This will be my first ATV. I'm looking at a '05 650 Auto 4x4 LE, or possibly the 500. I've heard many say that they are underpowered. How much underpowered are they really? I'm 240lbs. and will be using it for trails and on the farm. I will not be jumping, mudding or doing much fast riding.
1. Will the 650 do what I want, enough power, etc.?
2. Is there an EFI model out?
3. If riding it in the CO mountains will I need to rejet?
4. Is $7000 a good price for the 650?

Thanks.

 

yes
no
mabe or yes it depends how far up you go
yes if it is out the door but expedt to pay more and dont for get the wench
what about a used 650 say $5200.2004 green.were do you live ? lets talk ,it could be just what your looking for.

 

If someone told you a 500 is underpowered, he was either drunk, on drugs, eating funny mushrooms or a stupid speed freak. You can do everything a 650 will do with a 500 except go as fast, even a 400 will do that too. This is a utility quad and 70 mph on 5psi tires isn't the brightest thing for a newbee to be doing, or even a more experienced rider either. You will screw up our safety statistics. You want to go fast get a motorcycle, they don't run 5 psi tires, so are safer at high speed.

 

Thanks guys. I'm having second thoughts about the AC 650 because I'm reading about issues with the belt system? Does anyone have experience with the 650 and the auto? Are there problems or is this just one persons opinion! I'm looking at Honda's this week to compare but I really like the solid appearance of the AC. $6,904 is the price out the door for the AC 650 (no tax). But, I've seen a dealer online that sells the Honda 650 Foreman GPScape for $6,700. Which is better? Why?

 

Kurtoncol - the grumbly old bear is right on the money! I am 6'4" tall and weigh 286. I own a 2003 AC400i. It's PLENTY of machine! It goes anywhere, has ground clearance until tommorrow, rides like a Cadillac, (very comfortable) and runs like a tank. You need to ask yourself: "Self, how fast to I REALLY need to go???" I can hit 50 with no problem, (throttle is still limited per break-in) and in my opinion, that's fast enough, if not too fast. Sailing into the trees at 50mph will hurt really bad. When I need speed, I hop on my '86' ZX900A2 and hit the twisties. By the way, as for underpowered, I hauled a Rincon 650 out of a mud bog yesterday with nothing but a tow-strap. I had been waiting for the opportunity and it finally came! So put your mind at ease and try not to bite off more than you can chew, (or need to). If you absolutely must have uneeded power, go for a 500, but get out and give a 400 a spin. Your price point will be better on a 400, you'll have a blast on it and will save some dough for all those accessories you're going to need to buy - trust me.

Here's a link to my 400:

My AC400i

Runs like a top, keeps up with everything, better in the tight stuff, on and on and on........Good luck out there.

 

kertoncol

AC has 2 different 650's the V2, which is a kawasaki motor and tranny, and the H1 which is the new AC motor with the duramatic tranny. I think the H1 would be a better fit for you. From what I hear it is pretty much bullet proof, I sure hope so, mine is coming in Aug.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] If you go with the 500 get the 06, for it has the H1 exhaust and will have a little better performance.

 

I bought my 1st ATV this spring ( A/C 05 500 auto ) and I am very pleased with it. I weight around 270 pounds and the cat has plenty of power and a great ride. I paid $6318.00 out the door.

 

Well today I test drove the AC 500 Auto and the 650 Auto. The 500 has plenty of power but boy does that 650 really go. I can get the 500 Auto LE for $6475 and the 650 Auto LE for $6904, both prices are out the door. What do you guys think, is the 650 worth the extra $500?

Thanks for your help.

 

i have a freind with an 04 650 and any time he works it hard you can smell his belt.
im told that the 05s are set up better so it shouldent be an issue.
also i have a honda rubicon 500 and i live on a small farm.
and it works like a bull that thing in low gear will pull anything without braking a sweat.
if it cant pull it it will bury itself trying to pull it.
lots of torque and no belt to maintane.
a very good farm quad and a great trail quad.
i would get the honda for work and reliability
and its just as fast as the 500 cat.
i had a 03 500 manual cat and that thing had plenty of power for work on the farm and was a good trail quad also.
i liked the cat but i like the honda better.
and now for my kawi spiel.
i got a 700 prarie back in jan 05.
and i have bin useing it around here lately because im trying to sell my honda.
wife says i can only have one so i picked the kawi for it amazing power and handleing.
i find the belt takes a bit more work (ajustment every 100 hrs)
but i can overlook that because everything else is so good.
im very happy with my kawi and i like my honda just as much but the fun factor gos to the kawi 700
it has way more power and dosent seem to work as hard doing the same things the honda or my cat did.
look at the kawis also.
i would take the prarie over the brute force anyday.
sra vs irs.
the cat is a good quad but i think the honda is just as good and the kawi is better.
this is just what iv found from owning these three quads.
and this is just my opinion so all you cat people dont get upset cause i said the honda and kawi are better.
like i said this is just my opinion.

 

I first rode on my (step)father-in-laws 05 AC 400. It was a great machine - worked really good and got me hooked on ATV's. So much so that I decided to buy my own. He plans on using his mainly for hunting and a few rides here and there. I planned on using mine for snowplowing and MANY rides - a lot of my friends have bikes and the two main reasons I bought the 500 were :

1 - Liquid cooled
2 - Didn't want to wish in a year I wanted a bike with a little more power. I think the 650 would have been overkill for my first machine, so I stuck with the 500.

It has done everything I wanted it to do and more so far - I am very impressed with the bike - BUT like I said I was just as impressed with the 400. Both very nice comfortable machines, good clearance on both - but I must admit I also like the bigger gas tank.

Have fun deciding - just my 2 cents
Barnzilla