Hello all. First let me say that I have spent 3 months looking at ATV's and I have decided on an Arctic Cat. THe problem is I cannot decide between the 700EFI or save the extra $600 and get the 650 H1 LE version quad!! It is going to be used in central Wisconsin and kept in an unheated garage. It would get run more than once every 2-3 weeks in the winter time and my biggest concern is the cold starting with the 650H1 motor. I have talked with the dealership and he said the 700EFI is the way to go but I wanted to know your opinions here!
So here it is.....
Get the 07 700EFI quad or get the 07 650 H1 Le version???
Mainly used for working on our land and planting food plots and weekend trail riding! Let me know!
Patrick

 

Either one will do ok. I personally would choose the H1. I don't think the 700 is worth the extra $600. I don't think cold starting will be any issue. I live in Maine and it gets pretty cold here too. My 400 with carb has always started no matter what the temp.
I prefer a carb because I can work on it if need be but I can't with EFI. If dirt or some other cause messes up the running it is a lot cheaper to take the carb off and clean it than to have some tech mess with the EFI and cost big bucks. If you read the forums you will find that dirt is a problem with all machines and a good cleaning is the cure.

 

Here is my $.02.

I bought a '06 650 h1 LE. Love it. I live in central MN. It gets cold here as well.

About the only thing I dislike about my H1 is cold starting. It starts - no problem but you have to hit the primer to get it to start.

I have found this to be the case in the summer as well. If it sits around for a couple of weeks it will not start is it is not primed.

This might not sound like a big deal but the primer is located down on the carb and is a pain in the #$@ to get at. Again, now that I have it figured out it is no big deal but if you are like me you go on hunting / fishing trips with your buddies and from time to time they want to jump on your bike and go and you are not there to show them where this primer is. I would look at it's location - maybe re-engineered on the '07?

I was planning on a trip to MT elk hunting this fall. We did not get drawn so we are going next year. I was thinking about messing with the jets for the higher altitude. Also something you would not have to do with the 700....

I love my H1 but wish I would have went 700.


By the way - for you regulars - I have been monitoring the board on and off as time allows - where did Bear go? He always had the most interesting and amusing posts.

 

I don't wanna **** any 700 owners off, but a buddy of mine is a mechanic with local dealership. He said 700's are coming back in left and right, sometimes as little as 100 km's, blown diff's. I'd go with the 650.