Suzuki King Quad 700 Specs and Review

Recognized for its off-roading-oriented ergonomics and stability, lower center of gravity, and versatile functionality, the Suzuki King Quad 700 easily became a consumer favorite despite its short three-year production run.

It is one highly-regarded machine known to outperform the competition in the handling department. It may not top the list of ATVs with monstrous power, but its smooth delivery and practical features make it a standout.

The Suzuki King Quad 700 is a rec-utility vehicle that dominated the ATV scene between 2005 and 2007. This quintessential big-bore machine, featuring electronic fuel injection, independent rear suspension, unrivaled handling, and an 82-mph top speed, was popular with leisure and sport riders.

Read on and learn more about Suzuki King Quad 700’s specs, features, setbacks, and remedies, and discover how this 700-class vehicle paved the way for higher-displacement ATVs of today.

The Beefed Up King Quad

One remarkable UTV that does not fall short on delivering versatility, the 2005 Suzuki King Quad 700, has instantly charmed the public from the get-go and effectively blurred the fine line separating utility and sport vehicles.

Originally introduced by Suzuki in 1991, the KingQuad has been beefed up to include a 695-cm3 DOHC power mill, well-traveling suspension, aggressive handling characteristics, and abundant power expected from a sport quad.

As if that were not enough, the 4×4 also boasted of dual-range 4WD, fuel injection, and a torque-sensing limited-slip front differential – all for an MSRP of $7,199.

Despite its three-year production run, the King Quad 700 kept busy, producing a total of 14 trims and five models under the said series. Its base models had individual trims released in Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. each year.

Conversely, it had one camouflage trim produced only in 2006 and 2007. Expectedly, all versions were excellent machines that provided owners a smooth ride and ease in pulling the front wheels off the ground.

The four-wheeler was highly lauded that its lack of power steering was hardly an issue for avid Suzuki riders who better appreciated the vehicle’s top end and low-maintenance nature.

Its switches and controls, which leaned towards the small side, still came off as a convenient way to engage four-wheel drive in off-camber or technical situations. Its ability to tread on tough trails, deep water, steep inclines/declines, and mud bogs towered over its shortcomings immensely.

For a vehicle with its capabilities, the Suzuki King Quad 700 was pretty bulletproof.

2005 Suzuki King Quad 700 Specs & Features

Engine

The King Quad 700 uses a 4-stroke, liquid-cooled single-cylinder DOHC engine and a 102 x 85 mm bore-stroke ratio. The engine’s displacement is 695-cm3 (42.4 in3), and its compression ratio is 10.0:1.

It has a non-woven fabric air cleaner and a wet-sump lubrication system. The KingQuad is fuel-injected and requires 4.6 US gallons (17.5 Liters) of unleaded gasoline with a minimum PON rating of 87 or RON rating of 91. 

Remember that only gasoline/petrol with <10% ethanol, <5% methanol or MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) is permissible.

Lubrication

This four-wheeler has an oil capacity of 2.4 US quarts (2.3 Liters) without filter change, 2.6 US quarts (2.5 Liters) with one, and 3.2 US quarts (3.0 Liters) during overhaul. For best results, use SAE 10W-40 Suzuki Performance 4 Motor Oil with an API classification of (at least) SJ that meets JASO T903 MA/MA1/MA2 standards and contains no anti-friction modifiers or additives.

If SAE 10W-40 is unavailable, you may use an equivalent oil variant with any of the following viscosities (depending on ambient temperature) – 5W-30, 10W-50, 15W-40, 15W-50, or 20W-50. Any premium quality four-stroke oil with the recommended API grade is a good substitute.

Drivetrain

The KingQuad offers selectable 2WD and 4WD driveline modes activated via a push button located on the right handlebar. A two-speed Quadmatic™ V-belt transmission (inclusive of reverse) and a limited-slip/ locking front differential transfers engine torque to the front wheels with the flip of a switch.

Shifting is handled by a wet-shoe, automatic centrifugal clutch, and a saw-tooth gated shifter with a shift sequence of L/H/N/R. 

Ignition

The KingQuad uses an electronic CDI ignition with an auxiliary pull-start system and an ignition timing of 7° BTDC @ 1,300 RPM. A triple-phase AC-Magneto alternator powers up electronic accessories.

The wheeler requires a 12V, 18Ah 200-CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) FTZ16-BS battery with assembled dimensions of 6.0 x 3.44 x 5.75 inches (150 x 87 x 145mm – L x W x H) and an NGK CR6E/DENSO U20ESR-N spark plug with a 0.028 – 0.032 inch gap.

You may replace defective batteries with either YTX14-BS or YTX20L-BS battery (view on Amazon) formats.

Tires & Brakes

Front aluminum wheels are equipped with AT25 x 8-12 Dunlop® tubeless tires, and the rear wheels with AT25 x 10-12 Dunlop® tubeless tires. You can swap these out with Carlisle AT489 All-Season Bias Tires (view on Amazon) if you need to replace stock rubber.

Front dual hydraulic disc brakes and sealed, oil-bathed multi-disc rear brakes provide the wheeler stopping power.

Suspension

Enclosed in the Suzuki King Quad 700’s steel frame (with a caster angle of 1.6° and 3.4-mm trail) are independent double-wishbone suspensions with five-way adjustable preload shocks that allow 7.1 inches (180 mm) wheel travel for the front and 7.9 inches (200 mm) travel at the back.

The vehicle comes with a rear torsion bar and 10.2 inches (259 mm) of ground clearance that enhances bump absorption and handling over diverse terrain.

Dimensions

The overall dimensions of a Suzuki King Quad 700 are 83.3 x 47.6 x 48 inches (2,115 x 1,210 x 1,220 mm – L x W x H) for models released in the U.S. and Canada and 84.1 x 49.2 x 48 inches (2,135 x 1,250 x 1,220 mm – L x W x H) for those released in Sweden, Australia, and the rest of the world.

The seat height is 33.9 inches (860 mm), while its wheelbase is 50.4 inches (1,280 mm).

The vehicle’s dry weight is 601 lbs (273 Kg) for U.S./Canada releases and a slightly heavier 606 lbs (275 Kg) for those released in other countries.

Exterior

The KingQuad has a steel frame and plastic body material in yellow, black, green, red, and camouflage. It comes standard with a radiator guard, front and rear fenders/flares, handlebars, bash plate, and a full-chassis skid plate (view on Amazon).

Digital instrumentation includes a clock, speedometer, trip odometer, hour meter, temperature, and fuel level warning indicators.

You can secure aftermarket Suzuki King Quad 700 parts from auto parts dealers and online resellers – in the event of part wear or damage.

Lighting

Two 30-watt Halogen headlights, 40-watt auxiliary light, 21-watt brake lights, and 5-watt taillights provide the KingQuad superior light distribution.

All trims have LED differential-lock and light indicators. Only models released in Sweden have a 21-watt backup light and a LED high-beam light indicator.

For better visibility when riding off-pavement, replace backup lights with Nilight 60W LED Work Lights (view on Amazon).

Suzuki KingQuad 700 Price

Auction listings range between $1,418 and $4,000, depending on the vehicle’s year, condition, and whether or not it was kept stock or has been modded. A camouflage trim would naturally be the most expensive but is a rarity in online trading sites.

Most resale units are 2006 Arctic Cat Prowler 650s – although some trader sites do not indicate the model year of the pre-loved Prowler being sold. These secondhand four-wheelers are typically base models. But some rare finds come with, say, an extra set of winter tires.

For those of you wondering about the list prices, I have consolidated them in the table below:

Year – Trim – Model # (E-17 Sweden, E-24 Australia, E-28 Canada, E-33 U.S.A)	List Price	Retail/Trade-In Values
2005 Suzuki King Quad 700 – LT-A700XK5 (E-17/24/28/33)	$7,199	$1,640 – $3,750
2006 Suzuki King Quad 700 – LT-A700XK6	$7,299	$1,925 – $4,000
2007 Suzuki King Quad 700 – LT-A700XK7	$7,499	$2,045 – $4,130
2006 Suzuki King Quad 700, Camouflage – LT-A700XCK6	$7,599	$1,985 – $2,610
2007 Suzuki King Quad 700, Camouflage – LT-A700XCK7	$7,799	$2,125 – $2,795

Suzuki King Quad Common Problems

While the KingQuad is a revered off-road vehicle, it is far from perfect. Here are some of the best-known issues that owners and riders encountered with the quad, together with practical tips on how to fix them:

Flawed Parts

While owners agree that the Suzuki KingQuad 700 is a bulletproof four-wheeler, there are a few minor things that they wish to change about the quad.

One of them is that the vehicle had no grease nipples on the A-arm bushings, which meant the bushings needed replacing annually. The air filter easily got wet, collapsing eventually.

Additionally, the rubber motor mounts compressed and were a tad difficult to change, requiring a handful of plastic push pins to keep it together. 

The steering feels funny, even with the 750-class ’09 King Quads already upgraded with power steering. It is quite a shame as this defect tends to overshadow the superb turning radius of the vehicle.

Lastly, the 4×4 draws out on the battery quite fast due to a faulty wire in the harness. Nothing that cannot be handled by a trickle charger, really.

However, this could happen more frequently for those who ride their quads between long periods of non-use and storage and could prove troublesome when experienced while on the road.

Hard Starting

If you have difficulty starting your vehicle, never jump straight to tinkering with the throttle body because that will not rectify the problem.

The most you should do is ensure that no debris builds up around the throttle body area. Instead, inspect if there is carbon buildup on the valves inside the cylinder head.

Plugged valves for King Quads lead to low compression and problems with starting the engine. Apart from fixing the problem, a tip from the experts is to always go for an NGK CR6E over a DENSO U20ESR-N spark plug, as the former burns a little bit hotter.

This way, you can also guarantee that you burn all the fuel sitting in the cylinder, reducing the buildup that can cause a startup issue.

Weak Exterior

The KingQuad has a full-length skid plate made of plastic and is prone to tear under extreme rock crawling and rough terrain. The front bumper does not have a proper tab where you can mount a recovery winch, resulting in severe wear at the front.

To remedy this, you will need to have an aftermarket winch mount to bring the winch roller to the front. Otherwise, the front bumper will be thoroughly scratched. Although a minor issue, these can be a cause for concern for some riders who expect more from the four-wheeler.

Regulator/Rectifier Issues

Owners usually confuse this dilemma with an ECM problem and are almost always immediately persuaded to buy a new ECM and battery by the local dealers. For low voltage, however, the true culprit is often your quad’s regulator/rectifier.

Quite common across all KingQuad displacements, these need to be checked regularly. Otherwise, your 4×4 will not have enough power to work.

It would also be helpful to have a trickle charger plugged into your battery when not in use so that you can easily rule out whether your battery or something else is causing the problem.

But the best way to ascertain if it is really your rectifier that is causing all the trouble is by doing a test on the rectifier to see if the voltage release is according to spec.

Other Hiccups

Known Yamaha issues were mixed up with the KingQuad, such as stators burning if left to idle (blamed on the oil galleries used to cool the stators being too few) and boiling gas in the tank.

Subsequently, a kit was issued for owners to move the hot exhaust away from the tank area. It has taken the Yamaha a while, permanently addressing these issues in 2009, alongside the launch of the new-and-improved Suzuki King Quad 750 – reason for most consumers to get confused.

About Suzuki

Suzuki Motor Corporation is a well-renowned Japanese corporation and is the maker of the Suzuki King Quad 700. Founded in 1909 in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company traces its humble beginnings to weaving loom before venturing into the automotive industry.

Fast-forward to today, Suzuki has grown into one of the most successful automakers by production worldwide, with over 133 distributors in 192 countries. Its wide array of product offerings range from automobiles, motorcycles, 4WD vehicles, outboard marine engines, and wheelchairs to internal combustion engines.

Conclusion – Suzuki King Quad 700 Review

With front locking differentials, selectable 2WD and 4WD modes, and a robust, adventure-oriented design, everyone can agree that the Suzuki King Quad 700 was, indeed, king of four-wheelers back in the day.

It was among the first few vehicles to sport tech-advanced features not yet made standard in other ATVs in the market. The King Quad 700’s aim went beyond the confines of being best in class in suspension, engine braking, or fuel systems.

Its ultimate goal was (and still is) striking a balance among these elements and translating it into a highly capable quad that serves its owner’s intended purpose.