Suzuki releases photos of its updated King Quad

700cc machine features independent rear suspension and electronic fuel injection
Last September, when Suzuki announced it was introducing another shared model as part of its alliance with Kawasaki (the Twin Peaks), dealers were clear that they would rather see Suzuki enter the competitive big bore market with its own model.
Almost right on cue, the manufacturer followed the Twin Peaks announcement with another announcement. The ledgendary King Quad moniker was to be applied to another machine, a new machine. And with that, Suzuki unveiled plans for the King Quad 700.
Suzuki followers have several reasons to celebrate the return of the 2005 King Quad. This model will be the largest in the Suzuki fleet; the King Quad will not be shared in the Suzuki/Kawasaki alliance; the 2005 model has technology unlike any Suzuki ever made; and, with two 700s, Suzuki can now compete for consumers in the big-bore market.
These are the first images Suzuki has released of the King Quad 700 – “spy” shots intentionally leaked to the consumer press to garner excitement for both dealers and customers, and serving as a way for Suzuki to maintain anticipation for a 2005 model that will not be in dealerships until this Fall.
“We got great response from our dealers when we announced the King Quad at last September’s dealer meeting,” explained Mark Reese, Suzuki press relations manager. “We wanted to keep the interest up, so we released these new photos. We want people to say, ‘Oh yeah, this thing is still coming out.”
HE INSIDE DIRT
“We will call it the King Quad because we have a lot of equity in that name,” said Reese. “The King Quad was a pretty well-respected model for a lot of years. People are familiar with that name and Suzuki. It’s a rebirth of the King Quad, but this model is an entirely different machine than the original.”
The King Quad has several unique-to-Suzuki features. The first is the largest engine in the Suzuki family. A single-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled 700cc is at the heart of the King Quad. The four-valve, four-stroke powerplant is mated with a Continuously Variable Transmission and uses electronic fuel injection. EFI improves starting, especially in cold weather, and eliminates the need to rejet a carburetor.
The automatic tranny has reverse, hi- and-low-range subtransmission and selectable 2WD/4WD settings. Reese said the King Quad has four-wheel drive and a locking front differential that will improve handling and supply added traction when the rider demands it.
The King Quad will ride on a fully independent suspension, front and rear, and should have suspension travel and ground clearance numbers that rival the competition. The shocks, if like the Vinson, will have five-way preload adjustability.
The next-generation King Quad has the look of a Vinson 500 on steroids. It uses sharp-angled plastic and a three headlight setup. It appears as though the single, handlebar-mounted headlamp pod has been reshaped and extended to provide better protection and readability to the LCD display.
Other components similar to the Vinson include an automotive-style shifter on the left side. Like the Vinson, we assume the shifter has a “park” feature, which locks the drive shaft. The 12-volt DC power outlet and water-resistant storage compartment are located within the right, front fender
The King Quad uses traditional, tube-shaped front and rear racks. While they don’t appear to be as large as some of the competition, the smaller size could stop the rack from getting hung up on rocks and trees. Plus, it appears as if Suzuki engineers added cut-outs in the rear fenders to allow items larger than the racks to be hauled safely and securely.
From the photos, we can see what may be a storage compartment on top of the King Quad’s midsection. What does that mean for the fuel tank? It appears as though the fuel fill nozzle is housed within the left rear fender and would place the fuel tank under the T-shaped seat and rear plastic. The size of the fuel tank is unclear, but we expect it to exceed five gallons. psb