I find the P650 to be a great machine, I love it. There are a few things though that can be and should be improved.

1) 4x4 engagement I believe is a must change. It works great but could work better. Currently you need to have the front tires moving to engage it into 4x4, this is bad for new people driving the quad. This can lead to breaking the 4x4 actuator and costsing a good amount of money to fix. Also if you want to play in mud hole in 2x4 and get it stuck you will not get it into 4x4 most likely and if you try you risk busting the actuator. Its fun to see how far you can go in 2x4 and then slam it into 4x4 and keep going. Having the switch like other quads where you don't need to be moving would be a better idea.

2) Mud flaps, the black plastic going around the fenders. Not designed very well, it doesn't require a change but should be. Its very flimsy and where it joins it splits and rips. Arctic Cat is the best example when it comes to plastics, they make them right. I would like to see kawi use the same type of plastic as cat does on their quads, not the fenders but the mud protection plastic.

3) Front end, the comfort level on the Praire can be increased a bit if they were to use a-arms and shocks, I don't think struts really should be on the quad, though they do make good outside boot protectors. It may cost more but it also gives a better ride and I think more articulation.

4) Reserve fuel, it would be nice to have reserve on the quad, once you see that light turn on you turn around and go home. If you carry gas or know how far you can go on a tank its not fun, reserve is nice to have for extra insurance. You could be quading and having so much fun you don't realise the low fuel light is on.

5) Diff lock, the way its handled now is just fine and works great. It would be nice if they can somehow make a locking mechanism, you can't always have your two hands on the handlebars, you might winching in your switch is on your fender or in some other strange spot. Or maybe your pushing a branch out of the way with your left hand and you need that diff lock. I would like to see it so that its like a parking brake but with different levels of locking. This would make things much better.

I believe thats all I have to say, these are the major downfalls of the Praire and if fixed would be a much better ATV.

 

BRENT... I agree... in reality, I'd rather see less motor ( not less performance ), & a suspension built to handle the power capable of a machine like this... this "new" 500 EFI, could in reality, offer the same performance as the 700, if the CDI is uncorked from the factory... while providing the better fuel mileage that the smaller displacement motor could provide...

 

I would add one more change to the wish list above...make it a manual transmission! Nothin' seriously wrong with the CVT (so long as you keep the belt tight and upgrade to the P700 belt and primary spring), but I think a manual transmission would add a little more excitement to the whole package! Just my 2 cents...

Happy trails...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I'm talking practical updates, I don't think mating a 5 speed manual would be practical. It would drive up the cost of the Praire because of all the R&D they would have to do.

 

Bbertram,
You honestly don't think Kawasaki would have to invest in R&D to change the 4x4 engagement mechanism or to switch out the front suspension to double a-arms? I do. I don't see the change from a CVT to a manual transmission as a big hurdle or big cost...I'm guessing there are plenty of 650cc plus street bikes that have std transmissions. I don't think its that far of a stretch to adapt the transmission from a street bike to the P650...of course the gearing would be a little different from a street bike.

Happy trails...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Reworking the 4x4 engagement would take some R&D dolars, but not nearly the amount it would take to change the V-Twin from a CVT to a 5-speed. They can't just stuff a street bike motor that already has a 5-speed in the chasis and your done, lol. They will not give up the potent V-Twin that easy, thus high costs of changing over to a 5-speed.

As for the front suspension, look on a v-force, the R&D is already done, they just to beef it up a little and its over, cheap cheap.

 

No 1 - With the 4x4 engagement it is what it is. Without the use of a transfer mechanism such as a transfer case or manual gearbox you're asking for the imposible.

No 2 - You're right! The black plastic is crap.

No 3 - Struts or coilovers are the way to go as opposed to a-arms just not the ones Kaw uses.

No 4 - Hasn't been an issue for me or anyone I know. We carry extra flat tanks on the racks.

No 5 - I like having control with the lock lever just as it is. This is one of the reasons I didn't buy a Grizzly.

If you were to change things, I would start with a frame redesign. Lower the center of gravity by lowering the rider position while increasing ground clearance.

And by the way, how about offering better tires and cast aluminum wheels.

 

If you lower the seat and raise the ground clearance then you may as well get bayou j/k [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
The higher seat is the primary reason I'm trading my low seat Eiger for the P700.

 

Eiger2 why would you want to set higher? A lower c/g means better performance capability. That bayou might be the ticket if it had more ground clearance and about 65HP.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Ditto the 4X4 engagement problem. Sometimes I have a problem getting into 4 wheel, and one time, I couldn't get out of 4 wheel.