I have been pretty sold on buying the KQ this spring. I was at a dealership yesterday and he had the new BF 650i on hand. I have ridden the BF 750 and was not impressed at all with the ride or the handling. The 650i is a totally different machine than the 750. It handled a lot better and the ride was better. They did not have any KQs for me to compare against so I had to go by memory. I believe that the BF 650i was as powerful as the KQ and handled as well in the 2X4 mode. I think the BF was harder to steer in 4X4 mode than the KQ though. I am going to wait until they have a KQ and a BF 650i to compare them side by side. Have any of you folks tested the new 650i out against the KQ yet? I must say that I would consider the 650i as an alternate machine to purchase. It does not have EFI but has about everything else the KQ has, perhaps not as plush of ride, but can't say that for sure until I test them. Anyway, looking for your thoughts from those who have ridden both. (the BF 650i is a BF 750 frame with the prairie 650 engine in it. The suspension seems to be set differently than the 750 and there have been some other mods, at least it appears that is the case).

 

Just remember that while it sounds like the latest reincarnation of the Prairie 650 is probably a great carbed machine, you do give up quite a bit without EFI. Great gas mileage, even for these big-bores, easier tuneability with mods once you get a device to do so such as a Dobeck TFI, Dynojet PowerCommander or even better yet, the new Yoshimura EMS in January/February, easy starting in cold weather and good throttle response. If fuel economy is a factor for you, the King is very good and the Kawasaki V-Twins generally aren't with their two-cylinder, two-carb setup. I think once the Yoshimura EMS comes out, the King just may even be able to hang with a stock Brute Force because the only place it lacks is off the line, which should be fixed with the new CDI. The 4x4 systems are also very different if that means anything to you. While they both have push-button 4x4 engagement, the Kawasaki system takes a little bit of time to engage and this has gotten many people in trouble when they ran into unexpected obstacles. The Suzuki system engages and disengages instantly. However, I must say the Kawasaki locker is better than the Suzuki's, in my opinion. I like the simplicity and diversity you have with the pull-lever locker instead of another switch you must simply either have on or off, though the Suzuki does just fine. These are things that I'm sure you are aware of and I just wanted to bring them to your attention in case you didn't know, but you sound very knowledgable. I have ridden a Prairie and loved it's power delivery. If you are telling me the new 650i handles as well as a King with the legendary 633 V-Twin power, then it must be a good machine, but I have to stick up for my steed as well because I chose it for several reasons and I still think it makes a compelling arguement for "best-buy" in the big-bore segment, even with the new Bombardier and the Brute Force.

 

I am the opposite of you R.G. the lever pulling locker is what I dislike the most about the kawi's. When I need a locker I want to be able to have a good hold on the bars.

 

Wow thats wierd, I was just going to ask that same question! I have also been wanting a kq but something keeps holding me back. Now i hear about a 650 powered, less tippy, better handling version of the bf750 and now all of a sudden I have another decision to make. my dealer doesnt have the 650 in yet so i was going to ask over in the kawi section if anyones ridden one yet. It seems it should be a nice package like the kq is minus the efi. But i have a p650 now and the v twin would make up for that in my opinion, that is one smooth engine.

 

If you literally mean smoothness as in how the engine runs, the King has got to be the smoothest single I've ever ridden. I know I'm really pushing the KingQuad here, but I did get it for a reason and after months upon months of research, just like you probably are now.

 

Hello Redgoblin, yes I was refering to engine smoothness when it is running, but I was comparing the kq to the v twin. You are right though, the kq has a very smooth running engine for a big single. The one thing i couldnt help but notice when I rode it was when the engine rpm is raised just above idle, the whole handle bar and headlight assembly shakes quite a bit, characteristics of a big single I suppose but non existant in a v twin (unless its a harley). Nevertheless, It wouldnt be a factor for me when I make my decision, its just too nice of a machine to let that stop me.