I got a call two weeks ago from one of our local Bombardier dealers letting me know that the DS650 I wanted is finally in. When I first talked to the salesman back in December I was determined to have one by this summer. Now I'm having second thoughts. I expected to hear a lot of good feedback from the people lucky enough to get one right away. Instead, I have the impression that the DS650 is not all it was hyped up to be.

People were justifying the $7000 price by saying that you'd have to spend that much or more to hop-up a TRX400EX or Banshee to compete with the DS650. From what I've read in this forum it sounds like you need to spend close to $1000 just to get the DS650 in shape for riding. New tires, a new silencer, steering stabilizer- add all this stuff up with tax and shipping and you're close to $1000.

My question to anyone who actually owns a DS650- is it worth $8000?

 

my buddy just got his ds650,he likes it alot. i rode it, not as impressive as i thought it would be. its not that great out of the hole but it rides relly nice i had trouble judging how fast iwas really going untill it was time to make a fast stop. that thing friggin flys!!!!!!!!i thought i really would want to get one until i rode it . its heavy, to wide for in the woods. so i`ll just hang on to my 99 ex400 untill that new cannondale comes out. that thing will be a banshee eatting, ds650 shi##*ng screamer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

To tell u the truth from what i seen this weekend it looks like 8000 grand is worth it. I was at a local hair scramble and that ds650 never seemed to bogue down in the conors or on steep hill climbs and it was quick. it was up with the modified 400ex's and the shocks seemed to soak up all the weight even with a big guy riding it.

 

You might want to call a few dealers & check out the rumor we heard about the DS-650. Our last ATV meeting one of the members told us they were recalling the DS-650. Check it out!

A member of our ATV club has only used 1 1/2 tanks of gas & the rear end is completely shot. The dealer doesn't want to do the work under warrenty.

Do your research before you buy! This applies to any quad.

One final note: The DS-650 screams!

 

Looked at purchasing the DS today.....after dealer mop and glo (freight,prep,tax,docs)you are at $8000! So with the add ons you refer to we are now up to $9000.....still want one though.

 

TrailMix: What are you looking for in a sport ATV? What type of terrain will you be riding on most? Do you want to be able to do wheelies easily?

racerxdan: The low end is not there due to the stock exhaust. With any aftermarket exhaust, this issue will be resolved. Also, traction is best on hard pack dirt with the stock tires. Any loose surface, the rear tires spin like crazy do to the torque. You're right, tight woods riding at low speeds is not what the DS is best at.

snowshark: The issue with the rear end was a loose axel lock nut. There was an update from Bombardier about a month after the DS came out to check the rear end. Mine came loose on me, but I was lucky enough to notice it before I tore up the rear end. I am also having trouble motivating the dealers to fix things on my DS650 too. One of the problems is the lack of a service manual.

atvinstructor: You can work a better deal than that!!!!!!!! I did not pay over $7100 out the door with a helmet & DS650 cover.

 

ScoobyDFW I'm a little jealous of your deal, I didn't get a helmet or a cover and I paid $7000 out the door and I still owe taxes. Sorry to hear about the synthetic oil messup If the dealer put it in I think he should replace wwhatever is damaged. TrailMix, On the price and whether the Ds is all it's cracked up to be, it's a extreme machine and if your not a extreme rider (with a extreme savings account or credit cards with high limits!) then it's not for you. I've only had mine a few days and the steering is quick and the power and suspension is nothing short of impressive, the missing bottom end grunt is a little bit of a let down with this bike being a fourstroke but I have never been happy with a stock pipe and planned on buying one anyway, so I can live with it for a few weeks untill I can decide which pipe to go with. I personally love the Big Gun we put on our 400ex and they are going to be out in a week or two.

 

I am an atv dealer so that pretty much offers me the ability to ride whatever I want to ride. I have owned every performance atv available to the public since 1986 and I strongly believe that the DS 650 is the best atv currently available today. I agree with some of the things others have complained about. A steering dampner, tires, exhaust would all improve the DS 650. However what is an improvement is considered a necessity for virtually every other atv on the market today. The steering is very sensitive and goes exactly where you point it and most riders are not used to that type of responsiveness. I changed to Maxis Razer tires going to a real 22 inch tall front and was amazed at how this improved the steering. The big tires kind of slowed down the steering. I also ordered a RWR Stage 1 kit on Monday (3-13-00) and hope to get it in by the weekend. A friend just bought a DS from me yesterday so I'll have a bone stock one to compare it to this weekend if everything goes as planned.

Bottom line> At $7000 these things are not cheap but, a new 400EX + $2000 would still not give me the performance that my stock DS 650 gives me off the showroom floor!!!!

 

ScoobyDFW.....the dealers out here say you stole that thing! They came down to $7900 today. I am coming to Texas to purchase; compared to here it would be worth the trip. As an ATV Safety Instructor you would think they might treat me better?

 

atvinstructor: My deal was without sales tax. The helmet was not an expensive one. Charging for freight is ridiculous!