I recently purchased a prairie 360, 2007. I love it, if I had to do it over again, might have purchased the bf650, but so it goes, don't really need that extra power anyway. I get myself in enough trouble w/ the prairie...48mph is more than enough for me, at this point anyway, being my first quad. Something about the eiger turned me off. I rode it and didn't notice much difference in power, maybe it was the styling or ergonomics, not sure. My buddy is in bet/w the two. Any advice or preferences and why?? Tryin to help a brotha out. Don't worry, I won't be offended by your responses...I'm happy w/ my purchase overall.

Thanks

 

There are two significant differences between the two that would sway my decision to purchase the Prairie over the Eiger. The Prairie has a sealed multi disc wet brake in the rear. Watertight, gunk free, no maintenance. The Eiger has a 'water resistant' DRUM brake in the rear. Which means NO brakes when wet, and constantly changing brake shoes due to mud, dirt, and debris contamination. Not to mention squeals and squeaks.

The other is the Prairies' Variable Front Differential Control which allows the rider to lock the front diff by means of a lever. The Eiger only has a torque sensing front diff, no locker. I'd rather have it and never need it, as to need it and not have it.

The ONLY reason I would buy the Eiger over the Prairie would be if I were going to be jumping and wheeling with it. The Eiger has a double A-arm independent front suspension, where the Prairie has MacPherson struts for a smoother ride. I just don't think the strut suspension would take the beating jumping would put on it, and AFAIK, you can't swap struts for A-arms and shocks.

Hope this helps, and your bud is happy with what he gets.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Something about the eiger turned me off. I rode it and didn't notice much difference in power</end quote></div>

The Eiger only has a 14cc larger motor so there should be no power advantage.

The diff lock on you ATV is its biggest advantage for sure. Nice feature when needed.

 

WOW, This is starting to sound like a Kawi forum.

When I got My Eiger in '02, my choices were between it and the P360. If I was strictly going to work with the ATV, I might have gotten the Prairie. For the varied trail riding that I do, the Eiger worked out better for me. To give some counterpoint: While the engine is only 14 cc larger, it's a much quicker reving type of power. Top speed is higher (48 vs 56) but more importantly the Eiger will out accelerate the Praire. I sometimes feel the lack of power of a 400 class machine when pulling a long hill, the slower Prairie would be worse. Overall performance puts the Eiger ahead for trail riding too, suspension is better and while this is subjective, the Eiger feels smaller than the Prairie.

That sealed brake on the P360 is nice, no doubt. However, I just did a maintainence check on my brakes three weeks ago. Rear brake was still sealed, dry and dirt free, save for a bit of worn brake dust. Shoes still had over half their life left on the original set, with 2,800 miles on the odometer. BTW, front discs made it about 1,000 miles and were shot, but the EBC replacements have gone 1,800 and still look good. I ride in all conditions - lots of Tennessee mud and hundreds of miles of Wisconsin sand.

Dif lock is also a big plus - better to have it and not need it .......... I've been pleased with the Eiger system but would have lliked to have a dif lock on occasion. On the flip side, I can engage 4wd at any time, stopped or rolling. The Kawi system needs to roll forward a few feet to engage. Not often a problem but I have pulled my brothers bike (P650) out of a mudhole when he entered it in 2wd. He bogged down to a stop, put it into 4wd but the fronts would not engage until they rotated a bit. It only happened to him that one time so it's not much of a problem, but then I've only been stuck and needed a tow twice - times where a dif lock probably would have gotten me out.

They are both good, solid and reliable machines. The Eiger is more to the sporty side of ute, while the P360 tends more towards the work side of ute. Both machines have been in several magazine shootouts. While they are biased more towards ridability not working, every comparison I've ever read put the Eiger first and the P360 last.

Bottom line, see how they feel to you and get the one that fits best.

 

I was kind of impressed with my buddy's Eiger. It has pretty comfortable suspension and ergonomics.

In that class, though, I'd be eyeballing the Rancher 420. It's punchy and sporty and likely to prove very reliable over the long term.

In an IRS in that class, I'd take a look at the Griz 450 with locker. I've seen one claw it's way through some impressive stuff.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JeffinTDIn an IRS in that class, I'd take a look at the Griz 450 with locker. I've seen one claw it's way through some impressive stuff. </end quote></div>

Yup. A guy I ride with occasionally has a new Grizzly 450 and it's a really good machine. It gets in there right with the bigger ATVs and he goes where everyone else does. He says he regrets not getting a 700 though. I think it rides really nice and I've enjoyed the seat time I've had on it. Really well mannered and maneuverable on the trail.

 

I agree. As good as the Eiger and P360 are, They are still six year old designs. No question that the Rancher 420 is a better bike with more features - at the same price. I'm not as familiar with the Griz 450 but it sounds good.

Jaybee

 

The 420 is drum braked, Lowest ground clearance in its class , straight axled,24" tires with no diff lock. it has liguid cooled ,a throttle body and extra cc but far from light years ahead of the compitition in features.

 

Yeah, the 420 is probably the punchies and most responsive engine in it's class, and they handle and slide very well, and have a reputation for reliablity, but I'd also say it is behind on features for the 400-450 bracket.

The 450 Griz I mentioned, for example, has IRS, locker, low range, disk brakes, 25" tires, more ground clearance...

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: TLC

The 420 is drum braked, Lowest ground clearance in its class , straight axled,24" tires with no diff lock. it has liguid cooled ,a throttle body and extra cc but far from light years ahead of the compitition in features.</end quote></div>

Honda is finally getting smarter - the Rancher 420 does have disc brakes up front.

Jaybee