I was so close to buying the 650 until I heard about the limp mode problems. Very dissapointing. I guess a prairie might have to do [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I havn't had a single problem with mine, and I'm over 100 miles now. Don't read too much into an internet forum. This is where people having problems go for help. Prairies have problems too, as does every make. An internet forum is not a place to get an accurate picture of quality or reliability. It can give you an idea of a type of problem more than the extent of it. From what I have read, AC has a fix for this problem.

I've ridden with several other AC 650's and none have had any problems whatsoever. They don't post here. Go figure.

 

there is a fix out for the limp mode problems so I would assume that dealers are installing this part on any new machines they sell, but i wuld make sure that it is installed before taking delivery. dont get me wrond praries are great machines, but personally i would rather have the irs of the cat, and i here only good things about the cat, besides the limp mode

 

Dear RenegadeRider,

I have almost three hundred miles on my Artic Cat 650 and I have had absolutely no problems with my ATV. I agree with one of the other responders to your question, all manufacturers have problems. Artic Cat has apparently done something a little different than Kawasaki and is now having problems with it. Don't worry, they will figure it out and it will be covered under warranty. Artic Cat is very good about that.

(PS - One of my friends had a Kawasaki 650 and he had nothing but problems with it. He sold it and bought another Kawasaki 650 and it ran fine. However, he now owns an Artic Cat 650 because of the larger tank, the 13 inches of ground clearance, the independant suspention and the more comfortable seat. Before you buy, be sure you take the time to try out all the ATV's you are considering. )

Cat650

 

I have to give Cat some props, they come out with the new 650 and the only problem seems to be this "Limp Mode" thing, which they have a fix for now too! If I have $$$ I would grab one right up!

 

I have a 650 with 400 miles on it. I have no complaints/problems. They have made a nice machine.

 

If a person is willing to live w/o the belt warning switch, you could cut the switch finger off with a hacksaw. The finger sticks down inside the clutch/belt cover and sometimes gets tripped by a slightly loose belt or maybe even from vibration.

 

Just by reading this Forum, allot of the 650 Cat owners are not having any limp-mode problems. By doing more research on some of the other Cat forums & by others jumping in from Kawie '03 650 owners the concenus is this: most of the electrical limp-mode problems are due to poor or loose wire connections, as some Prairie '03 650 owners have had this problem too. Dealer set-up plays a big part here too, as your Dealer is suppose to check everything over before you take delivery of your 4wheeler, that is why we all pay for the Dealer set-up. Take the time to recheck your wire connections & a good place to start would be at your battery. Continue to recheck your wire connections/plugs & grounds. If you still have a limp-mode failure & if you have the AC part # 0486-161, you can be back running down the trail in a short 10 minutes, as that is all it takes to reset the limp-mode if it was caused by electrical means.
Kawasakis Prairies (650 & 700's) are not bullit proof either, as many of us(including me) had problems with the 4x4 Actuator and or the Brake Actuator tripping the P650/700s out of 4 wheel drive. To this day, the main reason that happens is the fuses get dirt in them & causes some electrical problems with the Actuators failing. At least on the Cat 650, the fuse block is well protected from heat, dust/water.

 

Keep in mind only those that have a problem are going to post and complain. And that could be 1% of the machines.

I've never had a problem with my 650 (other than a loose belt from the factory, and a sticking thermostat).

 

Well it's a little late now, as you can tell by my signature I'm now the proud owner of a Prairie 700 (or kvf 700, that's what they call it up here eh!) Got the girlfriend a machine to [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]