I'm thinking, err...I am going to get another quad. I'm going to trade in my EX and get another quad for me. My present Grizzly will go to the wife. Now, I checked out the new Prairie and it seems nice, kinda small compared to the 660. How is the Prairie in the rocks? I love IRS, but I want 2 different quads, yet I wouldn't mind a blue Grizz, those are sweet too. My other chioces are the Rincon and the New Cat w/ the 650 and IRS. I know this may be strange, but I'm one of a couple members on here that's not brand loyal. Leaning heavily to the Kawi, but not sure how that solid rear will handle the terrain in my neck of the woods in Utah.
How's the reliability of the Prairie? It's been out for a few years now so any issues should be resolved now, correct? Thet look alot better than previous year models.
I'm still not totally oppsed to another Grizz though. It's a great quad.

3TV, if you're out there, maybe you could chime in since you've owned pretty much everything to own that's out there. I saw your OLD Grizz at the dealer....those were sweet rims and tires on there....

 

I am not really brand loyal either. In my opinion, just buy the best quad for your needs, don't worry about who makes it. That being said you can see that I have a Grizz 660. I have also owned a Prairie 650 and I would not buy another one for the type of riding I do, which is allot of rocks. The Prairie can do it, but it will be dragging its skids and smacking into the rocks all the time, also, it is a much rougher ride than the Grizz.

I would either get another Grizz, or seriously look at the Cat 650. For rocks and technical terrain it seams like it might be the best machine out there, 13 inches of ground clearance, and 10 inches of wheel travel at all four corners. The only draw back may be the Auto Trans. I have not been able to find out yet for sure but I suspect that they are using the Kawasaki Auto transmission, which is the weakest link on the Prairie in my opinion. One of the reasons that I got rid of my Prairie 650 was that the belt stared squealing at 425 miles. I know that you can adjust them and that they say that your supposed to ride them in low range most of the time, but I think that is crap! I have never had any problems with the auto trans on my Grizz, due to Yamaha using a centrifugal clutch instead of the belt for a clutch. Anyway, to each his own, not trying to bash the Prairie or anything, it was just something that I found very frustrating. Aside from the belt issue, I think that it is a good quad. It's just not the best one for me.

So, if you are doing more rocks and technical riding, then get a cat 650, but keep in mind you may have to do allot of adjusting on the belt if it is the same as the Prairie, or get another Grizz. (In an attempt to get more "Cat 650" like articulation from my Grizz, I have removed the rear sway bar, and it does even better in the ruff stuff). If you are planning on doing more sport type riding, then maybe go ahead and get the Prairie 700. It's really all up to what type of riding that you want to do with it.


Good luck.

 

if you want the performance of the P650, and the IRS of your grizz, why not take a look at the new artic cat??? The only draw back might be the fact that it will probly weigh a freakin ton. AC quads have always been a bit over weight, still might be what your looking for though.

 

Thanks Phil...yeah, Ron's is a joke (not to mention the witch at the counter..sorry if you know her, but man she's a mean one).
At the Yammy dealer, he said he'll give me about $3,000 for the EX and gimmie the 700 for $6800. Considering the miles I've put on the 400, I think that's fair. It has been an awesome, reliable quad. If I know I'll be hitting the major terrain, I can always take the Grizz I guess. The wife just wants something more 'family friendly' now that we have a 'lil one.

As far as the cat, what is the MSRP and are they even out yet? While checking prices of other quads, I cannot belive the price of some of the Honda's. $7,200 for a Rubicon w/ GPS...ridiculous! $7,800 for a Rincon? In these cases I don't think you're getting what you pay for. Prairie seems like a good value in comparison.
3TV....great riding on the mountain...beautiful, fun trails, a bit of mud. Let me know if you're ever wanting to go; only have a month or so til the white stuff starts falling.....

 

For what it is worth, the P700 suspension seems to ride a bit better than the P650. Both do dive though. Some aftermarket front springs and better tires will correct that.

You might be happier with the Grizz or AC if you ride in the rocks a lot. The clearance should be an advantage.

 

I dunno 3TV, I think you're alot more extreme than me. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
As to Brian Head, I didn't even know you could ride there. I went around 100 miles last weekend while camping (Red Desert area), and there was a ton of trails I didn't even go on. Pretty much everything between Cedar Breaks and Mammoth Creek is just perfect riding. Nothing too rough or anything and nothing too fast. Deep mud (avoided).

OH, I think I'll go with the 700 for a more sport oriented ride.
What's the ground clearance on the 700 anyway?

 

Prairies kick serious butt!!!!! They are the best straight axle mudders anywhere!!!! they hang with sport quads in drags!!! they can spin ANY tire without moding the bejesus out of it!!!!

I love my outlawed prairie. I went through a series of mudholes today on it in 2wd that my Rancher couldn't get through the first hole!!!! Even though the Priarie was "framed out" (draging the rear axle and front bash plate) the outlaws pushed it threw, up, and out of every mudhole i found. Never realy needed 4wd..............yeah i know the holes musta not have been to bad if i didn't need 4wd or dif lock but i had a blast anyway!!!!

get the p700. Prolly not the best rock crawler but it will do anything else with the best of them

l8r
cart

 

Before you decide the Pairie can't handle the rocks ask some of the pairie owners. I've seen pictures of pairies going places I don't think I would dare try, at least not without someone who knows what they are doing coaching me. I have rode my P-700 through some pretty rocky places and I trust it more on a side hill than I did my buddies Grizzly. It might drag on the bigger rocks but the fun when you hit the flats is more than enough to make up for it. I did like the grizzlys ride when going slow on bumpy trails though.

 

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll go for the Prairie. Now I'll have 2 best 4X4s..[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]