I bought a 2002 Kawasaki Prairie 650cc(KVF650A model motor) 4x4 from a guy on craigslist for 400$.

The guy I bought it from said he was, and I quote, "riding at high speeds and the entire thing just shut off and wouldn't make a noise to attempt to start." Well I threw it into forward and it rolled forward, same thing with reverse. I figured the trans wasn't locked so it had to be in the motor.

It didn't have a battery so I threw some cables on it to see what would happen when it I attempted to start it. Sure enough the starter only made a simple "clicking noise" and nothing turned on the bike...

I took it to a shop for them to look at it and he got it started (don't know how) but shut it off quickly because of what he thinks to be a blown or spun rod somewhere in the engine. I asked him how much it would cost to replace it and for him to do it and he said between 2500$ and 3000$ and said I would have to replace a whole side cover because one of the covers that comes off doesn't go back on, it only comes off... Odd... Well knowing that the entire thing is worth 2400$ (kbb value at great condition), I figured that wasn't going to happen. So I started looking around for some engine rebuild kits and to my surprise, nobody has any full engine rebuild kits. I found a piston rebuild at bike bandit for 220$, which wasn't bad, but it was only for 1 piston. I would have to buy two for the V-Twin, and even then the problem wasn't in the pistons. I was going to try to get away with simply fixing what was actually wrong with it, without having to rebuild the entire engine. They didn't have a lower end rebuild, nor does anyone else. It seems that I would have to buy all the parts separate and manually, which could get confusing.

So here's my ultimate question. Should I just part this bad boy out or attempt to fix it myself? The guy before me who had it replaced a lot of things, like the handlebars, LCD display, front axle. These are all still shiny and new. It's got some really good tread, lightly used ITP tires on it which I figure I could get my money back with just the tires and wheels.

I have a little engine work from times with my dad rebuilding an old 4 bolt main 350ci and it was a piece of cake. But I don't exactly know how well I could work on one of these newer engines, especially an ATV engine. I hear their a pain.

Thanks for reading guys, let me know!

Furthermore, if you recommend me trying to rebuild it myself, please link me to some kits.

 

Well, I know a lot of people are going to say you could fix it, but here is the thing, if you spend the money to fix it, you never know what all might be wrong with it. It could be easy to drop a ton of money into the thing just hoping that the rest of the bike is ok.

Wish we lived near each other, I'd be willing to give you your money back for it if you were close to me. I got an 02 and could use some parts from it on mine.

Either way good luck, but if you part it out I want dibs on the front differential.

Hit me up and let me know.

Thanks

 

Ahh, thanks for responding!

I went ahead and sent it off to my friend who is much better at things like this and he said he'll part it out or fix it. I got my cash money back and a really nice decked out SKS for it. So basically made a free SKS out of the deal :P.

I live in Arkansas, I don't know where you live. I'll ask him if he's going to part it out or try to fix it, and let you know if he's going to part it or not.