The IRS issue is a good one. Option would be great! but....I do like the solid axle on my 650. I took mine to a hunt test this past weekend for retrievers and recieved many compliments on the look and driveability of the 650. The number "1" response was " MAN!!! Look at all that space in the rearend area! That will be easy to keep clean after running all day in the rice fields!" Well, a garden hose did the trick on clean up and we're talking "Gumbo" mud here. If I were riding 50-100 miles of trail, YES, the IRS would be preferred, but for my style of riding I really like the solid axle!!

 

I've got a bud who owns a 02 griz and he just replaced all 4 axles at the same time because of breaking them. He broke one then all 3 at same time. Yes he does have 28" outlaws and all the power with all that grip something has to give and I guess it wasn't the trail. I've hit stumps at 30 and 40 mph with my rear axle and had no problems (although I don't want to test the theory again). IRS is cool, yes, but we can all heed the old saying " IF IT AIN'T BROKE, WHY FIX IT".

 

It all comes down to - Sales -
My Kawa dealer is saying that in either '05 or even mid'04 the Prairie 650 will be the Prairie 700 & he also said their will also be other changes too. IRS? Adjustable struts? Other suspension changes? Different tranny? Fuel injection? Well, he wouldn't comment on any of this stuff but he did have a "grin" now & then. He also said, that Kawasaki will not just sit back & let their 4wheelers be passed by other makes when it came to improved machines.
It will be interesting to see what Suzuki is going to have in their own Monster 4x4 & being that Arctic Cat is already getting ready to put fuel-injection on a 500, maybe as soon as next model year, you think Suzuki would too.

 

ya, I have also herd that the p650 is soon to be the p700. But the reason I heard was it was going to save money by having a shared motor with the Vforce, (one motor was cheaper to mas produce and stock than two ). I am already planning to trade my 660 grizz for one as soon as they do. I hope if they do offer IRS, that they also offer the solid axel also. I like the IRS on all day rides But its not near as sporty. Last year I road my grizz in the colorado mts. all day every day for 3 days. and 2 months later I road my p650 all day for 3 days in west virginia (hatfield/mccoy) not as plush but alot more fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ps. I just got back from picking up my new orange 700. cant wait to try it out after work tomorrow.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

cc1999, what to do you for a living, are you a millionaire??? How many atv's do you own? It looks like 6!! Whatever you are doing let me in on the secret so we can all share in the wealth!!!!!!!!!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Everyone speaks of IRS ground clearance being this and that but the truth is it is actually less than a straight axle machine when you compare the clearance at the wheel. You must take into consideration the hardware hanging there to hold the outer CV carriers and suspension there. A Straight axle is the machine for clearance at the wheel while lacking a mere .5 to 1.5 inches in the center. Also an IRS machine will "squat" more when loaded than a lot of straight axled machines. However I must say this I hear Suzuki is going to make an IRS machine to replace the King Quad line and it will have I hear the 650 engine on it with several ranges in the tranny.

IRS's are not mudding machines either they tend to hang those low swung utensils in the mud while a straight axle if it not setting on center will come on through...

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

I wish Meangreen, I actualy sold the sportsman a few months ago. and I also sold the raptor befor I bought the 700 Vforce. however I sold both of them to good friends that I ride with all the time. We swap bikes from time to time, and since I still ride both of those bikes and I owned them for over 2 years I left them on my list.