Have just logged 10 hours on my BF, it now has a bad rear axle. Not sure when or how it went but it is gone. Finished a 5 hour ride, started to back up the beast to load it and heard the rear left cv cracklin away. Boot was split, a sorry site to say the least. At least it happened after the fun. The machine was a little problematic though. The rad filled up with crud quite easily unlike the polaris machines I was with. With my rad plugged unknown to me, I ran a long steep hill in low with my buddies watching smoke pour out of my machine like it was possessed. No overheating indication beforehand, none up the hill and none while it was boiling over. Started it up quickly with another puff of smoke, just to circulate coolant for 30 secs or so. Not happy at this point. All my buddies with polaris's went through the same s#*! with no troubles at all. Starting to think I have a lemon here. After every mud hole I had to wash out my rad with a cup for 5 mins so I could ride again. The polaris's just got muddier. I've had the BF in the dealership now for 2 weeks with no estimated time of arrival for the axle. Think I am happy after spending 11G. Any kawasaki pinatas available? Did I forget to mention that all the holes that the polaris's got stuck in I walked through with ease...must be the 27" mud-lites, so they said. I ride hard same as the polaris boys, but not insane. I bought this machine because of the high ratings of kawasaki's 04 and 03 quads. Things can only get better, right. I was going to get a honda, oh well my wounds are tasting better every day.

 

Go back to the polaris forum....... funny how you only have 2 posts on trying to bash the BF,if you dont like it(if you have one) sell it,just dont start talking smack. Yea I had to tighten some bolts but so what everyone should do that to a new machine.

 

My brute overheated because of a plugged up rad, I too smoked, no overheating light came on. I let it cool for 10 minutes, got back on and the first water hole I dipped the front end in and cleaned out the rad. The Honda Rincon that was in our group had the same problem. There are a few problem areas on the Brute but once they are resolved its one hell of a machine, the busted axle is something that happens from time to time. I run 28" mudlites and so far no problems, knock on wood.

 

Spaceman, on Sunday I completed a 40 mile ride with my BF. At the end of the ride I heard nasty clicking from the rear. I kept thinking is was a branch hung up but couldn't find anything. When I got on to pavement, I tried to determine what makes the clicking and every time I steered the bike it would occur on the left side. I looked at the rear cv boot and noticed it was split wide open. I did not make contact with anything during the ride that could have caused it. From your post, it seems like more than a coincidence that it is the left rear cv making the noise. Could you tell us the status of yours and whether the dealer is willingly covering under warranty. I have 300 miles on mine and just scheduled an appointment with the dealer. I fully expect warranty coverage!

 

mine has a bad miss in the engine at low RPM's, I am taking it in to the dealer to have it looked at, apparently they need to do something with one of the needles in the carbs. I saw a guy on BF that had a bent left rear shock, he was unaware of it, I noticed it because his spring was rubbing the shock. he said he had been babying it in the break-in period and had not jumped it or anything that would have caused it. You would have to hit aweful dang hard to bend the shock up at the top, unless the shock didnt compress right while you were going over a big bump. once again, it was the left rear side.

 

During my trip to the dealer for the left rear cv, I will have them look at some other stuff as well:

1. Recall, even though my a-arm pivot bolts are tight
2. Can't maintain idle in one set position, when warmed up it must be lowered or engine braking won't engage properly
3. Similar issue to idle adjustment, engine braking seems to be confused an awful lot, servo constantly activating
4. Similar issue to idle or carb adjustment, the BF spits black smoke, misses and backfires unexpectedly
5. Front brakes do not lock the front wheels - my P650 locked the front wheels with little effort
6. 4WD indicator showed as 2WD on one occaision, but all four wheels were driving out of a mudhole

Althought the cv problem is serious, these other secondary concerns may be some minor bugs or overzealous criticism based on my experience with the P650. Overall the BF is vastly superior to the P650 for power and handling (yes, I said handling). The stock BF tracks 100% better than a stock P650. I couldn't keep the P650 on track until I changed out the stock tires. The BF torque, muscle and speed outweigh any of these secondary concerns compared overall with P650, Grizz, Rincon, and Sportsman(s). It is the right suspension mix between the solid axle P650 and the too cushy Sportsman ride.

 

Sounds like the Brute Force is having some teething pains. Lets hope Kawasaki can sort it all out sooner than the two years it took Yamaha to get the Grizzly right. Spaceman, sounds like you better go buy a Polaris, quick, before they sell out.

OuterLimit

 

Hey Pocono, still have not heard the status on the CV. My dealer said the part is on back order with no eta. I checked with another dealer and he said the part would be arriving in Canada on Sept 30. I am hoping one is for me or I may be waiting past hunting season. That better not happen. Is it possible to get one shipped from Japan if I raise enough of a stink?? Anyone know?? I am still concerned about the smoking that occured and if there could have been any engine damage. I did purchase the 3 year extended warranty and yes the cv is covered if I can get one. I forget what the damn thing looks like. On a positive note I did enjoy the 10 hours spent on the machine. I expect to encounter some issues so I am hoping that this is the worst.

 

I have not seen any issues with mf BF , the county I live in has more registered ATV"s than any place in the US , although we have the largest Honda dealer in the world and you can get every brand made with in a hour or less of where I live , I can tell from experience, I have worked for a dealer here in town and after riding for 30 years, and having all brands that all machines have some kind of flaws, there is no way for a manufacture to ride a machine and do everything to it we will, that being said the Grizzlys have easily been the most problem atic quad made in years but the Kodiaks and other yamaha's do great, but as an over all line of products the polaris's have more problems than any , there is at least one every weekend in our group that has some sort of problem. Honda has typically been the most relaible but they are so far behind now that there is none left in our group, we had one Rincon but it did not take him very long to get tired of it after spending time on the otehr machince out.My last Honda was a Rubicon and if I rode it in shallow water real fast it would fill the airbox up with water and then quit running.