I been patiently waiting for the new Rincon but am dissapointed to find out that it has drum brakes on the front. Is this a big deal or not? I understand that Honda has better than average drum brakes. Is that true or not? I understand the basic physical differences between disc brakes and drum brakes but I don't really know the advantages or disadvantages of either. Any knowlege that coud be shared would be appreciated!

 

Drum brakes? Thats the least of your worries! Have you seen the MSRP of those things? (Not to mention, no low range, no locking diff, etc) For the money you should really consider the Grizz 660. It has the IRS like the Rincon (P650 has a solid rear axle) as well as a two range tranny that doesn't eat belts, and a locking diff. Just to be clear I'm not bashing anything, I just feel that for the money the Yamaha has the best features/pricing around. Mine has 470 mi and no major problems! I think Yamaha built a winner with this bike! (BTW, I'm actaully management at a Honda dealership, so I'm not predjudiced!)
Hope this helps.

 

I have had some problems with my Prairie. The dealer fixed the belt in 20 minutes. I solved all other problems at home. It works great now! It is a blast to ride. I prefer the solid rear axle for several reasons. It has less moving parts. The wet disc brake is sealed in it. It is more stable on sidewayse inclines. It slides through corners like a champ. If you want to change spring, you only have to buy one. It is, IMO, the best bike money can buy! The only thing worth waiting for MIGHT be the Suzuki 650!

 

OK thats it! Prarie 650 Advantage Camo here I come!!

 

I had a 2002 Rubicon with drum brakes and hated it. Everybody talks about them being triple sealed but they still sucked after riding in water. Get the Prairie, I love their sealed rear brake it works perfect, their front brakes are the best I've seen yet. The solid axle is much better for agressive trail riding. Whatever you get be safe and have a great trip!

 

<< Mine has 470 mi and no major problems! I >>



i hope not!!! 11 grand (cdn), if i had problems i'd shoot someone!!

 

Ok 2fatformoto, how many miles do you have on the p650? Many of my rides are between 80-100 miles. I am wondering how uncomfortable the ride would be with the solid rear axle. I like what I hear and read about the Kawasaki and am leaning towards that machine, I just don't want to be disapointed with the ride. I am getting rid of a polaris sportsman 500, I don't want to start a polaris discussion but the reason I am getting rid of it is because it is heavy, the steering is very heavy and cumbersome, I do however appreciate how it soaks up the bumps with the IRS, the solid axle on the kawasaki is one of the things that attracts me to it but concerns me at the same time. I just have never ridden one so maybe I am making a big deal out of nothing.

I appreciate all the input, it will help with my decision. RyGuy660, I have given the new Grizzly serious consideration, It is a very comfortable machine to sit on, I am confident that it rides like a cadillac, maybe in my later years when (if) I become a more conservative rider that will be more appropriate. I say that now, if I buy the Kawasaki and feel like I have been beat half to death after a 100 mile ride I will have to eat my words! Does the Grizz feel a little top heavy? Have you had any problems with it overheating? Does it sputter or stall when you splash through some water? Do you feel the lcd display is positioned ok? It seems that it would be easier to read if it were on the handlebars. I also read that the tranny is not as smooth as the Kawasaki. How do you ride, what kind of terrain? Since you are a grizzly owner I would appreciate some more input from you.

DennisC, I am confident the P650 is the best &quot;aggressive trail riding sport utility&quot; and a percentage of my riding is fairly aggressive, however on longer rides I also like to slow down enjoy the scenery and ride in comfort. What is your opinion of the p650 for that portion of my riding. Thanks

Rincon, you have 470 miles on your new Rincon, I live in the west the dealers here don't even have them yet! You say you havn't had any major problems? What problems have you had so far? What does that new transmission feel like? Is it like a car auto, can you feel it automatically shift from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to second? What other machines did you consider and what swayed you to buy the Honda?

Thanks again for everybody's input, I want this $7,000+ purchase (before accessories &amp; sales tax!) to be an educated purchase.

 

DustyRusty, I don't know where this misconception came from but I have heard more than one person say the ride of the P650 isn't so good. I have to believe these people have never ridden one. Mine rides like a dream, and everyone that I ride with will tell you the same, and they have everything from Hondas to Yamahas. After saying this, from reading your post, I don't believe you will be totally satifised unless you get first hand exposure to all the quads you are interested in. You sound a little like me when I bought mine, I wanted to make the right decision. Hopefully the dealers in your area are as willing to let you try them as they are around here. Anyway, you almost can't go wrong. Good luck!

 

I'll do my best to answer your questions: To me the bike does not seem top heavy, but then again I really cant compare it to anyhing but a traxter, a big bear, and a rubicon. The ride is great with the grizz, and although not as effectively as a solid rear axle, you can still power slide it with a blip of the throttle. I have never experienced any problem with water, (and I understand the solution to the problem if you have it is .20 cents worth of dielectric grease in the spark plug boot). The digital display is by far the best on the market and the positioning seems fine. The tranny shifter is tricky to use for about the first two rides. It is &quot;gated&quot; with positive stops at each gear. With a little practice, it shifts pretty slick. I personally like the solid feel when its put into gear. And speaking of trannys, the ultramatic is a great set up. unlike anyone elses, the belt is never loose. It remains under constant tension so there is far less wear. (as a matter of fact, I don't recall ever hearing of one needing to be replaced) And finally, I ride everything. Rocks, mud, logging roads, beach, hills, technical and open trails. The only place I would prefer the solid rear axle is when I ride the hard pack at breakneck speeds with some of the sport machine riders I know. (although, it probably still wouldnt let me catch up......these guys are crazy!!)

All in all, (and you'll probably hear this oh....... about a thousand times) you cant go wrong with either machine. It really depends on what you are doing with it and how important stuff like ground clearence and comfort are to you. I love my grizz and wouldn't trade it for any machine on the market. But hey.....Thats just me[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

The best drum breaks suck hind tit, compared to disc breaks. I have a '95 Kawasaki Bayou 300 4x4, with disc brakes up front and USE to have drum in rear. I have never replaced the pads even on the front and use to do alot of mud and sand bottom creek riding. This is one reason I like the Arctic Cats. Since they released their first model in '97 (I think) they had disc brakes front and rear. One of the first, if not the first, utility bike to do so. If you are considering a 500 class machine (Rincon), You might want to look at the '03 AC 500 very capable, improved HO motor for '03, reliable, very good ride and ground clearance. Ride the ones you're interested in and buy what you like, good luck.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]