2009 650 Brute Force solid axle

[MikeC]

I am considering getting one of these, mainly for snow plowing my driveway and hauling fire wood. Does anyone have experience with this model?

[cwlongshot]

I think it's a good machine. I'll tell you this, it's a power house!!!  IMHO it's a sport machine with racks. If that's your thing go for it.

For me the Polaris is the utility machine all others are measured against. Done get a copy, get the original. Go Ploaris Sportsman.

CW

[Old Syko]

Mike that Kawasaki is one of the best out there.  The solid rear axle is the only way to go for those of us that put our wheelers through their paces.  Solid handling along with major power make it a good worker as well as play toy.  There's a reason I'm still riding an '02 Prairie with over 30,000 miles.  Btw, if you like to tinker, there are possibly more simple mods available for that thing than most any other brand.  If you don't like to tinker it will do just great as it is.

Depends on what is available in your location, but around here you see mostly Yamaha or Kawasaki as either a work horse or a recreational rider.  Polaris is ridiculed for lack of dependability.  Even Hondas are seen very little anymore as are Suzukis.  Arctic Cat is showing up more and more also.

Enjoy the Kaw.  It's a good choice. 

[Lloyd Smale]

brother in law and nephew both run 650 brutes. They been good bikes. Lots of power and have been reliable. Fit in finish is pretty far behind a yamaha or honda though. Kind of crude looking.

[MikeC]

Got it today!  It came with a 54 inch Quadboss plow and a bush buggy utility trailer. I was able to plow my driveway and plow a path around back of my house. So far I like it alot, not that I have any experience to compare against. I am new to ATVs. I have to work on smooth acceleration and find the best speed for plowing. I am still a little jerkey and too much throttle makes it lunge forward/backward. I can see where this will be fun for more than plowing and hauling firewood around.

-Mike

[cwlongshot]

Congratulations!!!

Before I bought my Sportsman, I looked at and rode a Kawi 650. You see, my first bike was a Kawasaki 250 KDX in 1983 . Then I had a Suzuki Quad Sport in 1986 and a Yamaha Virago in 1997. Then last year we went on vacation with some friends who have ATVs. We weren't home a month and we had our first Polaris. (Trail Boss 330 2x4) Then we bought two more!!! (A XP550 and a Sportsman 700 EFI both 4x4s) Now we have three!!!

Anyhow, when I was deciding on a machine, I looked and rode a Kawi 650...WOW. It was head a shoulders above the Sportsman 500 a Yamaha 350 and even a Suzuki Eiger we had been riding the month before in terms of power and acceloration. VERY snappy acceleration and sporty performance IMHO. Very much reminded me of my Quad sport only with allot more power. It was like the first rides I took on a street machine. Wow did it pull when you leaned on the throttle!! I wanted a trail machine, tooling alog thr mountain trails and use around home plowing snow and hauling logs for fire wood.

I got a good deal on the Sportsman 2007 I bought. I even bough a bigger CC machine, (700 twin) its got good power, but it doesn't come on as strong as the Kawi!! I decided against it mostly because of that power! It was almost too much for fun riding.

Everything I have read, guys who have them like them very much. Enjoy it!!

CW

[Old Syko]

Mike here's a site for you to check out.  In the forum they have a specific place for Brute and Prairie SRA info.  If you get used to what you have and decide you want more power you'll see it is not hard to get. 

I use a 5' Eagle plow on mine and it works great.  You'll catch on to the thumb throttle soon enough.  Just keep in mind, too much throttle without the weight of the plow on the front will get the front end pointing skyward with little notice so be prepared.  Don't haul any riders at least until you're more familiar because the extra weight will help her stand up in a hurry.  Welcome to the club.    

http://www.nyrocatv.com/index.cgi

[Lloyd Smale]

nothing sounds as good as those v twins at full sing either.

[cwlongshot]

nothing sounds as good as those v twins at full sing either.

I agree!!! Even mine as an opposed parallel twin sounds much better than a one lung motor.

Wheelie machine! That's what I was trying to say!

Thanks Lloyd.

[Old Syko]

Wheel stands are only a problem for raw novice riders.  These machines are so well balanced and have suspension geometry so well designed that a simple movement of the rider forward or backward controls whether you stand up spin the tires or just move forward.  This is the same for most all models today.  Some makes almost always get a clutch mod to give a more positive power transfer.  This being able to lift the front end at will becomes an almost necessity to an experienced offroader who goes waaay off the beaten path like we do.  Horsepower and driver control are what it's about when it's time to lift the front end to get someplace few others can follow.

[MikeC]

Thanks alot guys and thanks for the web site. I am going to love this. I have only had it 2 days and have found an excuse to get on it both days. My wife of course just shakes her head. Come good weather I am going to have to split time between this and my motorcycle.

-Mike