I bought my 650 last Saturday. I must admit I heard and read alot about it having sport like speed but didn't really think about it that much until I roared down the driveway on it for the first time. It was amazing!!. Even when I don't ride it I'll go crank it up for a minute or two just to hear it.
Well back to the question of the missing axle boots. Like most everyone else after I got back from a good test run on it and I started to really looking at it all over,you know the admiring part of buying a new machine. When I got back to look at the rear end something caught my eye on the rear housing and axle, there is a round groove machined on both sides of the axle carrier and a flat place on the axle about an inch and one half or two on each side of the axle carrier. It looked like something was missing , like an axle boot to help protect the axle carrier seals. I looked at my June 2001 issue of Dirt Wheels at the 650 first test and there they were ON PAGE 42 a axle boot on each side of the carrier.
I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this or has heard anything about it.

Thanks

 

Hi,
I saw the same thing. I purchased a 650 about three months ago. None of the other machines on the lot had the boots. It must be an aftermarket deal. THe axles are sealed inside the housing with o-rings. To put them on now would mean pulling the axles and the rear diff apart - unless they could make a split-snap on version. Ask your dealer.

Two other notes. I've ridden mine in WV Deer Hunting and love it. Plenth of power across the board. Due to the hrs I've put on it I've already had the 20hr service. The dealership changed the fluids etc... However, they put standard rear diff. oil into the real casing and my "wet brakes" started squealing a bit and made a metal to metal weird sound when applied heavily. The manual states to use only Mobil fluid #124 in the read diff. because of the brakes. My dealership is going to replace the oil and any damage that might have occured as a bulletin just came out to all Kawa dealers about this problem. They took full responsibility. Just be aware and make sure your dealership uses the correct fluid when doing the 20 hr service. Kawa now makes their own brand of fluid so Mobile #124 isn't the only option.

I love this big red machine. I weigh about 240 and it screams up the hills in WV - all you have to do is hold on! WE have 10 guys in camp every year and the machines range from Yamaha's, Honda's, Mules, and NOTHING beats BIG RED.

Hope this helps. Enjoy.

 

I looked into this after I bought mine in May. A Kawasaki Rep. told my dealer that the boots were filling up with water, instead of keeping it out. That’s why they didn’t put them on any production units.

 

Thanks for that info. It was good to know there was a reason for not putting them on there.