Took the 650 out today. I went in some water today over the headlights and over the seat. I even stopped in the middle because my glasses fell off. Luckily I caught them. NO stuttering or any problems. The Grizzly I rode with had to stop a few times to take off a plug and drain some water. I'm sure Yamaha will fix that for next year. I couldn't stand up because my rubber boots are only 17 inches high, so I had to bring my legs up on to the gas tank when I went through. How do you guys keep your rear end dry? Do you put on waders?
thanks.

 

Jeff,
some guys do wear waders.Some folks like me just bring an extra pair of clothes to wear before they get in their vehicles and leave for home.If I know that im going to go mudding for sure,I bring my ''designated ''mudding clothes,I than slip into a clean/dry set of clothes for the trip home.When I get home,I hang my dirty/muddy clothes on some special clips I rigged up,and power wash them, so they will be ready for my next mud outting.

Now as far as the Grizz and his drain plug?I dont think the drain plug is a bad thing at all and there really is nothing for Yamaha to fix for next yrs model.In fact,its good to have a drain like that to be sure that you did dispell any water that may have entered the belt drive system from entering deep water like us guys did.You and I could very well have a little water sitting in our belt housings with NO DRAIN plug to release it.Drain plugs dont necessarily mean that you have water problems.

Bill

 

Even if Kawi thinks they they designed a water tight system a drain plug would be nice just in case. I know guys have talked about the Grizzly sputtering. I'm not sure if they determined yet what the cause is. Although I didn't make it clear in my post I was referring to the sputtering problem that may need to be addressed.
Thanks for the tour yesterday. By the way, I put my tires to the test today (Sunday). There is some mud close to my house. It seems mud can be real thick and sticky sometimes. There is an area where the water is about 14 inches deep. I had never gone through it and after yesterdays success at the Mounds I was more brave. I try to keep about 8 mph speed through mud and water. Well I was in low and locked and I started slowing down so I gave it full throttle and held it. I kept slowing down more and as I did I could feel the quad start to dig. I was worried. I must have made it out of the super sticky mud just in time because when I was almost stopped and dug I started to move out of it. Mud was flying from all 4 tires. Why is some mud more heavy and sticky than other mud?

 

Keep in mind some of the water I went through exceeded the front rack and seat height. NO quad leaving the dealer new will go through this much water without getting water into the belt system. As soon as I pulled the drain plug I was back in business. I don't believe my machine getting water into the belt was a design flaw at all. If the Kawi or Polaris went as deep they would have been getting towed. (No drain plug) I did like a couple of things on your Kawi better than my Griz. The speedo on the handle bars and the engine. Twin cylinder vers. my single at close the same displacement, the twin can generate more power with less work. Maybe next time we can ride and compare on straight mud and trail riding. No submarine tests. Nice meeting you and hope we can ride again.

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff,
I am not bashing the Grizzly. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
I was referring to the stuttering that many Grizzly owners have reported during water use. I don't know if anyone knows why it happens yet. It may or may not be a "problem".

As far as your quad in particlular, I don't know if yours stuttered or not yesterday, and I don't know if your belt slipped or not yesterday, since I was not really paying attention. I don't know if you stopped to drain your becuase you needed to, or because you could since you had a drain plug.
No offense was intended guys in my original post.
I had a great time yesterday and am looking forward to swapping for a trail ride.
Thanks.

 

I believe the whole story should always be included in the topics. Actually yesterday was the first time mine has ever stuttered and it has 180 wet miles out of 280. The second hole we went to when I pulled my winch cable out just in case it didn't go well, when I reached the other side and was climbing out it was stuttering. This was one of the deep holes when the water reached the rack. By the time I leveled out on solid ground it went away and it didn't happen on the rest of the holes we played in. When we stopped in the woods my belt was starting to slip a little bit. That's why I decided to check my drain plug. The second hole when I looked under my Grizz I was checking to see if I had gone a little deep. Yamaha has a (sight glass) at the bottom of the front air intake for a quick check. I like this feature a lot.

"No offense was intended guys in my original post." non-taken. I like to hear everyones opinion. I would like to see where your air intakes are located the next time we ride.

Jeff

 

There's one air intake, right under the speedometer lcd cluster. It's about 34.5" off the ground.
That first hole the water was real deep. When you first drop in it your front rack is under water. I did that hole about 6 or 7 more times after I left you guys.

 

Ever got water in the belt housing? What would happen if you snorkeled the air filter but not the belt drive air inlet and outlet, would it stop you dead in the water with the engine ruuning? Or would it go a little bit.

I drove my 650 in real deep water, up to front rack saturday. I got my legs wet even though I kneeled on the seat. No problem. Did not wash much mud off the machine like I hoped it would.

 

<< Ever got water in the belt housing? What would happen if you snorkeled the air filter but not the belt drive air inlet and outlet, would it stop you dead in the water with the engine ruuning? Or would it go a little bit. >>



I haven't had water in the 650, but on my polaris the quad would barely move, but the engine would really be revving high (belt slipping) and it would be tough going up hills. After a little riding around, it would dry off. I'd imagine the 650 would be similar.

 

Just read something in one of the mags that stated the cause of the sputtering. They thought it came from the engine &quot;inhaling&quot; steam given off by water hitting the engine or exhaust pipe. Would seem make sense since the problem dissapears quickly after the bike leaves a waterhole.