Im kinda stuck here, looking to plow snow now with a quad. I want it to start well in winter which lead me down the 700efi road, but the Prairies seem so much more fun. Friends push me toward the polaris for resale, reliability, fit finish, and overall quality. But I have had this desire for the sport 4x4 quad and I dont know if the sportsman is the right one.

Pros of the Sportsman
EFI
IRS
Life belt warranty
tow 300lbs more
updated looks

If I head down the Prairie path I need to be assured the quad can start at -20 and work under cold conditions.

Finally what is a good OTD price on a 700Prairie.

FYI - There is a 2003 650 with plow, heated grips, 194 miles, for $5000.

Thanks

 

I have the 700 EFI, 2005 version with plow, its a great machine, I mainly bought it for the EFI...starts easily every time and I can ride altitude without jetting changes, etc.

The Prairie is also a great machine and people I know that have them, love the way they perform and ride....

Hard choice, you have to get down to what you really want it for....both have advantages and disadvantages....

 

Both are great quads! I have the Prairie and by bud has the Popo 700EFI. In the trails we are very close, the Kawie has a little better suspendors for fast riding though. As far as riding in very cold weather I can't answer that as I live in the deep south. It did get down to about 28* a month back and my bike ran fine. I think for reliability, fit-n-finish, and overall quality both are near equil. It all amounts to what YOU want. I bought the Kawie because I like to go against the grain - around here it is Honda and Polaris country. If you own something other than Honda/Polaris you are no good. Now that I can outrun, outmudd, and out anything ealse - well I showed them!!

 

I have friends with Polaris's and they are a decent bike, start good and run smooth. In this part of the great white north, my P 700 has no problem starting, but you do have to baby the throttle until it warms up good. We are riding now in the dead of winter and have no problem with the 700's. Locally, the resale on the Polaris is not that good. The 700 would be a far better bike for the power and dependablity. I am not sold on the IRS, even on the BF 750, so the swing arm suspension and the single shock are more than adequate for my needs. I am 220 lbs and my wife is not a small lady either, she is just big-boned she claims[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]. We do not bottom out unless we are on a severe trail with large ruts or rocks. My wife and I rode a Polaris one day and my friend took my 700. My wife even noticed that the ride was not as good as our 700 with two people on it. Locally,we now only have the choice of BF 750 or BF 650. The 650 is selling for around $9000 cdn. Good luck with your choice and I hope that is a Kawasaki.

 

The P and 'zuki 700efi are too close to callperfomance wise. The major decision here is the efi, if you're young and wild with a zest for tinkering and what not, then the P700 is the ticket. If you're a bit older, and now as wild anymorre then the 'zuki is the ride of choice, and maybe a little better gas mileage too.

 

Im leaning Kawi, finding some 2004 700 holdovers for $6k.

Question: since Im a big guy 330, do I need to re-spring anything? Any issues with suspension with a full sized gorilla onboard?

 

Try a jeep[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

If you ride hard and like to gun it wide open from a stop you might want to get a kawi, the sportsmans that i have seen like to eat drive belts. They both have good power, the ride on a polaris is a lot smoother than the prairie. The prairie doesn't hit the rev limit in low range like the polaris does. The kawi also gets a lot better gas mileage. I've also seen that the polaris seems to have a front cv boot problem, looks like they tear from the inside?!? Kawi will smoke a polaris off the line but it doesn't take the polaris long to catch up!
Pros and cons to everything... If you're after a work horse get the kawi, if you're after a good ride that can also do some work go with the polaris.
that's my nickles worth

 

P700 is a real blast you can blow some real sick donuts with it and never feel like you going tip over and the power is way sweet, wheelies when you want to and very controlable. You cant go wrong, get a Green team '05.
Ryan

 

Plainsman -

Both are fine ATVs... can't go wrong with either. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. I would say the Kawi is better at sport and utility where the Polaris is a better work horse (better towing, heavier, more ground clearance, and IRS).

There is a dealer here in Colorado that has (at least 2) '05 Prairies 700s for $6100