Honda 300 4x4 vs. Kawasaki Bayou 300 4x4
#1
01-03-2000, 07:59 AM
Join Date: Dec 1999
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#2
01-03-2000, 10:23 AM
#3
01-03-2000, 03:31 PM
Regarding top speed, I have seen as much as 45 MPH claimed for the 300 Bayou 4x4, but I think that is mere wishful thinking (at least for the pre-2000 models) rather than actual measurement. By actual measurement, i.e. clocking the vehicle with a stop watch over a known fixed distance, my 300 Bayou is capable of a 40 MPH top speed, though it takes a while to get there. But here in the rolling hills of Western PA on the tightly wooded trails we normally ride, top speed is nearly irrelevant when 20 MPH on a narrow winding wooded trail is frighteningly fast and something that one does only at great risk to one’s physical well-being.
When I first got my ’91 Bayou 300 in July ’98 it was still shod with the OEM KT962A Dunlop 24x8x11 (front) and 24x10x11 (rear) tires, which were nearly worn out. I let my daughter ride it on those tires for about 8 months. Then just before we went to AHPA Poker Run in Cochranton, PA during April ’99, I replaced the worn out Dunlops with a set of Goodyear Mudrunners in size 25x8x11 and 25x10x11. Here is the interesting part. Even though the Mudrunners are heavier tires than the Dunlops, and nominally 1-inch taller, the measured top speed of my Bayou 300 did not change, it was still 40 MPH.
A brief note to any Bayou 300 owners considering adding a speedometer: Do not use the model made specifically for the 300. It does not have a resetable trip odometer and it mounts to the front cargo rack, where it is difficult to read and where it can get the stuffing knocked out of it. Instead buy the model made for the Bayou 400. It only costs $50 more, it does have a resetable trip odometer, and it mounts in the center of the handlebars, where it is protected and easy to read. Most importantly both the model designed for the 300 and that designed for the 400 use the exact same drive gear. And since the 300 and 400 use the same rear differential and the same size tires, the 400 model speedometer will read accurately when mounted on the 300. The 400 model speedometer does have a small water temperature light in the six o’clock position, but it is unobtrusive, easily ignored, and a small price to pay for the resetable trip odometer.
Army Man
When I first got my ’91 Bayou 300 in July ’98 it was still shod with the OEM KT962A Dunlop 24x8x11 (front) and 24x10x11 (rear) tires, which were nearly worn out. I let my daughter ride it on those tires for about 8 months. Then just before we went to AHPA Poker Run in Cochranton, PA during April ’99, I replaced the worn out Dunlops with a set of Goodyear Mudrunners in size 25x8x11 and 25x10x11. Here is the interesting part. Even though the Mudrunners are heavier tires than the Dunlops, and nominally 1-inch taller, the measured top speed of my Bayou 300 did not change, it was still 40 MPH.
A brief note to any Bayou 300 owners considering adding a speedometer: Do not use the model made specifically for the 300. It does not have a resetable trip odometer and it mounts to the front cargo rack, where it is difficult to read and where it can get the stuffing knocked out of it. Instead buy the model made for the Bayou 400. It only costs $50 more, it does have a resetable trip odometer, and it mounts in the center of the handlebars, where it is protected and easy to read. Most importantly both the model designed for the 300 and that designed for the 400 use the exact same drive gear. And since the 300 and 400 use the same rear differential and the same size tires, the 400 model speedometer will read accurately when mounted on the 300. The 400 model speedometer does have a small water temperature light in the six o’clock position, but it is unobtrusive, easily ignored, and a small price to pay for the resetable trip odometer.
Army Man
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01-03-2000, 03:43 PM
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#5
01-04-2000, 09:03 AM
On Sunday 3-14-99 there was an ad in the local paper from a local bike shop stating that they were giving away free admission tickets to the Cochranton poker run to the first 50 people to test drive a Kawasaki Prairie. I took Monday 3-15-99 as a vacation day, and my daughter Julia was off from school because of the parent teacher conferences taking place, so we were at Bob Tracey’s World of Cycles when they opened at 10:00 AM that morning.
I started off on the Prairie 400 4x4 and Julia started off on the Prairie 300 4x4. We rode for about two miles along the railroad tracks by the Ohio River, then we swapped quads and rode back. The railroad right-of-way access road we rode on was mostly the same loose gravel used for the rail bed interspersed with some hard packed dirt. I was able to get the 400 up to an indicated 50 MPH, but it took a long way in which to do it. I was able to get the 300 up to an indicated 44 MPH, but again it took a long way in which to do it.
The Prairie 300 would reach 35 MPH quickly and the Prairie 400 would reach 45 MPH quickly, but wringing the last few MPH of top speed out of either one took considerable time and distance. This performance mimics that of my ’96 Bayou 400 4x4 and my ’91 Bayou 300 4x4. My Bayou 400 will reach 40 MPH quickly and top out at 47 MPH. My Bayou 300 will reach 35 MPH quickly and top out at 40 MPH.
Army Man
I started off on the Prairie 400 4x4 and Julia started off on the Prairie 300 4x4. We rode for about two miles along the railroad tracks by the Ohio River, then we swapped quads and rode back. The railroad right-of-way access road we rode on was mostly the same loose gravel used for the rail bed interspersed with some hard packed dirt. I was able to get the 400 up to an indicated 50 MPH, but it took a long way in which to do it. I was able to get the 300 up to an indicated 44 MPH, but again it took a long way in which to do it.
The Prairie 300 would reach 35 MPH quickly and the Prairie 400 would reach 45 MPH quickly, but wringing the last few MPH of top speed out of either one took considerable time and distance. This performance mimics that of my ’96 Bayou 400 4x4 and my ’91 Bayou 300 4x4. My Bayou 400 will reach 40 MPH quickly and top out at 47 MPH. My Bayou 300 will reach 35 MPH quickly and top out at 40 MPH.
Army Man
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