I'm seriously considering buying a 4X4 quad for trail riding since I only ride my DS650 on the sand. What do you guys think? I know the Prairie is less expensive, but Yamaha has some very attractive financing available right now. And what should I be paying for a Grizzly out the door? Thanks![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I've always liked Yamaha products. I have a 2000 Kodiak. I know of three people that have new Grizzlies. All three of them have buyers regrets. All three have been plagued with problems from day one. One of the Grizzlies is in the shop right now, for the third time. Everything that could go wrong with this particular quad has, and the owner is fed up. Once it gets out of the shop, he is selling it, and going back to Polaris (he has always had good luck with that brand).

I was going to purchas a new Grizz, but decided to wait, and see if the new model had any first year problems. It did, and I didn't.

I have another buddy with the 650 Praire, and is really satisfied with it.

I am considering trading the Kodiak in, and I will be looking into the Suzuki Vinson, and the Praire 650.

 

I have a 2003 Grizzly. I have been told most of the problems have been resolved with the 2003. 2002 was the first year for the "new" Grizz and it had problems as many first year models have. Many 2002 Grizz owners have had no problems though. I love my Grizz. I havent heard the poblems with the 2003 that have "plagued" the 2002. It is one awesome machine.

 

I had an 02 grizzly and only had one problem. The solinoid (sp) that engages the 4wd was stuck so it kept the rev limiter into thinking it was in 4wd. Warranty covered it. One thing is that I babied it like I do with all my toys [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I had an 02 Grizz and finally got rid of it( piece of crap)
I know have a 03p650 which so far has been great.

 

I've only had my Grizzly for about one month, but so far so good. I bought a Prairie when they first came out and had a few problems with it, so I got it fixed and dumped it. The Prairie does have some good points, speed and handling. However the Grizzly isn't that much slower and rides better over rough stuff and I think looks alot better and has a better belt system in my opinion. It basically comes down to ride them both and decide which one feels better to you. They feel alot different just sitting on them, the Prairie feels like your sitting IN it and the Grizzly feels like your sitting ON it, that's how it felt to me anyway.

 

I got a Grizzly like 3-4 weeks after they came out. No problems with it at all. I seriously doubt I would have had any problems if I had got a Prairie instead. Both are good. Some folks just tear em up quicker, and some quads just have isolated problems. I haven't seen enough go wrong on either quad to make me take one over the other because of reliability concerns.

Griz is more trail oriented and Prairie is more sport oriented (if that makes any sense). Both are awesome.

 

You most likely wouldn't go wrong with either quad. If you like riding roads and don't need ground clearance, then save yourself some money; the solid axle Prairie will impress you. If, on the other hand, you want to play in the off camber arena, mud, or need suspension articulation, the IRS equipped Grizz is the quad for you.

I have an 02, and it's been an amazing quad.

SilverBear

 

Well...I did it![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Today I bought a new 2003 Kawasaki Prairie 650. I'll pick it up tomorrow afternoon. I think the Grizzly is probably a fine machine, but the Prairie is the right 4X4 quad for me. Thanks for all the constructive input guys! You provided some valuable information.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Sorb~

Congrats! Enjoy that new crotch rocket, and be sure to post some ride reports. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

SilverBear