I am new to this forum and haven't owned an ATV in about 20 years. I just started looking at mid-size ATV's and one of my considerations is the Prairie 360 4x4. I have read some reviews and it received a very good rating, however in this forum I have seen several complaints about it, most related to it running poorly for the first 15 minutes until it is warm. I guess what i am looking for is an overall rating from some people who own or have owned a Prairie 360. My other consideration is the Yamaha Big Bear 400 4x4, if anyone out there can rate one of them. Thanks for the help.

 

I almost bought the 360. I went down to the dealership with my heart set on that machine. While reading through the Kawasaki brochure, it said the 360 weighed the same as the 700 (don't ask me how. I'm just relating what I read). Then it came time to do the financing, and they said it would be $30 more a month to own the 700. Well heck, that was a no-brainer. I bought the 700 instead. And that was for my wife! She loves that thing.

One of the complaints I read about concerning the 360 was the exhaust noise level. Some said it was excessive. Other than that, most people seem positive about the 360. In reference to the first 15 minutes of operation, I can say that every oil-cooled machine I've owned ran like crap until it was good and hot. My Honda XR-600 was a good example of that.

 

A coworker of mine has the 360 and his two complaints are lack of speedomter/tripmeter (hopefully this is standard now) and cold starting although it is not near as bad as some of the reports I've read here.

Wouldn't the Bruin 350 be a closer match to the prarie?

Another coworker owned the big bear 400 and his main complaint was it's low gearing. Anything over 35 and it would wind out bad. He swore his next atv would be an auto.

 

We have an 2003 360 and love it. Personally I'd get the 700 over it as that is what I did for our second one for me. We just load them down with extra gas and gear for the riding we do and the extra power of the 700 is good.

The lack of a speedometer/hour meter is a little irritating. I installed a tiny tach since it has an hour meter. Kawasaki does make a kit you can order and install.
More power would be nice.
My biggest complaint is the lack of accesories for it. There are virtually no performance parts out there and few accessories.

Any route you go you'll have a blast!

 

I think that I might get rid of mine and get a Honda Rancher.

TxRebel

 

A Rancher, older kawi and a Rubicon are what I rented/borrowed and rode allot when my wife took over the 360 and i'd stick with the 360 if it was me.

 

I have enjoyed it but these knick-knack problems are driving me crazy. The belt slipping, the belt light on continously, the fan not running, the cold starts have all just about got me throwing my hands up and saying forget it. Everyone that I know who owns a Honda never has any problems at all.

TxRebel

 

Sounds like you have problems with yours for sure.

Ours has almost 100 hours on it and its due for some service (belt adjustment and valve adjustment) that i'll do this winter but we have had 0 problems other than a tank of bad gas (my fault). It is a bit cold blooded since its air cooled and doesn't have coolant keeping the carb warm but that hasn't been a problem to us.

The hondas do have a reputation as being trouble free. I personally want a quad that is capable first and the 360 is far more capability than the Honda's i've ridden. I don't mind doing maintenance on a bike to keep it in tip top shape.

 

Belt slippage & cold blooded are easy problems to cure... The speedomoter is also offered from kawi with a digital hour meter & trip meter, you can pick one of these up for $100 & are very easy to install.. Overall I have really liked my 360 & for the midsize market I still wouldn't get anything else. I have had mine for 1 1/2 years now & like it better now then when I bought it..

 

I have a 360 and a 650. My daughter rides the 360 and it has been a great machine. I have never had a problem with it starting, and we do a lot of winter riding. I love the features the 360 has for a mid size and the thing rides great. Tim