I’m looking to buy a 700 prairie in July this year, but a little worried about the new 2005 version.
I have a few reservations about the new 2005 prairie and king quad.
Several articles have said the king quad is a single cylinder with efi and irs. The efi and irs sound great but a single cylinder at 700 cc’s sounds like trouble.
The reason I didn’t consider the grizzly was the handle bar shake with the 660 single and high center of gravity.
Plus I think I have read that a v-twin can’t be beat for low end torch.
Should I stick with the 2004 and buy now or wait and see what the new machines are like? I’m in no hurry to buy because I broke my arm a week ago (not riding).

 

Hi Archer 101,

I am the owner of a 2002 Prairie 650 which I bought new in 2001. First one my dealer got in. I too would like to have a new one, that is a new V Twin. Mine now has almost 5000 miles on it. The Honda Rincon is a nice machine and I have ridden one quite a bit and I liked it. I have also ridden a Polaris Sportsman 600 and 700. All of which have more than enough torgue and power for me but I like smoothness and the sound of the V-Twin. I am going to wait and see what Kawasaki comes up with before I buy anything. If Kawa does not come out with efi and irs, I will probably buy the Rincon to get away from the belt problems of the Kawie, Suzuki, Artic Cat and whoever else is using the Kawa belt/converter.

 

I have 1398 miles and never had a problem with my belt drive. I have made a couple of belt adjustments myself but thats just regular maintenance and not a problem. A problem would be if something broke. geebee01 did something break on your belt drive?

 

I have found the Kawi belt to be so reliable and trouble free, that I would prefer to have the kawi system over something that is more difficult to maintain.

I maintain stuff myself. The Griz is about twice as hard to work on as the Prairie (I know firsthand). My honda friends have had serious issues with their auto transmissions. I would have had big repair bills and been seriously disappointed in the Rubicon or the Rincon if I had one and it had the problems my friends have had.

The Kawasaki converter is A+ in my book. I absolutely love it.

However, the Kawi system is not for people that can't turn a wrench or can't find a smart dealer. People that don't have good luck with their Kawi converter are not maintaining them at all or takng them to an incompetent deaer. Common sense is required.

I think the 2005 Kawi Brute Force will be the best thing out there. Suzuki's offerings are pretty good lately, but Kawasaki's are better.

I am gonna wait for the 2005 Kawi.

 

gb01: If the belt was your only problem in 5,000 miles, you're not showing much loyalty to your quad.

 

I was under the impression the 2005 Suzuki king quad and prairie 700 were going to be the same, being basically the same company.
Since both company’s are mirroring each other, my worry was the Kaw 700
would go single cylinder and not have the v-twin and this year may be the last of the 700 v-twin.

I don't think I would like the single cylinder 700, even with efi.

 

Nyroc,what kind of problems did your friends have with the honda auto transmissions.Would be nice to know so I can torture my Honda buddies.

 

Archer welcome to the forum. Kawi is supposdly comming out with a 750 V-Twin in efi/irs and a like the suspension in them now. My dad owns a 650 and the only complaint about it is that i have no complaints. Its runs like hell and it will rip. I would say that a V-Twin is much better than a single. They sound a lot better. Thats just my opinion. Well hope i helped you.

Cody

 

Hi Crayton8700,
I hope you are right about the 750 v-twin. I also read something about it but did not put much credit into it.
Does not make much since if you think about it. The 700 is already tuned down with the rpm limiter and other factors. (more power than needed already)
It has all the power needed for a 600 pound machine.
Why go with a 750 cc and add weight and go above the 600 lbs.
That will not happen.
What I’m worried about is the King Quad being next years Prairie 700.
A single cylinder 700 just to meet popular demand of efi.
efi on two cylinders is much more expensive.
Big mistake if they do it and go with the single.

I thought there was someone here that would have an opinion on the subject. Thanks again.
I love my Rubicon that has had 0 problems at 4690 miles.
Wanted to try the prairie out, but buy now 2004 prairie or wait for what?

 

The new kawi is not a single cylinder. The 750 is the new kawi too, the suzuki 700 single is a suzuki thing only as far as I know.