i am wondering if you guys have rode with or against a arctic cat 650 and the comparrison is... thanks for any info that you guys can share....

 

That is what my Dad has...but it's a 2004 650.
The Ac has it in ground clearence and rack space, and idle smoothness...and that's about it...no wins across the board in handleing (fast track through trees over roots etc...the AC rides like a whale on top of a tricyle..bobbing around on every corner, it can't keep up with the KQ, I lapped him on a 1/4 mile track... when switched up he could pass me if he was on the KQ). In speed the Kq and 650 are almost even at take off...KQ leads by a nose till 40 or so then it's multiple quad lengths/ AC tops out at 62 or so, KQ 68 or so.
In low gear the king will crawl up rocks and downed trees, the AC 650 wants some juice...if you take on an obsticle at a dead stop..and don't bounce it with speed ...it dies, where the king will just crawl. This is not a fluke, it is because the 650 is geared about 25% too high in low range.
Diff lock seems to be even. Pulls them both out of bad spots.
Engine braking goes to the KQ on downhills.
Then you have EFI vs carbs. at high elevations the AC starts to chug and foul plugs.
The Ac and KQ seem even in ability to cross deep water.Edge to KQ..
Reverse is high range in AC...low in KQ but it "times out" under power... i'd say they are a wash in rev.
I thought the 650 looked built better...but he has had a few problems... we'll have to see long term which holds up better. He is easier on his then I am on mine, but he's had his longer...
Lights on the KQ are way better. Brakes on KQ are way better...skid plates are about the same, but the front of the KQ is lower then the AC so it gets used more...
At trail speed on moderate roads...they both are smooth riding.
Gas milage....hee hee... he has a bigger tank and can get about 70 miles/ I got less gas but will go about 25 miles further on a tank.
Both are awesome quads, in the snow and mud he should (in theroy) go further because he has more clearence..but in real life, not yet...
Towing... I think the Ac might win that one too, not sure....we've not put them head to head in a test...

Jumping, wheelies and such...the KQ has a lighter feel and seems to do better at that type thing...

That's about all we have noticed....LOL~!

 

I know someone who has both. The AC 650 is a total mudder. With the stock 13" of ground clearance plus he added 28" ITP 589's and a 2" lift, he never gets stuck. And the power of the 633cc kawie v-twin moves the tires with ease. The other guy with the KQ700 is stock except for 27" IBC gators. It is too a great machine. Here's my break down:

For heavy mudding: The AC650
For all around: The KQ700

In a drag race, the AC650 might get the edge at 1st, but the weight of the AC650 will come into play and the KQ might pass it given enough road.

 

This is probably going to sound a little ignorant so please bear with me. Is the key to successful mudding due to "ground clearance"? I always felt that they key to great mudding is...power, tires and some peripherials. How does clearance make such a difference?

 

It is not an issue if your sloshing around in water....but in gooey mud the bottom of the atv becomes a way to push and pile mud up. The higher the GC the less drag/ or less problems getting high centered. Power will blast you through more mud resistance and tires spinning helps your tires clean out to grab for more traction, but if your talking these two quads...power is going to be close to even. This is why sra's do poorer in mud and snow then irs, the rear axle becomes a scoop and will push mud up over the axle burying it like a weight in the mud, soon your trying to drag half the hill with you.....
The AC has 13 inches front to rear... the KQ has under 11 in the front at the lowest point...12 under most the belly pan, and 13 at the rear. In the world of mud, it means we have more drag.

Now throw in the weight issue...will the KQ sink as deep being 150 pounds less? That really depends on the mud! It may be why we don't see much difference in the bad stuff between the two quads.

Both have good 4x4 systems/with diff lock.... tires being even (650 comes with 26inchers on it)... they should perform close, but the edge would go to the AC for GC.

Just look at the cats that won the mud nationals this year and tell me GC was not a factor! They are like 5 feet tall, with 25plus inches GC!!!!

I still think for all around use they don't come that close...the king wins by a clear margin...

 

Monzooki...Thanks for the great explanation!

 

Very good points MonZooki. Where I have found that ground clearance really comes into play is in deep ruts. Sometimes with my kawie 700 prairie I will bottom out and a few times I can't get the traction I need. But, with my kawie BF750, the IRS really helps. As far as the AC650 and suz KQ700, they will be both good mudders, I just think that stock for stock the ground clearance of the AC650 has a slightly better advantage. BUT, that doesn't mean the KQ700 is bad in the mud. On the contrary, I have seen two go through some good deep thick mud. Mud tires are a must though.

 

Tires make A TON of difference! "Slicking over" the stockers not being able to clean out happens a lot, the quad should not stop forward progress until it's high centered... but you'll see stock tires slick up and not move when the quad still has skyline under it! Tires really make the difference!