left fender mounted gear selector has been updated to a gate style shifter for simplified gear selection, which made for quick identification of the selected gear, but the brake engagement safety feature became a bit cumbersome at times when trying to quickly maneuver the Grizzly. Finally, the dash mounted digital dashboard was well placed with very easy to read full gauge, speed odometer, trip meter, gear indicator, and clock, and it also doubles as an electrical system diagnostics tool, which was a nice addition.

Ride Test
Once we hit the trails, the Grizzly’s new 686cc powerplant was very obvious as it provided plenty of power, but it wasn’t by any means arm jerking. It was a smooth yet continuous power from the low end to the top end. This was in part due to its head porting and heavier crank than it cousin the Raptor 700, and the Raptor’s manual transmission was replaced with an ultramatic transmission system. The electronic fuel injection provided instant throttle response and was also easy on the thumb unlike other carbureted models, which is an important feature for someone utilizing the Grizzly for extended rides or working on the farm. The other huge benefit of YFI is its ability to instantly adjust the fuel/air mixture, which allows for cold starts without the use of a manual choke and the ability to automatically adjust to changes in temperature and elevation, which isn’t possible with a standard carburetor that would require manual re-jetting.

2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 ATV
On our extensive trail ride, we had the opportunity to test YFI system to its fullest by winding our way up mountains and above the clouds to nearly 9,000 feet in elevation, and on the way to the top, there wasn’t any obvious changes in the performance of the Grizzly as the throttle remained responsive without any dead spots throughout the throttle range, which is why the use of carburetors on ATVs will surely become a thing of the past over the next few years.

The ride to the “Top of the World” also provided the perfect performance test for the handling and suspension of the Grizzly as there was an endless amount of switchback turns to test its cornering ability, and it performed as expected with minimum body roll for a 600lb Utility ATV and very predictable steering. The electronic power steering provided almost effortless steering through the turns and it helped absorb the many ruts, tree stumps, and rocks encountered along the way to the top, which could have otherwise yanked the handlebars out of my hands as the EPS unit also provides steering dampening.

2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 ATV
The lower center of gravity contributed to the under the seat mounted gas tank made a noticeable difference in the handling especially at higher speeds especially when a little body english was required. By the time we reached the summit, I was railing the 180 degree turns at nearly 30 mph with confidence as it handle more like a sport ATV than a Utility ATV, and the confidence that I could stop on a dime with the all new 4 wheel hydraulic disc braking system, which performed incredibly well in bringing the 600lb Grizzly to a halt.

As already mentioned, there were also numerous water run-off ditches, ruts, tree stumps, and rocks along rugged trails through the mountains, which provided the ability to see how well the suspension actually performed under harsh riding conditions, and it performed extremely well as it soaked up the terrain with ease, but I did find the front end tended to dive and become sluggish to rebound at higher trail riding speeds, so I stopped and adjusted the front preload to the stiffest setting, which solved the problem and provided a much more responsive front suspension, but for a normal trail riding and farm use, the factory setting would be adequate without any front cargo, but stiffer aftermarket front shocks may be a wise investment for those intending to ride aggressively or carry front cargo on rough terrain. Finally, the Grizzly’s new gull wing design front A-arms did a wonderful job in providing useable ground clearance that made negotiating the obstacles on the trails effortless with minimum impacts to undercarriage or A-arms because of the expanded width of useable ground clearance.

2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 ATV
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 added ground clearance
Logs in the trails was not a problem for the Grizzly 700 as the front end is plenty light enough to launch over obstacles
The added ground clearance from the gull wing design A-arms were a welcome treat through some of the rockier trail sections

Conclusion
After spending an entire day riding over 80 miles and enjoying some breath taking views along the way, the sun finally began to disappear behind the mountains and it was time to head back to camp for a relaxing evening before flying home early the next morning. I left the Paws Up resort wanting yet another day to ride the Yamaha Grizzly 700 as it was an extremely fun to rider utility ATV, and I would be happy to have one hibernate in my garage anytime. I give Yamaha a big thumbs-up on newly redesigned Grizzly, and I feel it will maintain its top sales figures priced at slightly higher yet competitive MSRP of $7,999.

Press Intro Video Clips
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 features
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 FI 4x4 and Bill Ballance

Yamaha Motors
www.yamaha-motor.com

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