Greetings to all.

I have been reading the forums here for a couple of months and this is my first post.

I am interested in getting my first quad and I am considering a KFX700. I am in my early 40's and weigh 180.
Now I know this is not a beginner's bike, but it appeals to me because: It has an automatic transmission, it has shaft drive and it is sporty. I don't hunt and have no need of towing.

My thinking is I will buy "ALL" the protective gear and drive it very gently until I get more confidence. I plan to trail ride with it on logging roads and fire roads and not race or jump it. No mud either. If they made a smaller sport quad with an auto, I would buy that, but they don't seem to. I don't want a Polaris.

I would appreciate hearing from other Kawasaki owners if they feel their machines are reliable. I have no problem with normal maintenence, it is design problems that concern me. A KfX700 will cost me over $10,000 in Canada and I want to make sure it will last.

Your thoughts on reliability would be appreciated. Thanks[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Dave

 

As for Kawi's lasting I got 24000km out of a 98 KVF400. As for the 650 I got 15,000 km 760hours on mine but I had issues that others don't and won't have because I had a very first production line one we had to shake alot of bugs out. As for my km/hours are very high because I use mine so much, the average person puts about 1000km to 2000km a year so in my math that will be 8 years... a good starting point. The 700 is quite a bit of bike but I know some people that started on them and lov em just don't push your limits like the machine will try to. I like "My thinking is I will buy "ALL" the protective gear and drive it very gently until I get more confidence." I wish more and more people would take this approach. The size shouldn't scare you it's the operator that could. Kawi does their homework and run them through extensive tests before releasing them. Good luck

 

Hi.

I wanted to add that I am 6 feet tall and weigh 180. My weight doesn't mean much without the height. Also, I want to say sorry for mis-spelling Kawasaki in my subject line. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] It's my first post.

I appreciate your comments. Please keep them coming!

Thanks.

Dave

 

My friend has a 1984 bayou 300 2x4. It still runs like a top.
Just do your regular service, and don't torture the bike.

 

The V-Force is a great quad, vey easy to use and really gas and go lifesyle. If it is reliable in the long-run that has yet to be known.

 

My father in law has a old kawi 400 bayou i think it's a 1990 and it still runs like the day he bought it, probley even better... new exaust and a couple of mods but nothing major. Says there isn't anywhere he doesn't dare take it.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Oh yea he dosen't beat the pi$$ out of it either though.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I have a 97 Bayou 220. Bought it used (3rd owner) in 99. I've ridden the dog-crap out of it and there is no tellin what it went throuh before I got it. Has been very reliable (by that I mean it has never left me stranded - KNOCK ON WOOD). I do take excellent care of it though - maintenance wise - to the "T". No aftermarket except for a Cobra exhaust - which may be a bad thing cause the better it sounds the harder I hit the gas - I ride it like it should've been the V-Force or something but it's fun and tough and I'd recommend Kawasaki to anybody.

P.S. Kawasaki is known for making some of the best engines - known for easiest starting - just for the record I own 4 Kawasaki engines - Bayou 220, KDX 200, Jhon backpack blower with a Kawi engine, John Deere 757 (commercial mower) with a Kawi it it too. The Bayou and the bike start on the first kick or pull (if you wanna pull - start the Bayou). The blower starts on the first pull every time. The mowing machine starts up too (but it only has 80 hours on it). My point - they all run like a fresh - fu**ed monkey!!!

P.S. again - Something many folks don't realize is that bikes, quads, and jetskis are a very small part of what Kawasaki does. Kawasaki is a huge industrial product manufacturer of things like Bull dozers and high speed railway. I can't imagine a conpany which produces some of the heaviest duty machinery not applying those same principles to consumer products. None of the competition comes close in that aspect.

Just my thoughts - but to answer your question - get a Kawi!!

 

Pecker:
You are correct!
Kawasakis Industrial products is what gave us the wet rear brake on the 650 & 700 (360 too) & by far, the best rear brake on any 4wheeler yet.

 

Don't believe anything written above, they all just want another person to be broken down with on the trail. In fact a kawasaki killed my entire family in a fiery explosion, including me. I'm writing to you from the great beyond! whoooooooo


Seriously, no problems and a great machine.

 

Ohhhhhhh Spooooooky!