I have a stock Warrior that I am selling for a Utility. I built a house in the woods and I need something to haul a log splitter and stuff like that. Most of my friends have stock Warriors and all I really want to do is keep up in the show and on some trials. I don't care about jumping or racing the atv. I want an auto trans and I prefer a solid rear axle so I can slide the rear around. I am experienced at riding. I am 6'3", 220lbs. I want atleast a 450. Vinson, Kodiak, Articat 500, Prairie.... Which one. I have read other threads but I was hoping someone would have some advice for my situation. Money is a factor so I can't do the Brute Force or a Grizzly. I could do a used Grizz of the price is right. Thanks

 

y not get the brute force 650 its around the price of the kodiak vinson etc and more cc's very fast and sporty and has 4x4 and a diff lock ask about it in the kawi forum

 

The Praire or 05 Brute Force is a good choice and have a nice price. However, the Vinson is another good choice for an even better price. I can tell you that it has all the power that you will ever need as well as give you the sporty feel that you are use to. I myself am 6'1", 220lbs and this baby will pull me with no problem at all so no worries there. The looks and price along with all the awesome reviews from every mag. In case you didn't know it has won every 500cc class shootout it ever entered. It did so well that they even put it in a few 700 class shootout where it did pretty well too. I don't know much about the new Arctic but it sure looks good. As for the Kodiak if you are hard set on an IRS machine I would pick this one. Good luck on your new purchase.

 

I still think the BF650 is a better buy and a better performer. just to through some prices out there the Brute 650 is actualy cheaper than several 500cc quads. here are some examples.

Artic Cat 500 4x4 MSRP = 6599.00 5sp 6799.00 auto
Bombardier traxter 500 = 6999.00 5sp 6399.00 auto
Honda 500 Rubicon = 7199.00 auto
polaris sportsman 500 = 6699.00 auto
suki vinson 500 LE = 6699.00 auto

Kawi Brute Force 650 = 6599.00 auto

Just one look at that list should tell anyone that the kawi Brute 650 is one he!! of a good buy with a MSRP of 6599.00

yamaha does not have a 500cc quad but if you think about it the BF650 is a Prairie 650 with new plastic the same quad that beat out the Grizz 660 and all other big bores for the last 3 years in the shootouts (2002,03,&04) and the grizz 660 has a MSRP of 7199.00 same sanario goes for the Polaris 700 but the MSRP goes up to 7299.00 & 7899.00 for EFI.

Just looking at the numbers, the Kawi Brute Force 650 Is the best buy out there in the typical 500cc price range


This was my responce on a different but similar topic but would seem to apply here, I just did not feel the need to retype the whole thing [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

cc1999 I agreed with you on the last thread and do again here also . The BF650 is the best SRA for the money.

 

get a grizz they are powerful and 70 mph fast, they are a good pick

 

The BF 650 is a good SRA for the money and is 140cc more than the Vinson but the Suzuki will give you the following for $200 less:

1. 2.2 extra inches in ground clearance
2. $200 less than the BF
3. Greater fuel capacity
4. Dual A-arms with greater suspension travel
5. Extra overhead headlight

Don't get me wrong the old Praire (BF 650) is an awesome machine but the Vinson still has a place in the market. The reason I went with the Vinson over any other SRA machine is mainly for reasons 1 & 5. IMO it also looks a lot better.

 

My Friend you have been misled by Suki, Suki does not measure ground clearance the same as kawi does. At least not from the lowest point under the quad. The Suki ground cleance specs show a measurment from dead center of the quad and not from the rear diff which is the lowest point on any SRA quad. If you look at Kawi's web site the Prairrie provides you both the center measurement and the rear diff measurement. If you look at the suki measurements on there site you see the twin peaks only uses the center measurment and we all know its an identical twin to the prairie and what you will find is there is almost no difference in ground clearence between the Prairie (BF650) and the vinny in ground clearance.


Here is a link to the Suki Twin Peaks specs on the Suki site

That said the vinny would be my second choice for best quad in the 500cc price range, however I think the LE 500 would be the one I like the best. I think the LE vinny is the best looking ute on the market. I am not sure how front A arms are a plus though, I guess its what ever you like, the MS struts used on BF 650 and many Polaris quads have always seemed to ride smother than a-arm front suspensions IMO.

 

Thanks for the info on the ground clearance. But if I remember right when I was looking at both the Vinny looked like it had more ground clearance. I'm heading to the dealer tomorrow so I'll have another look.

 

The specs do show a 1/2 inch better for the Vinny when using center measurements but a 1/2 inch could be nothing more than brand of tires or even air pressure in the tires. 1/2 inch would be hard to see or notice. If you get a chance I would like to know what the vinny measures from the bottom of the rear diff to the ground that would be comparable to the nuber you were looking at earlier on the BF650/prairie.