What is Kawasaki thinking? They finally release a full IRS quad. Then they follow it up with the 650 BF and instead of having the full IRS they put a swingarm out back!!! Why???? I mean they still have their prairie line. You would think that they would offer the prairie line with the swing arm and then the BF line with IRS. To me it just doesn't make any sense. They should have just brought the Prairie 650 back and a new BF 650 with the full IRS.

 

There are three or four threads running around with this same topic, it's not the best move but it does put the bf 650 in the same price range as most 500cc utility atvs and that was really what they were shooting for.

 

I did notice the price was the same as the 500. I think for the same price they could have left the IRS and brought the prairie back price the prairie at 6499 and the BF at 6699. That would have made much more marketing sense.

 

Yep probably so. If they would have done that and kept the price down, they would have eaten into sales of the Kodiak 450 and the Grizzly both. Price an IRS Kawi 650 in between those two models from Yamaha and you have buyers in a big decision crisis. It would have been a great strategy.

 

so are you saying the BF650 is not IRS
that would not make since to me. isnt that called the prairie 650

 

Because the Priaire 650 rocked the planet when it was released. You are basically looking at the reincarnation of the 650 Prairie, just with Brute Force plastic. It's very competitively priced and has all the necessary features of a great 4x4. The SRA is something that Prairie owners have come to absolutely love because of it's sporty, stable handling. While it probably won't last too long, I think it's a great deal for Kawasaki. Personally I think the Prairie 700 should be dropped altogether and then just have the option of IRS or SRA for the Brute Force, keep the Brute Force 650 as it is and then drop the 360 Prairie for a 400-500cc Brute Force.

 

The rumor is that the prarrie line is dead after this year, hince the BF650 (BF plastic on a prarrie) Don't be surprised when you see a BF700 of BF 750s come out later in 05 or early 06. The BF 650 is a prarrie just new name and new plastic. The 650 was to target the 500 market since they can take a current quad from there line up dial back the power and go after similar priced honda 500's yamaha 450's and other smaller cc quads in that price range , Think about it they don't have a 500 or 450 in there lineup rather than R&D a new quad, I am sure this was a cost effective move for them to break into that market. As far as IRS goes not everybody likes or wants it. Look at honda, a top selling brand but only one IRS quad in the whole line up. It is a know fact Kawi hit a home run with the prarrie 650's followed by there 700, Rated ATV of the year by several different magazines over the past few years. To think they won all those awards and sold all those quads without IRS, when the competition almost all of them had IRS equiped quads competing for those titles. I personaly do not want a Brute IRS, I have spent several hours on my fathers Brute Force 750i and am not even considering one, I was ready to swap him back for my 650 not long after we starded down the trails, sure it had a more power but it handeld like #$Q%# IMO. Give me an SRA chassis kawi anyday over an IRS KAWI.

I noticed Canadian P700 are called Brute force 700's for 2005(still has prarrie plastic), I take that as just another sign as to what is to become the transformation of the Prarrie name to the Brute name

 

While you're right the IRS isn't for everyone but neither is the SRA's. There are some of us like you who have spent plenty of seat time on both. I for one would take an IRS over the SRA's. Simply the terrain I ride on the IRS gives 100% more comfortable ride over the SRA's. I know the IRS are not as sporty. I appreciate the fact that they can take a 650 and rename it and price it at the 500 level. I just wish they would make us all happy by offereing both suspension setups. Those of us that want SRA's can have the Prairie while those of us who prefer the IRS can buy the Brute Force.

 

Hi ttaylor,

I feel if the Brute Force came in a 700 model, then it would be even better. Personally, I like the looks of the Brute Force 650 better than the Prairie. Originally, I was going to purchase the Prairie 700 but after seeing this model, I'm now undesided. My plans are to purchase next year so maybe Kawasaki will have a Brute Force 700. I do prefer the SRA over IRS.

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Has anyone driven the 650 Brute Force yet, dealer suggested that clutch is reworked and would be very similiar to the 700. I'm getting a lot of miles on my 700, but really don't want the 750. Going down is a tough decision but if performance is very similiar to my 700 I would be interested. The dealer is quoting a much lower price on a trade to the 650.