I am looking at purchasing a atv and can't decide between a AC 650 H1 or a Brute Force 750, i like to play in the mud so which would be a better choice? please help me....

 

I like the H1 too. It is a nice looking machine. I'm sure you know that it is the first model to offer an Arctic Cat built engine. The 650's previous to the H1 had the Kawi V-twin Prairie engine. I know they still have the V2 in their line-up, but they are phasing them out. I am sure the H1 is a legitimate machine. I would personally wait to see how the Arctic Cat engine is before I would commit to the H1. If it were me I would try to find a good deal on an AC V2 650.

The Brute Force is a mudding machine though. With a few additions like a a new set of tires to help with traction and handling and it will almost take itself to the mud hole. The BF with the V-twin will produce more power.

I went with the BF because it was the best value in my area and the AC, YAM, SUZ, dealer was absolutely unwilling to work with pricing.

Me, personally I like machines I can put my own signature on and customize it to my liking. The availability of performance upgrades for the Kawi V-twin helped make my decision.

 

I have not heard any official statement that the 650v2 is getting phased out. That quad is what made AC sell machines. I would be very suprised to see that machine go down the road in the near future. I expect AC to use the King Quad 700 until they get an EFI on their own 650, then the Big Zukey will be the machine that gets dumped.

I'm an arctic cat guy, so I'm the first to admit I'm a little biased.

For mudding only, I would say the H1. AC has the best clearance and suspension in its class, and the big single will give you the most low end grunt, exactly what you want for muddin. I ride mostly trails and will not go with a single cylinder until that changes.

BF is a good machine, I just think that the H1 will be a better mudder.

 

I have to agree, and i might also be bias! I would take the H1 over the brute for mudding. The brute will however have more power because of the V-Twin engine. Thats why I bought the AC 650V2. The V-twin with all of AC's perks and accessories to go along with it. A perfect combination IMO

 

Chumley, Not to change the subject, but what trails do you like to ride? I'm also from Alexandria and ride most of the time on a friends trails up by Long Prairie. I have been to Spider Lake once and enjoyed it. I was there on a weekday. I've heard the weekends can be kind of crowded and dangerous. Plan on getting up to Akely as soon as possible.

 

I live south of Alexandria out in the country so I do most of my riding on various roads, ditches, and some nearby woods. I do some riding on the edge of Alex with my cousin, and we also head up towards Evansville where my counsin's father in law owns some land with great trails, and even a nearby abandoned gravel pit.

I'm up for riding pretty much anytime, maybe we should get together sometime?

 

Chumley, Sounds like you've got some good local riding. I'm up on the West side of lake Ida. Nowhere to ride here except on township roads which is pretty boring. I originally bought a new 2003 Prairie 650 which was intended mostly to be a poor man's tractor. I mostly used it to pull a small disk, drag and a rough cut mower. I then replaced it with the Brute Force 750 and actually started a little trail riding. My buddy up by long prairie has 70 acres and about another 500 acres around him that he has permission to ride. I trailer the machine over there once and a while. Like I said previously we got up to Spider Lake once last year and it was fun. I'm not sure you would would want to ride with me. I might slow you down. I was born a long time before 3 wheelers were invented. I think I'm going fast sometimes, but maybe it's only my imagination. The Brute Force is probably a lot more machine than I need, but I keep thinking I might upgrade to an 800 EFI if they come out with one this summer. Or maybe I'll just throw a CDI box in this one.

 

I do ride plenty fast where the terrain allows it, but when you are in the woods speed isn't really an issue. Same for mudholes, can't go fast all the time I guess. There's plenty of people that ride faster than me too, I prefer acceleration over top speed.

A bunch of us over here by Villard were going to get together this past Saturday and pound out a few miles but between people cancelling and some work I needed to get done on my machine it didn't happen. Good thing too, after I tore into my machine I found a cv boot that was ripped to shreds from my last ride.

I would like to get to know more atv'ers from the area, it actually would be pretty sweet if we could get a club started up here. Closest one I know of is Granite City Trail Riders out of St Cloud.

 

Chumley, Thanks for the reply. Yeah, there is never a shortage of problems and excuses to keep you off the trails. I still have to get the recall done on my tie rod ends, etc. I haven't noticed a problem with mine yet, but I've still got to get it fixed. My E-mail address here is stitch@gctel.com. Let me know if you're looking for another rider sometime and I'll do the same. I guess I better shut up and let this thread get back to the topic of Brute Force VS. Arctic Cat.

 

I'll go riding with you guys too! I live just a mile off the intersection of I94 and Hwy 23, so it is easy for me to get somewhere. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

On to the topic, I say H1 and no I am not biased! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]