2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 SHOOTOUT
Auto-clutch manual vs. CVT automatic—which is better?
By the staff of Dirt Wheels
2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 SHOOTOUT
Sport quad riders love their manual transmissions because of the absolute control they give over your machine’s power output. Plus, they can be more fun to ride. 4×4 riders or ranch-goers tend to stick to automatic transmissions due to ease of use. Few 4×4 quads still offer manual shifting, but that is because customers demand automatic transmissions.
Suzuki makes two 2019 KingQuad 400s. The ASi comes with a CVT automatic, and the FSi is a manual-shift five-speed with an auto clutch. We put them through their paces in multiple scenarios to see which was more fun and which was better suited for work. These aren’t sport quads by any means, but they are still a blast to ride. The starting price for a KingQuad 400 is $6499.
THE KINGQUAD
Both versions sport a 376cc, air-cooled four-stroke engine that is electronically fuel injected. Paired to the separate transmissions are front and rear differentials for the 4×4 system that turn the wheels through a shaft drive. There is no front-locking differential on these machines, but the 4×4 system works quite well in most situations.
The suspension utilized upfront is a dual-A-arm design with oil-damped coil-spring shocks. Bringing up the rear is a straight-axle, swingarm-type suspension with dual-oil-damped coil-over shocks. These ATVs are as basic as a 4×4 can get, and that is never a bad thing when it comes to reliability and durability.
These KingQuads are perfect little tight trail machines and work great around the ranch or farm when you don’t need a lot of power. There are front and rear cargo racks and a rear receiver for a hitch ball to tow with on the FSi and ASi. The tow rating is under 1000 pounds.
2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 SHOOTOUT
IT’S WORTH IT
These 400s have nimble handling and are quite comfortable to ride. The seat height and handlebar are sized well for midsize and smaller riders, but it can get somewhat tight for tall riders. Some of Suzuki’s KingQuads tend to have busy steering, but their 400s are more relaxed and easy to pilot.
The controls are simple to use on both machines. There is a foot-operated rear brake that is connected to the lever on the left handlebar. The right handle holds the front-brake lever. Stopping power is strong with the front hydraulic disc brakes, but the rear drum brake is a bit soft.
The ride on these machines isn’t the smoothest around since they have a solid rear axle, but they do handle very well around corners and across off-camber sections. The shocks are entry-level on the front and rear, so you shouldn’t expect them to be great.
For the speeds you generally drive these 400s, you won’t need to worry about the suspension settings too often. Plus, the shocks are not adjustable. They handle slower-speed activities quite well though.
If you purely want the machine to get work done around the ranch or job site, then it comes with good options. The front and rear of the KingQuad come with cargo racks that hold up to 66 pounds upfront and 132 pounds in the rear. There is a hitch-ball receiver built into the frame of the machine so you can tow up to 992 pounds.
2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 SHOOTOUT
THE AUTOMATIC
Now, let’s talk transmissions. There is no doubt that the CV transmission is easier to use on the KingQuad 400ASi. There is no shifting required unless it’s to go into low gear, neutral, or reverse. Most of the time high gear is all that is needed for this quad to get around trails.
It is true that a CV transmission could be less reliable since the clutching system utilizes a CVT belt that could get overheated and break. Realistically, though, this is not likely, since the machine has modest power output and weighs under 700 pounds.
If you are a new rider or simply less experienced, an automatic transmission will be far more enjoyable to operate. There is less to focus on, which puts more of your attention on the trail ahead.
2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 SHOOTOUT
THE MANUAL
The best part about a manual trans is getting to shift gears and have your machine be in the power range that you want it in at all times. If you like to ride fast and aggressively, then the FSi is the better option than the KingQuad 400s.
It is a letdown that the FSi doesn’t have a manually operated clutch, though. It technically comes with a five-speed manual-shift transmission and a semi-automatic clutch. However, for some riders who want to shift with less to worry over, you can shift gears however you like and don’t have to worry about operating a clutch.
On the other side of the coin, the usage of a hand-operated clutch helps you put the power down more in a manner you want. There is no doubt that this version of the KingQuad 400 is quicker in all aspects. We pitted the two against each other in a drag race, and the FSi got up to speed faster by a quad length.
It is also easier to shift down gears on hill descents to slow the machine down with the FSi. The ASi requires you to stop the machine and shift it into low gear to descend hills slower.
The FSi downside we noticed the most is that it is more work to use. Changing gears into reverse requires that you shift it down with the foot-operated shifter into neutral, then use the hand shifter to change it into reverse.
After that, you will have to utilize the hand shifter to go into the drive gear, then click the foot shifter into the first gear to get going again. That is a lot of steps.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is no clear winner between the two different transmissions. Most of the choices would be with rider preference. If you like to go faster, the FSi is the clear winner. It holds the rpm where you choose and feels like it has more torque.
If you want things to be easier and smoother to use, the ASi takes the cake. All you have to do is actuate the throttle to go, and the only time you need to shift gears is if you need to go quite slow up or downhills.
Go to www.suzuki.com for more info on their full line-up of quality quads!
To subscribe to Dirt Wheels Magazine in print or digital form click here https://hi-torque.com/product/dirtwheels.
2019 SUZUKI KINGQUAD 400 ASi/FSi 4X4
Engine Single-cylinder, SOHC, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke
Displacement 376cc
Bore x stroke 82mm x 71.2mm
Starter Electric
Fuel system EFI
Fuel Capacity 4.2 gal.
Transmission Automatic CVT/5-speed manual, auto clutch
Final drive Shaft
Suspension/wheel travel:
Front Dual A-arms w/ 6.7”
Rear Dual A-arms w/ 6.7”
Brakes:
Front Dual hydraulic discs
Rear Drum
Tires:
Front 25×8-12
Rear 25×10-12
Length/width/height 81.1”/45.1”/48”
Ground clearance 9.8”
Wheelbase 50”
Curb weight 628/615 lb.
Rack capacity:
Front 66 lb.
Rear 132 lb.
Towing capacity 992 lb.
Colors Terra Green, Flame Red, Solid White, Camo
Price $6499
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.