Yamaha Grizzly 700 Review: Top Speed, Horsepower, Specs, Price and Problems

The Yamaha Grizzly 700, sold today as the Grizzly EPS, is Yamaha’s flagship utility ATV: a 686cc fuel-injected single driving all four wheels through the Ultramatic belt transmission, with On-Command 4WD, a locking front differential and power steering on every trim. Yamaha does not publish a top speed or horsepower. Owners commonly report about 65 mph.

For 2027, the Grizzly EPS lists at $10,599, the EPS XT-R at $11,399 and the EPS Camo at $11,499. It weighs 701 lb wet, tows 1,300 lb and carries 308 lb on its racks. This page covers the Grizzly on its own: specs, model years, problems and who it suits. If you are deciding between it and the cheaper Kodiak 700, our Grizzly vs Kodiak 700 comparison puts the two side by side.

Grizzly 700 top speed and horsepower

Every Grizzly top speed figure is an owner or magazine report, not a factory number. About 65 mph is the figure reported most often for a stock machine. Larger tires, a light rider and hard, flat ground push it up; a loaded rack, mud tires, a trailer or high altitude bring it down.

The more useful point is that a belt-driven utility ATV is not built to run flat out. Sustained high speed heats the belt and the clutch, and the Grizzly’s strengths are low-speed pulling, engine braking on descents and comfort over rough ground. Yamaha describes the Grizzly’s engine tuning as aimed at recreational trail riding, which owners generally read as livelier than the work-focused Kodiak.

Horsepower is not published by Yamaha in the US. Magazine tests of recent Grizzlies describe the 686cc engine as making around 50 horsepower, but treat that as an estimate. Dyno figures measured at the wheels are well below crank figures because the belt and shaft drive absorb power.

2027 Grizzly EPS specs

Figures below are from Yamaha’s Grizzly EPS specification page, with the XT-R differences from the Grizzly EPS XT-R page.

Trims and 2027 prices

• Grizzly EPS, $10,599: the core machine with power steering, LED headlights, 26-inch tires and rear disc brakes.
• Grizzly EPS XT-R, $11,399: adds 27-inch Maxxis ‘Zilla tires on 14-inch aluminum wheels, a factory WARN VRX 25 winch and a larger all-LCD instrument display.
• Grizzly EPS Camo, $11,499: XT-R-style equipment with Realtree Edge camo bodywork.

MSRP excludes freight, setup, tax and title, and dealer pricing varies by region and season. If you would add a winch and bigger wheels anyway, the XT-R package usually costs less than buying them separately.

Grizzly 700 model years and what changed

Yamaha’s 2007 news release for the 2008 model describes the power steering as varying assistance with vehicle and engine speed, and notes it absorbs steering kickback, acting like a damper. That is still the best argument for EPS: on a 700 lb machine with big tires, it takes most of the fatigue out of a long, rough day.

Common problems and recalls

The CVT belt. The recurring maintenance item on any belt-driven utility ATV. Belts wear fastest under heavy loads at low speed, towing, plowing and crawling in high range. Use low range for that work, keep water out of the belt housing after deep crossings and drain it if water gets in, and do not ride at walking pace in high range, which slips the belt continuously. Yamaha’s 10-year V-belt limited warranty on current models is worth reading, since it excludes abuse and some conditions.

The 708cc years. Owners of 2016 to 2018 Grizzlies widely reported oil consumption from the 708cc engine. Check the oil level and look for blue smoke or a sooty spark plug before buying one, and ask for service records. Yamaha’s return to the 686cc for 2019 is one reason 2019 and later models are popular on the used market.

Steering column recall. About 20,000 Grizzly 550 and 700 ATVs from the 2008 to 2010 model years were recalled in April 2010 because the steering column support assembly could crack and cause loss of steering control, according to the CPSC recall notice. The repair is free at a dealer. Confirm it was done on any used one.

Water and mud. Wheel bearings, CV boots and the belt housing take the punishment on machines ridden hard in mud and water. That is a consequence of use rather than a design fault, but it is where to look on a used Grizzly.

Owning one: maintenance, accessories and hauling it

Service intervals for oil, the final drive and differential fluids, the air filter and valve clearances are in the owner’s manual, and they assume normal use. Shorten them if you ride in dust, mud or water, tow or plow. The air filter is the item most often neglected on utility quads, and on a machine that spends its life in dust it needs checking far more often than the mileage suggests. Grease points and CV boots are worth a look after every muddy ride, because a torn boot lets grit into the joint and turns a cheap fix into an axle replacement.

Popular additions are a plow, a winch if you did not buy the XT-R, hand guards, rack boxes and a heavier-duty skid plate. A plow and a winch both lean hard on the battery and the belt, so use low range for plowing and keep the battery healthy. Before you add accessories, add up the weight against the 308 lb rack rating and the 1,300 lb towing rating.

Moving a Grizzly also takes planning. At 701 lb wet before any accessories, one Grizzly plus a trailer is a real load for a small SUV, and two are well beyond some vehicles’ ratings. If you tow with a Jeep, check the Wrangler towing capacity by year before you buy the trailer.

Who the Grizzly 700 suits

The Grizzly is for riders who cover real distance on rough ground: hunters in steep country, landowners with rutted two-tracks and anyone who spends whole days on trails. The extra front travel, 11.3 inches of clearance, larger tires and rear discs are what you pay for over a Kodiak, and they matter most at speed over rough terrain.

If your riding is mostly flat ground, farm chores and plowing, the Kodiak 700 does the same work with the same engine for less money, with a lower 33.9-inch seat that is easier to climb on and off all day. If you want speed and handling with no work ability at all, the same engine family powers the Raptor 700 sport quad with a manual gearbox. The Grizzly is an adult ATV: CPSC guidance says riders under 16 should use only youth models.

Buying a used Grizzly 700

• Run the VIN past a Yamaha dealer for open recalls, especially on 2008 to 2010 models.
• Open the belt housing drain and inspection points if you can, or ask when the belt was last replaced.
• Check for water in the oil, differential and final drive fluids on machines used in mud.
• Test 2WD, 4WD and the diff lock, high and low range, and reverse.
• Turn the bars lock to lock with the engine running to feel for uneven EPS assistance.
• On 2016 to 2018 models, check oil consumption history.
• Jack up each corner and rock the wheel to check bearings and ball joints, and look at the CV boots for splits.
• Look at the hitch and racks for bends or cracked welds, a sign the machine towed or carried more than its ratings.

A Grizzly with a documented belt and fluid history is worth more than a low-hour one with none. Most of the expensive failures on these machines start with a belt or a fluid that was ignored.