THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF POPULAR MECHANICS HAS SOME INFO ON THE PRAIRIE 650. THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY.
THE HEART OF THIS 65-MPH MONSTER IS A 633CC, 90' V-TWIN,THE FIRST V-TWIN IN ANY ATV. IT HAS EVERY STATE-OF-THE-ART FEATURE, INCLUDING SINGLE-OVERHEAD CAMS OPERATING FOUR VALVES PER CYLINDER, LIQUID COOLING, AN ALLOY BLOCK WITH STEEL LINERS AND A PAIR OF KEIHIN CVKR 32MM CARBS SIMILAR TO THOSE ON KAWASAKI'S NINJA SPORTBIKES.
THIS LIGHTWEIGHT POWERHOUSE PRODUCES 42HP AT 6500 RPM, BOASTS A FLAT TOURQE CURVE FROM 3000 TO 8000 RPM AND SMOOTHLY REVS TO 8500 RPM. THE PRAIRIE 650 WEIGHS 606 POUNDS, GIVING A RATIO OF JUST 14.4 POUNDS PER HORSEPOWER.

FEATURES OF NOTE ARE, FRONT DUAL PISTON BRAKES, OIL-BATH DISK PACK REAR BRAKES, LOCKABLE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, 4.8GAL FUEL TANK UNDER SEAT, 12" ALLOY WHEELS, SINGLE REAR SHOCK WITH PIGGYBACK RESEVOIR, MULTIREFLECTOR HALOGEN HEADLAMPS, SKID PLATES AND MILD STEEL ROUND TUBE FRAME.

LETS HOPE POLARIS TAKES SOME NOTES WITH THE HOPED FOR SP700!!

 

Exciting, huh!

 

I took some notes you see,I heard a rumor that one guy in our riding group is concidering buying the new Kawi V-twin[he currenty rides a 99 450s] and will than be replacing ME as KING of our utility 4x4 riding group!OH NO,AINT HAPPENIN!

I have a HPD pipe and silencer on the way tomorrow,along with airbox mods jetting and some newer clutch springs.

This should certainly put me over the edge in speed vs the new Kawi,
[I hate second!]
Bill

 

I don't think your mods will be enough the 650 is a twin. I will own a 650 soon, I would be glad to give you an honest assesment. I talked to a rep. and as you would expect he say's the power and speed is unprecedented. good luck

 

hey 3tv look in dirtwheels june 98 that is where i got the info on fourstroke tech. they show a sp600 in there if you don,t have one, i can scan it for you.

 

Though the 650 is a twin,it still is not a 2 stroke.I do think that I will be able to at least stay with a 650 or beat it,if not,more mods are on the way.I aint comin in second!
Bill

 

Dazed,

Will you please scan that copy of DW for me?
Thanks

Dodgeram01

 

All this talk about the Kawasaki has got me more than interested. I am not a brand dependant person, I bought my Polaris because I read so much good about it, so I'll have to put the 650 engine in the frame of my SP, cause I love the ride, just need some power!

 

Hey Bill:

Get the rad valve mod for your intake also. It is customized by RCR and matches the pipe that you are putting on. I have both on my bike, among many other mods, but the rads and pipe are where I started. Big difference!!

 

Just get the H.O SP by the sounds of it not just some little power increase that is hard to notice.A 650 will do me no good if I have to stand up every time I encounter a pumb on the trail.