Now Yamaha engineers have turned their focus to four wheel innovation to debut the world’s first power steering equipped ATV.

And it’s no crude hydraulic system devoid of intelligence but instead a well thought out and highly sophisticated approach that contributes greatly to the riding experience.

A conventional set of bars are connected to a normal run of the mill steering column but from here down things get much more interesting. A potentiometer then intervenes and signals the steering inputs to the engine management system where the degree of steering assistance is calculated according to vehicle speed and engine revs. The electronic power steering motor then applies a great deal of steering assistance at low speeds while offering little assistance at higher speeds. The latter ensures the rider has plenty of feel at the bars where steering assistance is less needed.

The power steering motor also intervenes at speed if significant bump steer is encountered by applying a reactive steering force that effectively dampens the bump steer to much more manageable levels. I found the system smart enough to pull double duty as a steering damper.

The end result is an ATV that despite being gargantuan in proportions requires less steering effort than machines half its size. Tight manoeuvring on an ATV is always painful, particularly on four wheel drive models but power steering solves the problem effectively and unobtrusively. Riding this machine all day will not require King Kong forearms. For lighter riders, or perhaps the man on the land starting to struggle with arthritis, or for those that spend long days in the saddle, the power assistance will make a massive difference.

The power steering breakthrough really does set the machine apart from the opposition but of course there is a lot more to the Grizzly 700 than reduced steering efforts, as welcome and capable as that innovation may be.

A powerful 686cc four-stroke single cylinder engine provides plenty of grunt and keeps its cool in the toughest conditions thanks to liquid cooling. The radiator is situated high in the chassis to keep mud from blocking up the cooling fins. A generous 20 litre fuel cell supplies unleaded to the fuel injection system and the fuel level remaining is displayed in a bar type LCD on the comprehensive instrument panel that also includes a speedo, odometer, tripmeters, clock and hour meter.

Yamaha’s Ultramatic V-Belt transmission, already well proven in the long established Grizzly 660 4x4, transfers drive to the wheels. Directing the power to the rear wheels, or all wheels with the diff lock and all other modes individually selectable via a push button on the bars.

45kg can be carried on the front rack, 85kg on the rear rack and the machine has a towing capacity rated at 550kg.

Despite the machine being primarily designed for intensive agricultural use its sporting potential is somewhat surprising. Despite the rider sitting quite high in the saddle, 25mm higher than the Grizzly 660, it is reasonably slim between the knees and the rider can really move around the machine quite comfortably. While having a bit of fun sliding around in two wheel drive mode I found it quite easy to slide my bodyweight right up to the front of the machine. Hanging off around corners to maintain machine balance was also easily accomplished. A little caution is worthwhile however as while I rarely felt a wheel lift while riding, looking at some of the action shots afterwards indicated that quite often a wheel was lifted quite high during hard cornering.

Four wheel disc brakes further highlight the performance bent of the machine. Many agricultural ATV machines still utilise sealed drum brakes thanks to their proven worth in muddy conditions but it’s fair to say that excessively muddy conditions are not encountered all that often in Australia’s agricultural areas. Many farmers would dearly love to see some mud but in recent years they are much more likely to be sweating in dust as they watch their properties erode away in severe drought.

The Grizzly 700 is a well thought out machine that breaks new ground in the ATV market. Many farmers will be scared off by the sophistication of the machine but Yamaha have provided plenty of grease nipples at all the pivot points in the independent rear suspension, and have backed the machine with a comprehensive 12 month warranty. A washable air filter and spin on oil filter continue the theme of servicing simplicity.

I am sure the machine will win plenty of friends in rural areas thanks to friendly ergonomics, strong mechanicals and with the technology on offer a competitive $13,699 sticker price seems quite reasonable and comparable to the opposition. Yamaha dealers are also offering some attractive finance packages on the Grizzly range.

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