Some forum members are PMing asking how to contact the OEMs. As much as we would like to help we don't give out that information. The manufacturers work through their dealers and are not set up to receive direct communication.

Normally if your dealer isn't providing the level of service you expect, you can ask to be put in touch with the regional representative.

Those of you who have been a Kawasaki fan for some time will know they are exceptional when it comes to the customer. Kawasaki will often arrange to ride with a club and will ask for feedback and suggestions on their machines. They are very much customer orieented.

Because of my position I don't normally endorse a machine in public. But personally the Prairie is one of my favorite machines.

 

I do agree that KAWI does stand behind their bike I said that for years I'm on my #6 year of Kawi, however with the issues I'm having it was better years ago than now... we could point fingers at reasons but that doesn't help so I will leave it at experience and communication goes a long long way, and in mine point of view unfortuately kawi isn't taking to me and I'm the one with the experience on a kawi, in total right now I'm around the 39,000km mark on 2 kawi bikes. But on the same note I don't want to show any disrespect to Kawi but to say that I'm too heavy on the 650 to cause the rear shock to fail at 8 months is quite an overstatement... also to say that I need a "power tune up" when it has all that power still there but will not start is not the answer either. Kingmort I feel that Kawi is out to get us because of our scenery and hospitality LOL and if thats the case noone in newfoundland would ever get any support from kawi ! LOL

 

The only way I could get the Canadian Kawi customer service phone number was to call the U.S. number. They gave me the Canadian number.

 

holy $hit... I can not believe it.... I'm moving to the States in the morning.... I posted response last night and I just got home just ten minutes ago and guess what.... Rick Rodwick (SP) from kawi usa called and left a message this morning. THANK_YOU RICK!! How's that I bet if I went to the states with my bike and I ran out of fuel in the woods I bet Rick could fly some in to me with the GPS cordinates. Now how do I get this kind of service in Canada? I think my Canada has to include the US. Rick... I would still like to talk in person[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img].

 

BTW Rick how would you like to move to Sunny halifax ? LOL Also it might look like Kawi is not doing anything for me (for my 650 ) from my prevoius post and that is not the case. Right now with my current issue it's like pulling teeth on a grizly bear. In fact any issue I had with the 650 none was a quick fix compared to the kvf400 I had. But the fact is I have a lemon from day one and I have lots of patience when stuff is happing but I have none when nothing is happening and people are just talking. Kawi lost alot of sales here in Nova Scotia because people in the ATVing community watch my bike because if it last me a year it takes an average atv rider about 5-10 years to put the same milage and hours on theirs, the thing is that people don't realize is that I'm the only one that have these issues. That bothers me because when I was on the 400 I was able to talk to people that was looking at the 400 sell them to people to help my dealer out because my dealer has to help me out alot and that's the way I can help them out. But now when some one talks or takes my 650 out all they want to talk about is the problems I'm haveing and it pi$$ing me off. It's to the point went people say on trail I see you must be on a new bike I just say yes. At this rate Kawi has fixed the belt/clutch, several computers, carbs, etc... which yes some people are having issues with but not as much as I've had.... The thing that concens me here is I don't even regret one bit in buying the 650 even with the issuse I'm having that's how much I love the 650.

 

I agree with you Kawi650, I love mine so much that I'd still love it if it started falling apart. If you'll notice in my signature, I have a Polaris that is always breaking down. I don't think I can remember one time when everything was working at the same time. There is always something broke on it and by the time I get that fixed, something else has broken. The only complaint I have with the 650 is the fan running after it's shut off. I know that's normal and it's supposed to do that, but it can get irritating at times and riders of other ATVs sometimes don't accept my explanation that it's normal and say they wouldn't want one if it did that (it's jealousy, I know). But there are times when I want to stop and cut the engine off to listen, but have to wait for the fan to stop before I can. Would it hurt if I intalled an inline switch to cut the fan off on those situations? I know that's dangerous because I may forget to turn it back on.

 

Well I love my prairie and my Kawasuki 400 but have had totally different experiences with Kawi's customer service then what you guys have had. In fact i must say that it is the worst, other then my first quad dealer, customer service i have ever seen. Suzuki has shown me that they are far more customer oriented then Kawi

Examples of my experiences with KAWI customer service:

Called them when my P650 belt squeeked at 300 miles ...the mechanic had informed me it would be $700 in repair to replace belt and clutch...said the belt probably come from the factory loose and was not tightened and wore a grove in the clutch...their customer service people told me it was my fault...that the quad should be rode in low up to 45 mph...only ride in high if you are absolutely sure you will be going faster then 45...I had a Kodiak any never had to do that for that quad. Also informed me you are not to climb hills in high gear either...if i had climbed hills or ridden the quad under 45 in high that was the problem and it was my fault. I informed them that other owners i have talked to and information I read on the forum led me to believe this was a common problem...and the quad only had 300 miles on it...they said they were not aware of any other belt issues/complaints. I asked about the black plastic...she informed me that Kawi was not aware of the trim cracking...told her they replaced mine at least once under warrant and she referenced I could have hit something....I asked to speak to a manager or another person and she refused saying it would do no good. Called back and got the exact same spill from another rep. Dealer called them when i was there and they told him you shouldnt ride it in high below 45 a well...dealer also thought it was idiotic and said he would pay for the repairs as this just shouldnt have happened (second dealer i went to...first said it was a maintenance issue and belts are supposed to be replaced ... 300 miles...good ole newgate cycle in ogden utah)... since i have found NYROCs site and followed his maintenance guidelines have not had another problem with the quad.

Sample No 2 : Recently called on the KFX 400 as someone informed me about frame concerns. Wanted to find out what people have been complaining about and their policy on it so if it happened I would be prepared. Kawi customer service said they are not aware of ANY frame concerns or complaints. Customer Service said that if the frame cracks take it to the dealer...have him take pictures and call tech support...but i would have to prove i didnt jump or mod the quad. How do you prove you dont jump a quad.

Kawi's engineers have totally impressed me...their customer service has not impressed me in the least bit...fact is i think it stinks...hopefully they will become more committed to the KFX700 as it is getting alot of attention and focus...but from what i have experienced and some of the feedback i get of the forums ... they havent done to good of a job supporting the P650...NYROC and few others have...Kawi hasnt.

 

sorry Rebel I don't agree with you GET RID OF THAT OLD POLARIS LOL Seriously that has to be the last quad I would want in mine truck, a friend had one and it cost him everything he owned. Atleast with the newer polaris it's not down that much. As for the fan you can do what you want I did it to my 400. it goes something like this:
1. you run a power wire to the fan from the DC outlet.

1B. (This is an Option: you run a positive wire from your battery with a 20A fuse to just before the DC outlet. On the feed to the DC you splice it, you put a switch that gives you power all the time or it shuts off with the bike by key).

2. Now the fan runs all the time and you put another switch upfront to run the all the time or automatic (the way it is now)... done.

Either the fan would be running no mater what you have any switchs set to. You do need to WATCH THAT FUSE though. The only thing you want to watch is on straight fan power and DC always live because your fan will run until the battery is dead. The nice thing about this set up you can put the DC on key and the fan on staight power and on a rough slow trail your fan is always on when the bike is on. I also wired an other seperate DC outlet so it's live all the time for GPS and aircompressors and helmet communicators.

I also forgot to mention if you travel in deep water watch the always on switch, (I always switched mine to automatic for deep water crossing so the bike can decide if it can run the fan without killing the fan motor).

 

Yep, I want to get rid of that Polaris quick, if someone would buy it. About the fan, I was wanting a switch where I could turn it OFF. When I stop, I like to listen for moment, but can't because the fan is running. When chasing dogs and trying to listen to where they are, it is hard. I was wondering about rigging up a switch where I could temporarily turn the fan OFF. I think I just hit on it!! A temporary swith that bounces back on after holding it!!

 

with mine set up you could hook it up with the key switch by haveing the DC plug switch to key and the fan switch to manual (or what I call always on). The result would be when you want the fan off turn the bike off, and when you start your bike well the fan starts too. I like the push dead button Idea how ever I would want a heavy duty one.