I posted this on the Polaris board, but not much feedback on the Prairie, so I thought I would put it over here also so I can get some info. Thanks.

I'm looking for a quad that is both sporty and can be taken up in the hills. The Scrambler seems almost perfect, although it doesn't have the low gear. Probably 50% of the time I will be doing fast paced sport riding, and the other 50% mountain trail/hill climbing. How is the Scrambler? I know low ground clearance can be a factor, but I'm willing to accept that for the ability to ride fast, jump, powerslide, etc....things you can't do with a Sportsman.

Some people have also suggested the Prairie 650/700. Can anyone compare these 2 bikes? They say it rides and handles like a sport bike and is very fast, but also has low gear and locking front. It's only 30 pounds heavier than the Scrambler. I personally don't care for the looks of it, but if it's as fast and handles like they say, I may have to consider it for the performance.

I've narrowed it to these 2 bikes, but am open to any others you think fit the bill. I know it sounds like I should be buying 2 quads, one sport and one utility, but I'd really like to buy just one . Thanks.

 

the praire 700 or the 650 will be the bike for trails and mountains. I travel with a 500 ho scrambler and he can not leave me even on any train and his scrambler is mod more than mine. The low range is worth it. The weight factor is not an an issue, the center of gravity on the praire is very low. I just put a low-end accerator on mine and I can not stop the powerslides now. My brother had the 400 scrambler and he likes the 650 more. I think a low tire like a 25 mudrunner would grab you... You will be very happy on a 650-700 and the 700 does pull a little on the 650 as it should.

 

That's why they call the p650 a sport utility...... you get the best of bolth worlds to a certain extent. You won't be able to hang with some of the sports machines, but on the flip side they won't be able to hang with you in the mountains.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] My prairie is the first machine i have ever owned and i will tell you this..... if i had the money i would by another one in a heart beat!!!!

But i would have to move out and live with the dog[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] The wife want's something for her when we can afford it...... can you say 700 v force![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Scramblers are a lot of fun when they're running right, but if you ride them hard they break and break often.

 

I had the same dilema as you are having, so I went and test drove both..........

Scrambler test drive: Loved it, the dealer let me smoke the tires on pavement, I even got to jump a little
ditch while test driving it. It would run like a bat out of hell, and I loved it.

Prairie 650 test drive: Scrambler who? Literally all it took was to hear the purring of that vtwin and I was
sold. Once I took it for a test drive, I came around the corner from the test track
and was all smiles, I got off and asked what else can I get with it ............today!


Anyway, just go sit on both and ride around, I think your decision will be easier than you think!

 

I have a 03 P650 and my brother has 03 Scrambler. They're both good quads. The 650 has a little more power. Ground clearance is equal, depending on where you measure from. Low gear is nice in climbing/mudding situations. The Scrambler looks sportier and fels sportier because of the narrower seat. Both quads have been problem free so far. There are rumors of a Scrambler 700. That bike will be a blast if it's for real!

 

sledheadrich is correct. Speed is about the same (650) and the scrambler is a bit sportier. The p700 is prob much faster.

 

I'd recommend the Prairie. It's fun, fast, versatile, comfortable, and bulletproof. You can't beat that combination![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

This probably doesn't mean anything, but last week my mother paid $600 to fix her scrambler, and it's still not running decently so she taking it back to the shop again. Of coarse this is just 1 scram out of many, it could just be bad luck. It's 2 years old and she's never driven it hard at all, that's not her style.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I'm going to have to find a dealership that will let me ride the Prairie. I have ridden a Scramber (and used to own a Sportsman 500HO) and had already made up my mind it was perfect for me - until someone started pestering me that the Prairie would be better.