I just sold my Arctic Cat 500 auto. I swore I'd never bother with auto's again. I've had Polaris, Yamaha and AC. All have had problems keeping belts dry and free of mud. Tha Honda Rubicon rides too choppy for me.....so I was intent on buying a manual AC500i. But the dang Kawi 650 has really interested me. How is the tranny snorkled. Would it be easily modified to a higher location. How many vents does it have. My AC had two vents and an intake, all let water in. Water is not the problem. I always manage to get some mud in my clutch, usually 40 miles from the truck, either I have to tear everything down on the trail or drive 15 mph all the way back to the truck. Any comments from experienced mud/water riders would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Mike

 

The air vents are right near the airbox, and the gearbox vents run to the inside of the handlebar cover.

I could say it would be very easy to combine the air inlets for the engine and trans into one pipe, and combine the others into a second pipe.

You could probably get both of them to emerge in front of the handlebars, but it would be a little easier to make one come up through the air cleaner hump (where the gas tank is on other quads), and the other in front of the handlebars. Come to think of it, I bet both could easily come up in front of the handlebars. Going to the rear is probably out of the question.

Other people have snorkeled the 650. It is not hard at all. One other thing, you just need to seal the belt failure sensor switch if you plan too stay under water very long (that's no big deal either).

 

What is the "belt failure sensor switch' Thanks for the info. I looking hard at buying a Prairie 650...as long as I can ensure keeping my clutch clean.

 

The switch just gets flipped if the belt is too loose or frays. After it trips, you get warning lights and you are speed limited. It is a safety feature.
It is a little teeny box on top of the belt housing. I am going to clean around mine with goof off, then use goop to seal it.