Just an observation, but everybody rags on the magazines WHEN THEY SAY WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR! But, I would say that lots of people bought the V based solely on initial good reviews in the magazines. Had to be, because nobody else out there had ever ridden one at the time! It just goes to show that the old saying is probably true, NEVER BUY THE FIRST YEAR OF ANY MODEL!! And, if you do, it is a crap shoot.

 

I have a feeling they got a bad one. I picked up our first one and it was awsome. Great throttle response great handling and so forth. Well when the next one came in i was a little let down as the throttle response was not that good. Its belt couldnt keep up with down shifting in the corners and it liked to free wheel all the time. It wouldnt slide and was wheelie happy. I went thru the first one check for differences in set up. First i tightened the belt as it was loose from the factory, that took care of the clutch problems. Adjusted the rear compression setting on the shock now its not wheely happy any more. Changed the air pressure to the same as it was in the other ones tires and adjusted the handle bars. Now they are both excellent handling bikes. It all comes down to set up. If they got a bad set up one like mine was i can see where they would gripe. I am sure when kawi let them do the first test theirs were set up top notch. The reason for the good first review. They usually get bikes for shoot outs from local dealers and not directly from the manufactorer. For first tests and reviews by them selves with new year models or whatever they get them from the foctory. So again they will think its better.

As for accelleration/speed i can see why in the shoot out it didnt do good. The one that was set up properly was faster by quite a bit then the on that wasnt.

As for not being as fast as a raptor thats all set up. Having prior experience with a p650 this thing is similar in set up. Its jetting is hard to get dialed in. Sure it may run fine but when you run against another and its not that much faster you know somthings wrong. Then by drilling a few holes in the lid i find the jetting was rich. Do the drag again and gain 4 bike lengths on the stocker. The plug readings on these things is not right either. You cant check inside the plug like you do with most. The funny thing is i can richen or lean it out 4 jet sizes in either direction and the plugs never change colors. Thats why i am thinking of getting a speedo. Then i can do speed runs like i did with my prairie to see if the changes i am doing are helping or making it worse.

I had it dialed in ok when i put my own custom built single exhuast on last week. I went to the riding area to try her out good. I was dragging 5 Raptors. Stock were not a problem. Pipe and filter not a problem. one 686 hung by me for 50ft then i pulled ahead. Winning everytime by 2-5 quad lengths over the 686. We raced on gravel and did runs on loamyhigh traction grassy feild. The 700 will rule if you can get it dialed in!

 

AAAAmen! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

the mag said the predator was faster than the raptor

 

So if ATV Action didnt like the V what will happen if Dirtwheels likes it? If they contradict eachother then one will seem as incorrect and not as good as the other. So even though Dirtwheels said "If we had to choose a unit to do everything on chances are this would be it" they will probably hate it in there shootout.

 

"I had it dialed in ok when i put my own custom built single exhuast on last week. "

How dod the pipe work out. Do you see gains and how is the sound? ...and can you make another[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I picked up more power every where. Better low mid and top. I gained 4mph on my buddies radar gun from stock. Stock was 73 i am now getting 77mph. I have to wait for bigger jets i ordered so i can put in my twin air filter and open up the air box a bit more.

 

hey raptornado i own a v-force and i know that a raptor is faster in a drag but now lets all be honest you have never smoked him by 5-7 quad lengths like atv action said if you have then your full of sh%& because i have raced a modded raptor on my stock v-force and i only get beat by about 2 quads if that

 

Well i like my quads with better acceleration than a few mph on top speed, I need more acceleration when i race than top speed. When the parts come out the V will beat the Raptor in suspension power and any way possible, and the V can also lose some wieght with aftermarket parts. So just wait the parts are being made and they are on there way, the raptors days are numbered.


MUHAHAHAHAHHAAAHHAHAHAAAHHAAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Hey Melbatoast56.....I give.....We are all brothers (and sisters) in this wonderful sport of ATV riding. We all enjoy the same thing.....speed and thrills....and that's why we do it, for fun. Now, I do think some of you guys take this forum a bit too seriously as far as arguments go....So what if a certain magazine says the VForce is not the best, I have read the same things about the Raptor.... So what! I can see from this forum that you guys absolutely love your Kawi VForce bikes....and that's all that matters. The VForce has it's market and it's following just like the Raptor, and the DS650, and the Z400, and so on.... So, let us all get along and just go riding!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]