well I havent had problems yet...from 1985 on an orginal motor...I will admit the frame cracked..and so did the engine..but that was like..the first year of its life...the owner jumped it too hard..cracked the frame...and the engine....but it was under warrenty so they re-welded the frame at the factory....and I just now replaced the orginal tires, chain, sprockets, filters. while my friends polaris 500, from 2000 I think....went threw 3 belts, 4wd no longer works, leaks anti-freeze, and some electrical parts are fried on it. he babys that quad, and still breaks down...maby 1999-2000 was the bad news year...lol...

 

I have never ridden with a pullarse but I have heard a lot of those same "horror stories".

 

Taking both machines through a creek proved they were equal deep-water machines. We didn't have trouble with either machine in the fast-moving current, despite the water being over the front racks at times. However, when it came to soupy thick mud, the AC was the clear winner. We repetitively rode through this nasty mudhole which divinely revealed that even with the Prairie's greater power, it was the individual ATVs geometry that showed who would win. With the Arctic Cat's 26-inch Carlisle radial tires and all of that ground clearance, the Prairie simply couldn't keep up. It would either get hung up on a rock or was simply pushing too much mud with its lower framed chassis. The AC 650 could be the most prolific mud machine out there.

 

By now you've seen the cover and already know that the Arctic Cat 650 was our choice as 4x4 ATV of the Year. However, it was by no means an obvious and clear decision. The Prairie 700 enjoys high prestige (including previous ATV of the Year honors) and has trounced all the competition up to this point. Kawasaki has made many technological advances on the Prairie and is notable as making the first extensive use of a V-Twin engine and a sealed hydraulic multi-disc rear braking system. Both of these features are tops in the industry. Besides having a more powerful engine, better overall speed, better braking and better handling, it also climbed short steep inclines with a more secure feeling.

I just got done reading this......spent the day looking for a new wheeler........its going to be the A/C 650

 

It appears that our original misgivings about the AC's high ground clearance were well-founded. The Prairie was the better handler, faster and had a lower center-of-gravity, giving it better steep-terrain stability. So why did we pick the Arctic Cat? Well, it proved to be the better machine in the critical 4x4 categories. With 10-inches of suspension travel it's a very smooth riding machine as well. (Possibly the smoothest on the market.) It eats up nasty mudholes that would swallow other 4x4's and with its true all-wheel independent suspension it will simply go better where there is no trail at all by placing rubber on terra firma regardless of position. The Arctic Cat's capabilities are essentially vested in the 650 V-Twin powerful engine, tires, and great suspension. There are other amenities as well. The 13-inches of ground clearance shoves the AC 650 right into new territory. It's the best in the industry. We also liked the huge 6.5-gallon gas tank, the 2-inch receiver hitch, the handy storage compartment and the 26-inch Carlisle radial tires. Throw in the MRP rack system and we believe the new Cat is the most desirable ATV on the market. Congrats to Arctic Cat

 

Kawi650,

Where do you find these trips you go on your pictures are very cool?Do you use a tour guide or what?

 

Cavaselis: I just go and look around, sometimes I go with someone else that knows the area so I can get fimilar then come back and really expore everything else. As for NFLD I orginally took a guide tour because I really didn't know what to expect and I had a hard time convincing friends of mine to go to see if we could do it, (this was back in 1995ish, when not alot of people did it). I ran the Newfie trip about 10 times since, and each time we go we go somewhere's we haven't been before.

 

Cavaselis you have a PM from about a week ago did you get it?

 

Shouldn't you be doing homework or something? If I ever see you on the trails I'm going to take your nails and stick them in your tires. Then I'll take off my belt (the one that holds up my pants) and give you a red A$$ to go with that neck of yours!

 

Hi all, I have a 02 650 prairie which I bought new,it has 1800 miles on it.Most of them through the mud. This is a true mudder, I have always owned a Honda until this. The diff. lock is the reason. All 4 wheels pull hard all the way through. I have just bought a 03 rincon for my son. This quad is good for what it was made for TRAIL riding, it rides like a dream and the IRS is awesome. But like mentioned before this is comparing two different machines. About the belt on the prairie,if you didnt know it was there you cant tell the difference. I have not replaced mine yet and it has been through alot. Ihave this thing piped,jetted and a highlifter power module. It will simply take your breath and still no slippage from belt. I have a friend who is die hard Honda and it kills him when I am pushing him up hills. As far as reliability The prairie is holding up well. I have had the Honda a couple of months with no probs either. IMO go with the prairie, you wont be dissapointed.