CAM650,

Like others said great write-up! With everything you mentioned I think the KQ will be a better choice for my type of riding. You said that you once owned a Polaris 700 so let me ask you how do you compair this to the KQ? I'm looking for the best all-around machine...you said it was better than the BF in this category but you didn't say if it's better then some of the others like the Sportsman, Grizz, etc.

As of right now I'm happy with my little Vinson but would like to get an IRS with EFI machine. Maybe I should wait for 2006? Does anyone know if there will be any new/upgrades coming out then? Thanks again CAM650.

 

CAMO650 , I will add my experience on your report , you are right on some things but far off on others the BF has a great IRS system , it simply puts more bite to the rear wheels than a KQ so it does not slide as easily. The BF rides great , I have spent a lot of time on a KQ while riding at Windrock, me and one of my friends that owns one switched several times to compare the 2 machines, The KQ feels better on the smooth fasr trails but when the going get tough th BF jumpes to the front . The seat is softer on the KQ but the BF sits nice as well.
I prefer the way you engage 4wd on the suzukis but I prefer the locker on the kawies The Kawie definitely has more torgue and a smooter running motor. There is no doubt these are the top 2 quads made with the prairie 700 there as well. They are aimed at 2 types of riders the Kawie has the top sport utility in the prairie's as is easily seen in GNCC racing, they wanted to make a machine more for the slower paced hunting , mudding , rock crawling class of people and they done just that with the BF. The BF has a more "tippy" feeling but as soon as you get in the real world it does not take long to realize that is not tippy.
All a person can do is read all the info , deside what they want from there atv and buy it. Which one is better is all determined by who is sitting on the seat. As for as I am concerned , I liked the BF better for myself but there is no doubt I would buy a KQ tomorrow to go in my shop if I win the lottery.

 

Sorry Jeffro but we can tell that you are bias because of your post and you owning the BF. Good post CAM650 you hit the nail on the head.

 

HUMMM outrage let me see , what brand do you own ?? A suzuki, how do you know Camo650 hit the nail in the head if you own neither of the models in question?I agree with a lot of things Camo650 said but I disagree with some as well, I have been riding for 30 years and I have owned every brand except for AC and polaris and have never had a desire to own either one. A lot of what determines which ATV is best is what its use is for but also rider skill. IF I was a newbe there is no doudt that the KQ would be a better big bore to start out own it is a easier quad to ride, but that does in any way make it a better quad. IF pay attention you would see that I only really disagreed with Camo650 on the remark about Kawies IRS , there is a lot more post bragging about the handling of the Kawie that saying it sucks , so I am the majority not the minority. Owning both could easily make the kawie feel worse because it is taller , I have spent a lot of time on the KQ and it is an adjustment to get back on the BF but after some time back in the sadle it does great , tke KQ might have the best IRS for going around turns but that does not mean it is better in rocks and rough terrian.

 

Jeffro,

I'm sorry my friend you missed the point again. Since CAM650 owns both I would have to say that makes him the expert. You can tell from his post that he is giving it to us straight and is not holding anything back. With out getting into it I say again thank you CAM650 for your honestly. I wish we could have more like you on this board because I'm quite tired of all the brand bashing.

 

You seem to be missing the point as well, owning in no way makes a person an expert. There is post made every day from people that own, the only disagreement I had with Camo650 was on the one the remark about the BF 's IRS that sucked. Since you think that owning makes a person and expert and I do own a BF than I can agree that point because I too am a expert with 30 year expience, since you own neither one I guess there is no way you can possibly know for yourself what is true so I suggest you can by one so you to can become an "expert". Just remember this is the Kawie forum not the Suzuki. Rember again that I never disagreed inmany remark about the KQ since I have only rode one and nerver owned one I just disagreed on the ATV that I am an expert on , the BF that I own, get the point ???

 

I give up.

You love your machine as does everyone else who owns what they ride. Okay maybe the IRS doesn't SUCK but it just doesn't perform as well as other IRS machines. Since this is their first atempt at IRS I'm sure they will get it right the second time around.

 

Outrage,

Thank you for your kind words. As far as the KQ's IRS compared to others I would say that it's FAR better than the Grizz's. The Grizz is VERY tippy but comfy and doesn't corner near as well as the KQ. The SP series is very comfy and plush and handles very nice as well, it just doesn't handle as well as a KQ. The SP needs a diet more than anything, it feels and is VERY heavy. It's perfect for utility applications. I've never been on a Rincon so I can't comment on its abilities, but from what I've read the KQ and Rincon's IRS systems are the best available.

Jeffro31,

First of all, everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I'm not putting myself out as an "expert" on the issue. I do own both so I do have a chance to compare them more readily than most. In my original post, I stated that the BF's IRS system does suck compared to the KQ's. I went on to say that it doesn't suck as bad as the Grizzly's but when compared to the KQ, it's far inferior. This isn't just my opinion, I've not heard one person, either in here or in an atv publication, state that the BF IRS is better than the KQ's. There simply is no comparison in this area. The only IRS system that might be as good is the Rincon. However, I've never had any seat time on it so I can't verify or quantify that statement.

You also mentioned that you hear a lot more people bragging on the BF's handling than you hear about it's misgivings. I strongly disagree with you on this subject. All I ever read on here is how bad it sucks and to make it half way decent you have to get new tires and spacers. You don't have to do that with a KQ. It powerslides like the Prairie in stock form. It's extremely plush and makes the rider feel comfortable in rough terrain. Can you really say those things about the BF? If your honest with yourself, as an owner of a BF, you would say no. The BF rides a bit harsh for an IRS suspended quad. It doesn't powerslide well at all either. The KQ's IRS is MUCH better in rocks and other rough terrain also. Listen, I own both and I prefer the BF, but the facts are the facts. I think you are just defensive about any negative comments being made about the quad you purchased. I see it all the time. All I was doing was reporting on tests that I ran personally. To say that I was "far off" on the subject is simply not true. I rode both back to back in varying terrain and conditions and clearly the KQ's IRS is FAR better.

 

The BF is easily the 2nd or 3rd best IRS quad out, Here is the ATVs I have either owned or spent numerous hours on that have IRS , the KQ could be the best all around although the outlander is just as good or maybe even better, The BF is right there as is the Rincon for 2nd place ,the polaris is good as well but does not turn very well at a hard pace, the Grizzly is much more unstable than the others so I would place in next and the AC would be last . This is for faster paced riding like I do,in the MUD the AC would be toward the top if not on the top , the polaris and BF right there next , then the Outlander and Suzuki and grizzly. This is just my opinion since I may only have a few hundred miles on the others. Kawie could definitley make there IRS better no argument there , I may very well go back to Suzuki one of these days but right now Kawie appeals to me the most with the good suspension and the best motor ever made and the best brakes ever made and good ground clearence and a nice ride to boot. They all have there plus and minus you just have to figure out what you want out of you quad and research that type of riding.

 

Oh by the way, I'm CAM650. I at work and I lost my log on info here so I had to create a new ID.