just bought a new 03 p650 last tuesday and it's already back in the shop for a bunch of reasons........ 1. the belt light came on and won't let the engine go past 3600 rpm, if I try it spits and sputters like it's hitting a rev limiter. 2. won't start unless I give it gas.....even with the choke. In fact the choke actually causes the motor to die out. Once I finally get it started it idles like crap unless I blip the throttle a little.
3. Rear brake barely stops the machine......worthless rear brake, maybe it's just out of adjustment, I don't know. 4. Engine runs so lean that it pops through the carb sometimes. 5. Rubber boot came off the front drive shaft. 6. Found a bunch of loose screws/bolts everywhere..............this bike must have been built on a Friday or Monday. I've never like Kawasaki (yes I've owned a couple of their products). Kaws always had a reputation for having poor reliability and always left a bad taste in my mouth. I went with the p650 because I heard so many good things about it and thought that maybe since the last time I owned a Kaw about 10 years ago they had changed.......I was wrong......Kaw is still the biggest piece of crap out there (no offense to you Kaw devotees, just my opinion). The dealer told me today they'd let me trade it for a Grizzly, so come Monday I'll be picking up a new Grizzly, which is what I should have purchased to begin with. Can anyone convince me why I shouldn't get a Grizzly?

 

The belt light is on probably to indicate service. How many miles did you have on it when it did this. The other items wow I have never heard so many things wrong with one quad all at once. I like my Prairie as it is well built and has so far been reliable. I would inquire to see if maybe your machine had been apart at the dealer for some reason as the fit and finish on mine was top notch. Hate to hear you had such a bad experience with the machine. This does not sound right for some reason and I would investigate it further and I bet Kawasaki would love to hear about your experience as this just does not sound like something they would let go far.

 

This sounds so far feched that I don't know If I believe you. We've had other guys come on here and slam Kawi's they supposed to have bought, come to find out they owned other brands and were just trying to slander kawi's excelent reputation. With a name like Yamaguy this sounds like it could be the case, but giving you the benifit of the doubt and saying you did actually have a P650 it sounds more like your dealer forgot to PDI the quad. You likley won't have any better luck with the grizz you buy from the same place.

 

If it is true it sounds like your dealer screwed up not Kawasaki. Dealer setup is huge in how you receive your machine. Mine was setup great from Bristow's in St. Cloud, MN. Haven't had an issue with it. It does pop until it is fully warmed up, but then again it is always about 10 degrees or less around here recently. Warms up real fast when it is above 30.

I understand you being upset but don't bash Kawasaki for a poor setup from the dealer.

 

Well said sascach,I believe we have a kawi basher . We all have our own opinions,and its great that a guy can learn from each others problems.What i dont like reading is someone coming into these forums and bashing a yami ,kawi,suzuki,polaris it just isnt cool!

 

I appreciate all your responses.......Again let me say that I'm not trying to offend anyone here.......I'm just really pissed at Kawasaki right now. Let me assure everyone that I'm not some masked marauder trying to give Kaw a bad rap.......everything I said is true. As far a dealer set-up goes, basically the only thing they do is uncrate the bike. I just saw one today still in the crate and it was completely assembled from the factory from what I could tell. So I don't believe that all these problems stem from the dealer. I believe Kawasaki is to blame. Anyhow, not trying to **** anyone off like I said. I'm glad to hear that others have had good experiences with their prairies......maybe I just got a lemon or something. But it still brings back bad memories of the other Kaws I've owned, hence the reason I own a 2001 Yamaha yzf r1 street bike and a 2002 Yamaha yz250f dirt bike. Think I'll go back to Yam for my atv too. Ride safe all.

 

I have never owned one of Kawasaki's quads.

I have in the past owned 3 of there street bikes & 4 of there dirt bikes
and with the exception of one of the street bikes having a recall they
have all been good machines.

My present Kawasaki Kdx200 was well built and was delivered from the
dealer in first class shape.

It just sounds odd.

Chet[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Go get a Grizzly. They don't have any problems that I have ever heard of. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Is your quad off waranty if so maybe it time to do some wrenching. I don't know of any quad you don't have to do any work on even the all mighty Honday has a bad day. I have had my quad through the mill more so than mostr Kawasaki owners with respect to over maximizing modds,it always comes back smileing. I have to agree with Sascach I don't think you are telling the whole story there must be more you are not letting out. If the warranty is off do the work yourself you might enjoy a little dirt under the finger nails. Wifey isn't crazy about my black finger nails but I tell her it is a new fashion statement LOL. If in dougt get a manual I know an excellent dealer that can point you in the right direction!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well spoken sascach, I think it's time to confront people like this, yamaguy (John Doe) here's what we do:
you email me your phone number your dealer name and serial number.

1. that belt light and sensor is there to save you money in the long run... I wish mine would come on more often.
2. so give it gas.... (it will not run on air) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
3. put better tires on it and use like your manual says front and back brakes, and if you want a back brake that lasts the only bike you can look at is yes the P650. (and keep in mind you have a faster bike here so it requires more braking) If you compare the stopping distance to the griz to the kawi the kawi can stop a heck of a lot faster.
4. your carbs are a tad out of sync.. no biggy you can fix this or leave it... if it bothers you I say FIX IT after the break-in period, leave it alone for now.
5. chit happens, I only had one boot ever come off in my life time and guess what it was on? that poor griz. (but it wasn't the bike's fault it was the drivers).
6. loose screws... well I can not comment on this one until I know which ones you are talking about.
and yes BYW there are good and bad with everything including other manufactures, also over the last 5 years I put 24000km on a KVF400 and I got 14200 on the P650... I personnally feel that's pretty good.... I don't think I could do that to a peice of chit. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I hope you have better luck with the grizzle. AND NO I will not convince you not to buy the grizzly[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]