Ok, now I know this is the Kaw. site but I have to ask. I have money down on a 650 V twin but am more than a little concerned with all the problems people are having with plastic breaking and the belts. I am starting to think VERY hard about not getting the Kaw. and going and paying the extra to get another Honda (the 650 of course). Now I am not interested in having the fastst bike, that does not matter, but I do want good power, strong ability in VERY difficult terrain, bullet proof reliability (#1), and avg. to little adjustments to be made. It seems the Kaw. has a LOT of belt issues and I am thinking it may not be the best in the long run. I keep bikes forever and I do nto want to be buying belts all the time or shiming thing up every few days to keep it running correctly. Plus I hear that the cluch assm. is VERY expensive to replace when (not if) it gets worn out. The Honda interests me because the tranny "should" last about forever, maint. free and every Honda I have owned was bullet proof. What do you thing? I do understand the Honda has a crappy front diff but I would consider going to Highlifter for their gearless locker to take care of that problem. The brakes really do not concern me, because I have had drums on my other bike and never had a problem. I do LOVE the Kaw. front Diff and the idea of the rear sealed brake but would really rather have gears (I think) tahn a belt drive. Also how is this for the "Low" range pulling power (plain old fashion stump pulling power) and how well does this machine work (plow, tow farming eqpt, etc?) This type of use is why I would rather have a machine with good old fashion foot shifting gears. What are your thoughts and is the V twin right for me?
Thank you!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Code54:

1. The plastic breakage is just the black trim. It breaks more in the cold, and it you hit trees and logs. If you hit stuff on the honda you may break even more than we do. Kawasaki owners are perfectionists, they have to have the best, so when there is a flaw with easy to break plastic they make a big stink about it. Don't let plastic deter you. It isn't a big deal. I haven't replaced mine yet. It is busted, both sides behind front wheel. I just fix it until it gets really bad.

2. The tires suck, so get good tires before you take it home.

3. The belt is very easy to get long life out of. I have 26" and 28" tires, and my belt shows no signs of wearing out fast. Many dealers have so little clue as to how to adjust the 650 belt that a lot of people have been disatisfied about the belt on their 650. You CAN get long reliable belt life from your 650. You just have to tighten it up ahead of time and install the black spring ($25, and 30 minutes).

 

I live on 40 wooded steep acers in Montana My driveway is about 1/4 mile it self and is very steep . I have no problem plowing and skid logs all the time and on weekends I get to smoke the Hondas to boot. I have had no problems at all with the Kaw. You do have to adjust the belt every now and again I also have to chang the oil no big deal. I do as much maintance on my bikes (Hondas by the way) than I do on the quad and I don't work them or run them in the winter. I don't think the Honda even has a low range It is more of a touring ride than a work bike and it shure won't run with the Kaw. If you are after a slow and realible the Honda is it but it ant no work bike like the Forman or the Kaw for that matter.

 

I total agree with NYROC
As for plowing I have an Cycle country 72 inch blade on my 650kaw what i beast. But once we got 18 inches last week it was useless. however so was my 4x4 truck with plow. but 12 inches on less snow is no problem.

NYROC
How do you adjust the belt
Also How do you check to see if you need to adjust the belt?
Where is this $25.00 spring on the 650?
Where do i get the spring?
Since I have used the 650 alot plowing I am sure the belt needs adjustment .I do have owners manual.
Please e mail me tampavii@aol.com
Thanks Gene

 

Range Rover, I went through the same decision process you are in about a month ago. I went down to the dealer wanting the Honda Rincon and not seriously considering the Kawasaki. I previously had and still have a Kodiak 400 and have had no probs with it. I also liked the idea of the true automatic transmission of the Honda Rincon and good ride etc.

That was at least until I rode the Rincon. I rode the Honda first and as soon as the engine fired, I couldn't believe how much engine vibration it had. I was expecting it being a Honda to be somewhat smooth and refined feeling even if it was a big single. I also disliked the suspension movement. Everytime I hit the gas, the Honda would squat down and then dive too much when braking. I felt like I was riding a marshmellow. The power felt OK, but nothing to write home about.

After the test ride, the dealer asked what I thought and I told him the above. He asked if I wanted to try the Kawasaki Prairie 650. Well never turning down the chance to try a new bike, I said sure. As soon as the Kawasaki started up, I could tell this was a whole different animal. The engine was som much smoother that there was no comparison with the Rincon. After I got away from the dealership, I hit the throttle and the front wheel came off the ground and I was hooked. The suspension did not dive or feel mushy but I'm sure does not ride quite as smooth as the Rincon.

Here is the good part: When I rode back to the front of the dealership, I was grinning ear to ear and my wife met me. I did not go to the dealership with the intention of buying anything, only looking at the Rincon close up. My wife also let me know in no uncertain terms that we were not buying anything that day or in the future. Well....when I showed up with the stupid grin, my wife cam over and said she wanted me to buy a bike. (No I didn't need her permission, but had to maintain the illusion. haha) I have bought many bikes over the years and this is the only time she said she supported the idea and didn't get mad. And.....it was her idea.

At that point I was still thinking the Honda was newer, higher tech, a HONDA etc. and flip flopped back and forth for about two hours before finally deciding that as much as I wanted to like the Rincon, the Kawaski was just much more fun and I haven't regretted my decision. If the Honda engine was smoother, It would probably make a good bike for my wife with the mellow power and all.

I can't comment on maintenance yet because I only have 10 hours on it. I did buy the black spring and will put it in soon. I could not ask for better performance from the current auto belt/clutch set-up as it works great but I thought the black spring could not hurt since there are so many recommendations for it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

I also recently bought a Prairie after lookin at the Rincon.I went to my local Honda dealer to have a look at the Rincon and found out that they had just recently started handling the Kawi line.They told me that they dont even plan on bringing in a Rincon(it just wont compare to the Prairie).A week later,at the local bike show I finally got a look at the big Honda,I was very dissapointed in it.I always have thought quite highly of Honda's products but this one looks bad to me.Have a look at things like the tiny piece of 1/4 inch wire bracing the running boards,not only is it flimsy but it is just far enuf away from the fenders to allow sticks and stuff to wedge in there and do some real damage(forget torn black plastic,were talkin real damage here).A small thing sure,but it seems to contiue from there,weak lookin rear susp. lackluster perfrmance and if that transmission doesnt hold up its gonna be killer expensive to fix.
After buyin' the P650,I was stoked,awsome power ,handles real well and is a comfy ride,in short I love tthis thing.My advice(be that what it may) is by the Kawi,You WILL love it.

 

Code54

The problems you see us crying about on the p650 are not really problems they are nusences (sp?). The reason we are all complaining about these things are strictly because we hope someone at Kawi will see these posts and make the best sport ute evin better, so if you go on the honda forum and they tell you to go to the kawi forum and see all the problems we're having with these machines you know that it's because we admit our downfalls (unlike honda owners) and want them changed. I recently e-mailed some of these posts to our Kawi rep and the techies at Kawi, I'm hoping it will make a differance. Hope you don't let these little things stop you from having the best quad out there.

 

I noticed those little bars under the fenders on the rincon. Other quads that have those get them bent out of shape easy, and they hit the tire.

Rincons are having a serious difficulty in the mud. They break a lot easier, their CV joints don't cut the mustard with bigger tires. I have read some posts regarding this

I like the rincon, but it is more of an easy riding type of quad, made for people who never want to change anything, who are content with it the way it is.

 

my honda dealer was very carefull to tell me the rincon is a recreational/touring quad. i don't think it was designed for mud running and serious offroad use. i am a diehard honda fan but i think they missed the mark with the rincon. everywhere you read people wan't speed, and serious mud running capabilities' and the rincon is niether. from what you described, reliability being your #1 priority ,it may be a little smaller than you wan't, but a honda 450s is absolutly bulletproof, just put in a detroit locker up front and 26" vampires, and just ride. i can't believe all you automatic guys put up with all that spring, belt, and clutch garbage, totaly unreliable. i would rather be riding. that's my opinion.

 

Just ride them both the chose will be more than obvious. The Honda boys are just trying to justify a wast of money. I allways raced Hondas at MX but they dont cut it as a sport utilty quad. Just the facts from a guy who knows.