Took the first long ride last weekend at Hatfield/mccoy.So far so good.Question number one is......does everyone elses belt/gears whine VERY loud? I have asked this question before but got no responses.The yamahas I had before were very quiet.The other guys say they can hear it even when I am in front of them on the trail.....of course they hear it when I blow past them[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
Second is I swore I saw on here the belt trips the safety at 100 hours.....is that true?
Lastly is the 03 air cleaner worth the change? Is it a performance thing or better water protection? I seem to be lucky........I got 65 out of it heading into Matewan for lunch.Thats more than fast enough.I had some yahoo there insist on racing me on a manual shift Vinson.I admit for a 500 it ran good...............but not good enough[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] I really like the machine but I saw it getting blasted in the Honda forum bad.Those guys seem to be exactly like my brother in-law.He wants a Rincon............everyone there we talked to said the engine braking sucked but he wants it anyway...........just because it's a honda.Blind Faith is not a good thing.
02 camo

 

You made a good choice with the Prairie, The whine is normal, It is actually the gears, they are squared off like in a race car, Help with durability from all that torque. This will gradually become more subtle and almost go away, dont worry they all do it, even at the dealer. I cant help you on the belt safety trip, mine is an 02. As for the air filter, the 2003 flows 30% more air and some people are in the process of upgrading to your style airbox at a higher cost than a K&N so if your happy with the power now I would keep yours, also keep you from having to get into the jetting. Let him get his rincon (Its always fun to smoke your brother inlaw [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I do it all the time with the inlaws Polaris.

 

My O2 did not trip any belt switches yet ???? I am thinking that might be an 03 thing.
I have about 700 miles on mine so far .... I have not even had the cover off of the belt yet.

The HMF exhaust system is loud enough .... that I can't hear the tranny whine !!!

 

Yes, mine the whine is loud on mine as well. I was hoping to hear that V-Twin instead[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] I hope it goes away like others have said.

 

mine whined for about the first 100 miles or so. now the noise is so slight that i can barely here it at all. i am too busy holding on to the handlebars to here it anyway. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Thanks for the replys.Nyroc if you happen to read this do you know anything about the belt safety tripping at 100 hours? Mine is an 02.
02 camo

 

I believe the 03's have the 100 hour belt indicator light and not the '02s, but it is on nyroc's site. He probably put it there so ppl could read it and not ask him questions [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] As for the belt whine, it's normal within reason, but hard to tell without hearing it. Mine makes much less noise since I had it adjusted and the black spring installed. On the contrary, my buddy's v-force 700 belt whines much louder than mine, I can always hear it when we're riding together. Most of all, congrats on making the best choice, you'll love your prairie!

 

I did look on his sight but did not see anything about the belt deal at 100 hours.If it's there I have overlooked it.
02 Camo

 

The 100hr. belt trip is only in the 03s which I think should be done away with on the 04s because if you are out on a ride and you hit that 100hr mark and the motor wont run right that would suck...............

 

Kodiac1, noise you are hearing and it sounds like a whine...is the squared off gears. I was alittle surprised when I first heard that but after going on the Kawasaki Forum and asking questions like you are doing...I got the answers I needed....this is a great site for getting help from fellow riders.