I was just reading all about the Grizzly on the Honda forum. It seems that everyone thinks the IRS is the big deal. It may be really good, but IRS is only wonderful when not loaded down because then the ground clearance and stability diminish. Kawasaki didn't use it mainly because of weight, so I wonder what Yamaha did to keep the weight to 600 pounds. I really wonder about a push button electric locking front differential too. I assume it would only work at slow speeds or if someone locked it at the wrong time, they could lose their steering control. I like Kawasaki's approach to this, plus you can control how much it locks, so you can still steer. Some guy said that the Grizzly is faster than the Kawasaki 650. If it is, they'll have to prove it to me. I can't imagine it being as vibration free or having as quick a throttle response either, but we'll see. Maybe it really is wonderful, but we'll have to wait a while to see. It isn't out yet.

 

Both machines have some VERY strong points. The Kaw IMHO left too much on the table. The lack of IRS and the lever that must be held for Diff lock are the two big drawbacks to me.

The V Twin will likely prove superior as well as the wet brake. Rear gas tank is a cool idea too. The electronic engine braking is neat, but we'll see how it works in the elements. Broken/flimsy plastic reports drag it down as well.

I figure the Grizzly as my second machine, but not till they are tested in the field by the TRUE testers!

And don't forget, we've been talking about the Kaw for quite some time now. The Yam was just introduced. If they can deliver on time as promised...

 

 

I think that that the IRS is a big deal. I am not impressed with the rear suspension of the Prairie. If they modify the 650 and add IRS to it next year, I will buy one. The rest of the machine is truly awesome! Hopefully, the other manufacturers will force Kawasaki to look into this in the upcoming years.

 

I've had my Prairie 650 for a month now and I am glad that it does not have IRS. I lean more towards the sport type of riding in the "sport utility" phrase. I regularly launch my atvs into the air and the rear shock on the Prairie responds great. I also put my atv's through all types of pain and the more parts you have on something the more parts there are to break. I mean lets face it an electric fuel pump is going to last forever, but a rear end with dozens of extra moving parts that are subject to every grain of sand, drop or water, bump and jump might be a problem. My final thought on the traditional swingarm on the Prairie is if it's not the way to go for sport and longevity then why does every sport quad worth a darn use it.
Here's a thought on the thiner plastic on the Praire, last weekend I slamed into an Illinois Oak tree and totally caved in the plastic on the rear finder. My first thought was dam it's only two weeks old and I just destroyed the plastic, after further review I noticed there were no cracks but the finder looked bad. I reached under the finder and with a few good hits it all poped out, the only thing that looks funny is the safty sticker didn't fully recover it's a little crinkeled. If I had don this (and I have) to my Honda, Suzuki, or Polaris it would have and did break. That was just one experience and the temp. was in the 70's I do realize that temperature and plastic tensil stringth have a direct relationship. I've also already had this thing in water upto the top of the seat (more than once) and had no water leak into anything and I checked it all airbox, dif, oil not a drop anywhere or a spit or sputter it handled it perfectly. My Honda can't do this (airbox & rear diff) my Polaris (belt drive & rear diff) my Suzuki ( rear diff, Air Box, Belt drive) I've cleaned them all more than once.

 

The reason all the polaris guys are talking so much about the new Grizz is that Yamaha has built a 150lb lighter Sportsman with twin A-arms.

 

Im a Yamaha guy but I really like the 650. I am very upset that Yamaha did not come out with a total new Woods Racer 4x4. I think a total sport 4x4 would be a huge seller. I have done the util thing with a griz now all the big boys Yam, Kaw, Hon, Susuki <--- do they even make quads??? need to make a sport 4x4. Don't get me wrong the pure sports are great for MX and hare scrambles but if you are going to buy a 4 wheel machine for off road use why not have 4 wheel drive and at the same time be very sporty. I do have a Wolverine it is nice but not enough power!!!

 

I hope the mags will give the 650 Kawi the credit it deserves, when they do thier test.I think the Kawi will win without much problem.I am amazed at how little attention the Kawi is getting on these forums,and most does not seem favorable.I have not ridden a 650,but i have seen,felt and sat on one.On paper it is all there to me.I just do not see the Grizzly 66o raptor motor as a threat to the Kawi.The Raptor motor in the raptor only puts 35 hp to the ground, i doubt that the grizz will do as well. The grizz is only getting 1 carb. I guess that would be better for torque at the expense of top end hp. The 660 also vibrates more than the Kawi. The Raptor is good for about 72-73 mph, now add 200 more pounds and more driveline friction and i think the top speed of the new grizz will be 61.233489 mph.I think the new grizz will be better in some areas than the Kawi, and the Kawi will be better in others. The thin plastic on the kawi-no big deal,pop it back out when it bends in,happened to my raptor.Unless yamaha changes something the fit and finish and quaility will be better on the Kawi. Ride your 650's and don'tworry about the rest cause you bought what you thought was the best.I am the test pilot on my raptor, not dirt wheels. I like the "grabby" stock tires, they keep you on your toes.

 

I really like your fuzzy math. Please, the kawasaki will get 3rd place at best 4th if the have a 2001 HO Sportsman in the test. The 650 is like 7-up never had... it never will...