Now we've all heard the standard line from Kawasaki regarding P650 belt and clutch sheave wear: "You're driving in high range when you should be in low range". What do you suppose they are going to tell us when people start chewing up belts and clutch sheaves on the 700? The V-Force has NO low range!! I bet they'll say something intelligent like: "don't drive between 0 and 30 mph" or "the machine's not designed for moderate speed trail riding"! I'd make Kawi give me a written guarantee on the belt and clutch before I'd take the 700 home. What's everyone think? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

Good point!

I think that they should do a little r&d on it. it would suck to sell all of those quads just to have them recalled

There is no way they would initiate a recall! If Kawasaki wanted to do the right thing, they would initiate a recall on the P650 and install the EPI black spring on everyone's machine. Otherwise you are almost guaranteed accelerated belt wear! But that will never happen! They will tell you that it is normal wear for a belt to be worn in under 400 miles. Who are they kidding??

IT wont be nearly as bad as the 650. The rotating mass is so much less that the belt will brobably hold up better than the 650's. The rotating mass of the 650 is probably twice as much as the 700.

I wish they made a good set of tires similar to the all tracs or ITP ATR's that had the same weight if not less then the stockers with great handling and puncture resistance. I also wish Douglas would make the ultimate wheel in a 12in. Then you would have rolled edge strength with about the same weight as the stockers. I put C series and all tracs on my prairie and it felt like i lost 5hp. Clutched it and almost gained back the stock power and accelleration. I have been thinking of going back to stock wheels. Any body got a set they would sell cheap?

There will be several factors at work on the V-Force:
1 - at 500lbs, the machine is still fairly heavy which is harder on the drive system.
2 - being 2wd and having a racing style tire will encourage spinning instead of lugging so that will be easier on the belt.
3 - the lack of engine braking; without the KEBS holding the primary against the belt, there will be more clutch-to-belt slippage which will cause more wear.
4 - more power, which generally means more wear.

Well, hopefully the V-force and the prairie will use the same clutches and same belt. Then there will really be a demand for aftermarket replacement belts, instead of the $100 OEM belt.





Not to get off subject, but I was looking at the V-force in the newest Dirtwheels magazine, and it showed the Foward/Neutral/Reverse shifter was located on the handlebars, and looks to be an electrical switch. I thought that was pretty neat. Has it's pro and cons though.

Are we sure the pulley sheaves are made out of the same metal? It may be much harder than the 02 Prairies. Just food for thought I guess.

Novakaw650 has good points too. I honestly dont think we will have anything to worry about on the "stomp everything" KIllER 700!

I hope it's tougher metal. I did see a brand new primary clutch being installed on a 650 last week; the sheaves had a textured surface instead of being smooth like all the others. The textured surface went from the bottom to about half-way up the face. Maybe this is an improved model.

Novakaw650, you got my mouth drooling. Where did you see these sheaves at?? I wonder if they come on the 03 650s??