JDM-
Thanks for the honest evaluations there-I've ridden a couple '00 Grizzlies that both vibrated like hell, I wondered how the new one would be-if they got rid of that or not. I'd guess the "lighter feel" was due to the lower center of gravity, thus giving better handling characteristics for such a large machine-does that make sense? As for the smoothness, I'd really like to go try one myself-being the first "V", I've nothing to compare it too!

Thanks again!

Mike

 

Kawasaki has some great machines out there! We have two, a 2001 Prairie (wont' talk about this since it's only a week old [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]), well the 220 has been great. Bought in 92, has never seen the dealer once since then (not even for first service) This quad has NEVER failed to start. Still runs like a top. Oil is changed about twice a year on average. Ridden about 5 hours a week.

 

I own several Kawasaki products and I am well pleased with all of them. The few problems I’ve had were all self-inflicted wounds. Here is the low-down on my Kawis:

1. 1987 ZG1000 Concours sport-touring bike. Bought used in April 1989. Present mileage 13,374. Improper winter storage resulted in rust in the gas tank. The rust crapped-up the carbs. I had to clean all four of them and replace all four float-valves. Moral - never store a bike for the winter without a full tank of gas that has been treated with Sta-Bil.

2. 1996 KLF400 Bayou 4x4. Bought new in August 1995. Present mileage 1,347. I changed the engine oil regularly, but I forgot about the air filter. At the 1999 Tour de Forest in Marienville, PA, held in the middle of a terrible drought, the dust was so thick you could barely see 20 feet. The already overtaxed air filter allowed the dust to enter the engine. It cost $630 to rebuild the top-end. Moral - clean your air filter every ride, and change your air filter every year.

3. 1991 KLF300 Bayou 4x4. Bought used in July 1998. Present mileage 808. I added the speedometer when I got it, so I have no idea of the mileage rolled up by the former owner. No problems to date.

4. 1998 STX900 Jet Ski. Bought used in August 2000. It does not have an hour meter, but I estimate it has about 60 hours on it since I got it. No problems to date.

I also own a 1983 Honda GL650 touring bike with about 8000 miles, and a 1988 Honda NX250 dual-sport with about 4200 miles, and I just bought a 2001 Polaris Sportsman 90 in May that has only had 3 tanks of gas through it so far. My biggest problem is finding the time to ride all this stuff AND maintain it.

The quads are used for work and play at about a 20/80 split. The 400 Bayou has been to Cochranton three times, the 300 Bayou once. The 400 Bayou has been to Salamanca twice, the 300 Bayou once. The 300 Bayou has been to QOTR twice (Quads On The Rocks - see the QOTR article of 8-15-99 in the features section), the 400 Bayou once.

Both Bayous have been seen a lot of hard riding. Neither one has given me any problem that could be attributed to lack of manufacturing quality control or flawed manufacturing design. Overall I would rate Kawasaki’s manufacturing quality at least equal to, if not better than Honda’s, and I have ridden and owned various Hondas since 1963 - longer than many of you have even been alive, much less riding.

All first-year products, regardless of what we’re talking about, tend to have “teething” problems as the manufacturer gets things sorted out. The odds are though that you’ll get a good one. Go ahead and buy the new 650 Prairie, it’s the best of the current crop of big-bore 4x4s.

Army Man

 

Very informative post there, Army Man. I see you use yours and not just write about them. I like Kawi too because I am not very interested in getting something I have to work on every five minutes. "Fill 'er up and go" is my motto.

 

I have a 98 Prairie 400 2x and a 85 ATC 250r and I have had no problems with the Prairie and I pull a mower every week with it. As far as he Honda goes this thing is amazing, I bought it used and beat up for $500 but it was all original and I can say that Honda builds a great product as well. Good to see you back Army Man.

Eric