Farms & Farm Machinery #385

UTV/ATV REVIEWS
REVIEW
1
Farms & Farm
Machinery looks back
at some of its most
popular reviews from
the last decade. This
month, 10 of our best
ATV/UTV reviews
R E W
I N D
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3
4
Damn near perfect
The Suzuki’s 500 AXi
makes a virtue of being
uncomplicated. Barry
Ashenhurst said in 2016
it was one of the most
comfortable and capable
ATVs he’d ever tested
Suzuki KingQuad 500 AXI
Engine
Displacement
Trans
Front susp
Rear susp
Single-cylinder 4-stroke
493cc
V-belt, CVT auto, hi-lo,
2WD-4WD, diff lock
Ind. A-arms with
adjustable shocks
Ind. A-arms with I-beam
with adjustable shocks
Front brakes Twin 200m discs –
lightweight calipers
Rear brakes Sealed oil-bath,
multidisc
Fuel cap
17.5 litres
L/w/h
2,165 x 1,250 x 1,285mm
Wet weight 302kg
Wheelbase 1,285mm
Front rack cap 30kg
Rear rack cap 60kg
Max tow
uneven ground
Max tow
even ground
Max vehicle
loading
Warranty
180kg
450kg
172kg
Three years
Suzuki ATVs have never been leaders in Australia – the
factory’s reluctance to build a UTV may have helped
shorten its shadow – but you can always count on them to
be comfortable, to handle nicely and, in fact, to feel as if a
technician had handcrafted the machine just for you.
The 500 AXi draws from the same basic parts bin as every
other manufacturer: CV auto transmission, independent
suspension, and so on and so forth.
There’s nothing unusual here, nothing you can point to and say,
“That’s what makes this quad so damn good.”
In a nutshell, though, it seems that the manufacturer has gone
all out to keep this model uncomplicated and functional. There’s
no glitter, no bling. The instruments are large and easy to read
– which can’t be said of every ATV – and the four-wheel drive
system is simple. When you hit the 4WD button you get threewheel
drive, and when you engage the diff lock you get fourwheel
drive with a diff lock. Everything does what it’s supposed
to do without making a fuss about it.
The T-shaped seat is drop-dead cushy but still manages to give
you support. Handlebar height feels a little higher than we’re
used to but has the advantage of giving you more leverage over
the machine. Power steering is neutral in the sense that you’re
not aware of it, and no-one can do better than that.
A tow hitch is standard, and so is a 12-volt accessory outlet.
There’s storage too, in the shape of a square box at the rear of
the machine (held closed with a flexible rubber st ap), and a
2.8-litre water-resistant bin on the right front guard. Suzuki opted
for a simple lever lock for the park brake rather than a P position
in the transmission. The lock clamps the left-hand lever to the
bars and activates the rear brake. This means that the bike can’t
slide backwards down a hill. The airbox and breathers are as
high as the factory could get them, which is good, but the air
filter itself is a little fiddly to get at since i s under a plastic panel
– and anything that complicates maintenance only encourages
people to ignore it.
A few more points to consider:
• the front brakes felt fin . The rear wet brake felt a bit doughy
but it is adjustable
• we think the radiator is vulnerable to penetration damage but
1. Real mudflaps as standard equipment, and serious
Carlisle off-roaders
2. The selector moved smoothly through the gate all day
3. The digital readout is big, clear and easy to read
4. Independent suspension front and rear – the front suspension
gives a supple ride and excellent off-road performance
fitting a winch in the space provided would solve that proble
• the underside is protected by a plastic skid plate – well,
polypropylene, actually – but it does run the full length of the
all-terrain vehicle
• turning circle is very good, even with the diff lock engaged
• the Suzuki comes with fair-dinkum rear mudflaps that help
keep you clean and dry in filthy condition
• there are no grease zerks on the front suspension
• front and rear racks are steel instead of the plastic you might
find on American and Canadian vehicles.
ON THE JOB
The KingQuad is excellent off-road, but again, nothing obvious
explains why. One strong point is its very good ground clearance,
another is its manageable power delivery.
This quad isn’t what you’d call fast. Its top speed is about
115km/h and, frankly, we have no idea why you’d want to ride
any faster on a property. But the machine crawls confidently
and quietly over lumpy ground without dragging its coccyx on
everything. Throttle response is good when you’re riding hard
and easy to meter when you need subtle throttle control. The
suspension is cushy without wallowing like jelly on a spring.
That, the brilliant riding position, and a very quiet engine mean
you can work on this thing all day without feeling totally shagged
at the end of it. It’s such a nice quad to ride.
Engine braking, often a measure of an ATV’s safety in the field
is first clas . On steep descents the 500 restrained its speed to
2km/h, and that’s a lot better than the majority of its competitors
could achieve on the same downhill.
This quad goes about its work quietly. It’s not a loudmouth, not
flash , and it doesn’t have USB ports everywhere or a built-in
satellite phone. But, if you buy another 500 without seeing this
one first you might wish you hadn’t.
Looking for an
ATV/UTV?
Search for ‘ATV’ or ‘UTV’ on
TradeFarmMachinery.com.au
or type the TA or DIY code
shown here into the
keyword search field
$12,990
TA1029092
SUZUKI KINGQUAD 500 AXI. 4x4, auto, 493cc
eng, full independent susp. • VIC 03 9998 4995
$10,290
TA1029111
SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400ASI. 4x4, 376cc eng, fuel
injected, automatic. • VIC 03 9998 4995
$8,500
TA1019580
SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400FSI. Ex demo, only
ridden 349 kms, fuel inj. • VIC 03 9998 4995
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