When an ATV company chooses to put the word “King” in the name of their 4-Wheeler, you can easily guess where they’ve chosen to position their quad in the lineup. It also makes for a pretty big target for competitors and consumers alike to focus on, so the machine better live up to the billing.

Suzuki made the bold move to call their top model, ‘the KingQuad’ quite some time ago, and it could be argued that it didn’t always impress the way you’d expect royalty to. This latest 2009 750AXi version with power steering has finally armed the ruler with some
pretty big ammunition that’ll allow the king to defend his title. With authority!

I’ve had plenty of experience with KingQuads over the years, as some close family members chose these ATV’s as their ride. However, I never found myself to be as fond of the make as they were. That is… until now.


A big reason for my change in attitude is the new fuel injected 750 engine that displaces 722cc, and power steering. So, to tell you about it, let’s start with the engine.
The extra displacement of the new mill has definitely changed the feel of the whole machine, but it’s still a big single so you don’t get the same type of punch as you’d experience with a twin. Instead, the KingQuad delivers a very linear building of torque, the kind of torque that puts a smile on your face.

It’s easily controlled through the QuadMatic CVT transmission, for those times you have to finesse the quad over the terrain, or when you want to really feel the pull of the engine in your arms as you accelerate out of a corner. If the conditions are right, the KingQuad will actually power-lift the front wheels off the ground as you roll on to it, exiting a sharp corner!

To build this kind of grunt, Suzuki has done some fancy engineering on the intake system. The airflow of the intake track is almost perfectly straight into the combustion chamber through a pair of 36mm intake valves. This results in efficient airflow into the engine, which in turn produces power. Also helping the intake track, is the 48 degree forward cant of the cylinder. This opens up the side of the combustion chamber to the air flow, while at the same time, lowers the center of gravity of the overall machine by bringing the weight of the heavy cylinder closer to the ground.

You might be thinking that such a big single might end up with a bit of a vibration problem. You could be right, but Suzuki didn’t want this thing to rattle the fillings from your teeth, so they included two balance shafts to smooth out any potential vibration issues. Plus, in keeping up with the high expectations of potential KingQuad buyers, Suzuki continues the fuel injected theme for the KingQuad that they began in 2005.

Aside from the engine, the other biggest improvement on the 09 KingQuad is the power steering. While not available on every model, I highly recommend stepping up to the power steering option. In addition to the obvious, assisting the rider in steering the ATV, the system also has a huge damping effect, like having a steering shock in the system. This is the attribute of power steering I like the best. Having the bars ripped from your grasp when one front tire hits an obstruction is not fun, and with power steering this problem is almost a thing of the past. This goes for all power steering systems, but on the KingQuad there is one additional benefit.

In the past I found there was a small quirk in the KingQuad while cornering. While initiating a turn, a rider would typically put pressure on the bars to turn the front wheel. However, in certain conditions such as under breaking, or rough terrain, the steering had a tendency to snap to the steering-stop. This means you’d have to quickly adjust from pushing the handlebars, to holding them back, while still moving. If this trail got a bit out of control, the vehicle would tend to rear up on the outside front tire. This happened to me once, and I was catapulted off the machine as it went up and over on the right-side front corner. I wound up straightening the handlebars, rear rack, and buying a new set of rear fenders! Now, with power steering, this little problem is all but eliminated, and as a rider you feel much more in control.

There’s one other small detail to the power steering equipped models, and that is a slightly higher handlebar placement. This seems to give the rider a bit more leverage on the bars, and also makes the rider feel a bit more down in the cockpit, rather then perched up on top. A small detail, but important nonetheless.

The rest of the quad feels very “Japanese”. This isn’t a bad thing, just an observation. Like its close competitors; the Yamaha Grizzley and the Kawasaki Brute Force, the size of the ATV, suspension setups and travel, along with accessory placement like the switchgear and shifter, all feel very similar. And like the others, there is also a quality to the fit and finish of the vehicle.

Another similarity to the others that I don’t particularly like is the OE tire choice on the KingQuad. Like the other Japanese OEMs, the stock tires just aren’t aggressive enough. While test riding the KingQuad I found myself on a rutted ATV trail. Trying to straddle the ruts without sliding into them was near impossible with the current tread pattern of the stock Dunlops. Plus, without any real side-lugs, forget about climbing back up the side of the ruts to get back out. I don’t think a crazy-aggressive tire should be installed, just something a little more aggressive, something like the new Dunlop Quadmax sneakers should be at least offered as an optional package.  

The fully independent suspension on the KingQuad has basically been retained from previous years. It offers up 6.7 inches of travel out of the front end and 7.7 inches out of the rear suspension. Each corner is also adjustable with cam style, 5-way preload adjusters. It may not sound like a huge amount of travel, but it does articulate through rough terrain, like our log run, with ease. High speeds do tend to overwhelm the suspension design, making the machine feel a little vague, although it’s not meant to be a QuadRacer.

Helping in tough situations is a drivetrain that includes an electrically actuated front differential lock. Simply push a button and you’re totally locked up to tackle just about anything in your way. Add in power steering, and you’ve got even more control in these situations!   

Even though the new Suzuki 750AXi may not have changed much on the surface, under the skin, with the new mill and power steering, this is a brand new ride. If the 750 class is one you’re interested in playing with, you’d be foolish if the Suzuki KingQuad 750AXi wasn’t on your short-list of ATV’s to check out!
The Royal Line
Suzuki has more than one KingQuad bullet in their gun. Other rides range from a 500AXi version with power steering like this one, dressed up in a suit of camouflage. On this ride, other than the smaller displacement 500 class engine, everything else is exactly the same as its bigger brother, the 750. This is a great option if the pocketbook doesn’t have enough cash to pony-up to the top model 750.

Other options; Suzuki’s got KingQuad models right down to the 400cc range, something in just about every price point. Machines like the KingQuad 400FS 5-speed offer great value, but aren’t built on the same platform as the 750 or 500AXi models. When shopping, pay close attention to the different details across the family line! J