Finally go t to see the new 650 kawa yesterday

Specifications

Engine Type .....Liquid-Cooled, 4-stroke 90 degree
counterbalanced V-Twin
Displacement.....633 cc
Carburation......Keihn CVKR x 2
Valve system.....SOHC, 8 valves
Transmission.....Kawa automatic power-drive system
with hi/low range plus reverse,
and KEBC (Kawa engine brake
control)
Final Drive......Shaft front and rear with
selectable 2x4,4x4 with torque
Transfer control (front diff)
Suspension FR....MacPhearson struts (7" travel)
Suspension R.....Swing Arm and single shock with
pigyback reservoir
Brakes FR........Dual ventilated discs with dual
piston caliper
Brakes R.........Sealed multi disc system
Fuel Capacity....18.1 liters (4 gallons)
Instrumentation..Digital,Speedometer,odometer,twin
trip meters,fuel gauge,clock,
hour-meter,low-fuel warning light
Colors...........Fire cracker red or hunter green

The above specs come from a Kawa spec sheet given to me by a Kawa rep.

Some interesting and innovative feature I saw

1)The drive shaft running from the motor to the
front diff is straight (no universal Joint)
2)The rear remote reservoir shock is fully
adjustable for preload (screw type not notch
type)and dampning
3)The air filter (which is located where the gas
tank normally is)is easy access and well
designed
4)The battery sits under the seat on a 45 degree
angle therfore they are using a compleatly
sealed type to avoid spillage
5)The hp figure given to me is 45hp and according
to the rep the torque figure is off the chart
That the atv industry uses (wot=65mph)
6)The fist thing I do when I purchase a new
Polaris (this is my third)is to remove the
mediocre lighting system and relace it with
automotive type 55watt halogen driving lights.
The Kawa comes with crystal clear lenses and
55 watt halogen bulbs.
7)I measured the ground clearance under the skid
plate (this is where it really counts)and got a
dissapointing 9.5".The rep told me that this
will most likely change as the production model
will have 26" or 27" tires on alloy rims. Even
if they use the 27" they will only get 10.5"
clearance as the tires on the bike were 25".
This dimension pales to my stock 25" tired
Xplorer which is 12". If Kawa does not do
anything about this I'm sure hi-lifter will.
(come on guys you know every inch counts ha!ha!)
8)There is nothing to grease on this bike and
and normal maintenance will probably be only
oil changes,front brake maintenance,air and oil
filter replacement.(the oil filter is easy
access and of the spin on type.
9)The weight of this machine is supposed to be
612 lbs but that will vary slightly as the
tire/rim configuration has not been decieded
yet

I glad to see a manufacturer with the guts to
give our sport a twin cylinder, vibration free utilty type bike and I'm sure the others will
follow suit. By the way while I was at this atv
show I spoke to the Polaris rep and asked about
the 700 twin his response was "it will be
available by fall 2001 if it exists."

 

I noticed after reading my post that I forgot to give the rear suspension travel. It's 7.3"

 

My Sportsman has dual 30 watt headlights, single 60 watt top headlight, and a 27 watt brake light. Which if you take the brake light cover off you have a VERY good back up light. All of the above of course are Halogen (Quartz)

 

thanks for the report on the 650. it sounds cool but what i dont like is only a 4 gal fuel tank on a 633cc engine. thats a big engine to feed and not a huge tank. i really wish it had IRS too. i hope the polaris rep was just making things up, he knows very well about the sp700. but it will be out before fall of 2001. the kawie 650 is sposta be out in feb or march and that would mean that polaris would loose alot of sales to people buying the kawie650.

later
jon

 

The gas tank is 4 canadian gallons which is very close to 5 US gallons. About the same size as the sportsman HO

 

Hi there Polarisman
My xplorer has the same original stock light configuration as your sportsman.The problem with the stock duals up front is the cheap plastic lense, that probably only lets 80% of the light out.I have tried replacing the bulbs with 55watt but the differance with a clear automotive lense is dramatic.Do yourself a favor and install a 55watt backup light and while your at it change your pod light to a 100watt. My ride has no problem keeping the battery at full charge when operating the twin 55 watts plus heated handlegrips and thumbwarmer. I tried operating the pod together with the others but the math does not add up. Xplorer 1999 = 200watt maximum
charging output.The newer sportsmans have a 250 watt system but it may be cutting it pretty close.

 

is there anyplace that u can buy automotive style lenses for the sportsman?? wouldent these allow more of the light to flood the front of the ATV? where did u get the 55w and 100w bulbs for your machine? and does it blow any fuses by installing the higher wattage bulb??

later
jon

 

what is a caniadian gallon?? isnt canada on the metric system? and dont they buy fuel by the liter??? i think the fuel tanks in canidan cars are measured in liters. if i remember right is 3.7 liters to a gallon, but im not possitive. i dont know why the kawie would have canidian measuring system for the fuel tank when the plant is in lincoln nebraska.isnt it??

a gallon is a gallon i think its regulated by the govt.

later
jon

 

Ledebuhr1

A US Gallon is not an imperal Gallon. A Gallon anywhere elso in the world is 4.564 Litres. A Gallon in the US is 3.785 Litres.

Why I don't know. It would be easier if every one used Litres.

The Joka
400Scram

 

I don't think there are any aftermarket lenses that will fit the stock twin lights on the polaris
quads. Just go to walmart and pick up a set of driving lights preferably with a plastic rear housing to avoid corrosion over time. They normally come with 55watt h-3 halogen bulbs and are about $30 a pair.(do not buy fog lights and do not buy the newer type oval or round lense projector type. I have tried both and they simply do not compare to driving lights. You will have to remove your stock lights and drill a hole in the bumper to accomodate the new ones. Use the same wires and reconnect. The reason you have to drill a hole in the bumper is that I have never seen aftermarket lights that are sidemount such as the stock polaris ones. When the job is done it will look stock.I have done this on three my last 3 polaris quads and have never blown a fuse or had any kind of problems, weather battery related or electrical.(Polaris quads do not have any fuses.Except for the main fuse)You can get a 100watt h-4 bulb for your pod light at most automotve speed shops. The stock lense in the pod is pretty good and with a new 100watt bulb it really performs well.