Your point that how well the previous owner took care of the atv is relevant- however, you're saying that is all that matters- you're using it as a blanket statment and dismissing other relevant factors. Your other point that all manufacturers make good reliable machines, and you shouldn't be so concerned with model, make or year is just bad advice.

The truth is, some model years are known to be better made then other's, and some models are better made then other models... regardless of how impeccable the maintenance was, there are just some atv models that are prone to eventual failure more so then others.

Taking the peugeot car for example;
It'll go down in history as being one of the most unreliable cars ever made- did not matter how well the owner kept up with the maintenance- these cars were just a poorly designed french car.

Applying that example to atv's - the 2005 brute force is the "peugeot" of the atv big bore industry.

Listing the recalls for the 05 BF (which also covered other kawasaki models and years- BTW) was an example of no matter how well you maintain your atv- some are know to fail more then others (beating a dead horse on this point)

The point is really not a case of me "getting it"-
The overall message here is that the maintenance rituals of the previous owner are just one aspect in the quest to purchase the most (more) reliable atv for that particular year.

Would you purchase a vehicle that was widely know to have issues, even if the previous owner said "yeah- but I took really good care of it"?

I guess at this point- we'll just have to be content with disagreeing

 

You are getting a better deal on the suzuki no doubt about it

 

thanks for the input guys. i think ill go look at the zuki tomorrow. mostly what i was asking about is thing like, for the amount of hours is that a reasonable price. im not sure of the actual mileage, im gonna call him in a bit and ask. i was also asking about the reputation. for instance, as an automitive tech major, i know dodge is a good company, but the neon isnt there best work. same with ford and the transmissions in the older taurus. basicly thats what i was wondering is if there are any major common problems.

i have always heard good about the kind quad. since im not too familiar with bikes i figured id look for some opinions. is 255 hours a lot? it doesnt seem like that much but i dont konw

 

i just spoke with the guy. he said that it is on a salvage title because when he first got it his son rolled it. he told the insurance company that he wanted every thing fixed on it including down to the scratched plastic. they did and then they put a salvage title on it. is this something to avoid or should i still check it out. i would think that if i test drive it and everything feels fine then it probably is. he also said that the odometer doesnt work, it reads error. not really sure what that is about.

 

IMO, a salvage title don't mean much on a atv. I'd check with a person that transfers titles to make sure.
250 hours is nothing. I've seen many top 3000 and still going.
Try the classifieds at quadzone.

 

If the frame is straight, and everything fixed properly, you should be fine.

But, if you want to get it insured, I doubt you'll find a company that will do it. One reason they probably tagged it as salvage was so they wouldn't have to pay to get it fixed again.

And while most repairs are cheaper than actually turning it in on insurance, you'll probably lose the ability to insure it's full value against theft.

 

I'm not too worried about trying to insure it. I never insured my old quad. I looked online about the odometer thing and it says that it wAs a common problem on those quads. The module was sensitive to voltage spikes and that it probably needs to be replaced. As long as everything else works good, I don't think it's a big deal. The hour clock works so that's the most important. My old Polaris didn't have either lol.

 

personally- I wouldn't touch a rolled quad with electrical issues with a 10' ploe- but, that's just me.

 

NOT true at all. That's your opinion.

Everyone in the forum knows that anyone who is bad-mouthing one brand or model is not right.

There are 3 BF models as well, 750 IRS, 650 IRS & 650 SRA as well. You don't even specify which one. You are just bad-mouthing the all BF models.

BTW, OP was asking about 2006 650 SRA.
If you "personally" know anything bad about 2006 650 SRA, let us all know.

 

my lord hayashi!

I ain't "bad mouthing" anything

Saying 1982 fords are prone to rusting is not "bad mouthing" - it's stating an observation based on the evidence on hand- research. Just like saying:

that the 06 & 07 can-am's were prone to cooling issues,

or- stating the 03 rincons had tranny (o-ring) issues...

saying the 05 BF750 is the peugeot of atv's for that year is likewise, not "bad mouthing"- it's stating an observation based on the amount of complaints and problems many (more than average) people faced with the 05 & 06 BF-
The 07 on up BF were much better from what I've read.

and no- I'm not bad-mouthing ALL bf models- don't know where you read that
I'm qualified to give my opinion having owned two of'em- fairly new and having had lots of issues with both of'em- and spending countless hours on the phone with dealers and factory techs discussing said failures and getting the scoop.

What I said was- the 05 & 06 bf is prone to more factory failures then any other brand those years- and that my friend... in a fact. From major engine malfunctions, to carb jet recalls, to electrical & ecm issues, to suspension recalls... The 05 & 06 bf had'em all!!!

Ask jetblackac what he thinks of his 06 bf750 that dropped a tie rod TWICE and sent him to the emergency room!

Just do the research for yourself.