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Posted by: hausdog
Sold my 02 650 prairie and 02 sp700 and kept my good ole 01 Rubicon. We use it for utility work and have yet to have one problem after 2k miles. We just picked up a 04 Ranger 4x4 for the heavy duty utility work and what a nice change it is...man I wished I whould have picked one up years ago.
Posted by: Specta
I remember reading the P650 was having a belt problem when it first came out, but I think that is history. Like all belt ATV's, if you use low range when you are suposed to the belt just isn't the issue it used to be.
If I was to buy an ATV for working and a little riding, I would buy a Rubicon. Heck, I'de buy a Rubicon any way. I'd like to have two of them.
I dont farm or anything like that. We go everywhere with no troubles hauling 400 pounds. I don't think the Rubicon even knows it has anything on it. Honda lawyers are the ones who calculate Honda pulling and load capacitys.
There are bigger ATV's that will pull more and go faster, but there is more to a utility than speed and none of them have a Hondamatic trans except the Rubicon.
Posted by: redneckrider
i think you should save yourself the money and use the rinny. it hauls fine for us. according to atv action the rinny was only about 1/10 a second(1/2 to 1 a quad length) behind the prairie in the pull off. they was pulling an 800 lbs load 40 ft
Posted by: trailride
Naw the prairie isn't hard on belts, Most people i have seen have gone anywhere from 1500- 2500 miles if not more, and thats the guys who ride it hard. Now i wouold put the epi black secondary spring in , it does help with belt life (20$) and if you do eventually change the belt (70$) its not hard at all to do. So dont let the "belt" issue be a factor in your purchase, just ride and see if you like it .
just my .02
Brent
Posted by: DC504
rubicon
my relative down in pennsylvania has one he uses it for work all the time and its a damn good ute machine and still a good trail machine its fairly quick for a ute good suspension
Posted by: TexasPsycho
hey king where are you located?
Posted by: kingofthemudholes
hey man if i was you i would wait till this summer because suzuki is doing away with the 700twin it just there for this year suzuki is releasing a 700cc king quad 2004 summer 700 cc single cylinder fuel injected diff. lock and fully independent rear suapension no spec on the tranny yet though
Posted by: kingofthemudholes
and also this time it wont be a kawasaki like the twin peaks or the Z400
Posted by: mtd
Cameron, I had 2 Rubicon, they were Damn good machine, I was a littles slower than most of my friend on the trail. Most of the time they had to haul me out the mud but mostly because they were driving around it or I was making the trail. After 3 years spent on my Rubi's I got a friend 660 Grizz and just loved the power I had, I find it too Tippy and Tried a few P650 loved it. When the P700 came out, I was in heaven. The drive is good and the power is awsome. Shure it doesn't have the Ground clearance of a Polaris or my Grizz but it by far better for me...
Also the Rincon is a good bike but not enought power. I think Honda forgot something on this bike and they should put a 4X4 unlocker on their Rubi.
Posted by: bigdaddy048
As you have found out Suzuki and Kawasaki have kinda merged and lots of the dirt bikes are identical, so I guess if you like red, green or camo get a prairie, if you like yellow or blue get a suzuki. I just bought a new P700 in camo, I like the camo cuz the process used doesn't scratch as easy, I just like the look too. I rode the Kawi, the Rincon and the Grizz, I just preferred the Kaw because of the straight axle, I am not a fan of IRS yet, at high speeds they get too squirrelly in a corner for me. just my 2 cents worth
Posted by: bigdaddy048
Forgot to mention have you seen the new Artic Cat 650, if you like the IRS it has very long travel suspension, hugh gas tank, and Kawasaki 650 twin engine, just another option, also check out Polaris sportsman 700, big and heavy but very powerful.
Posted by: Cameron
Ok fellas, first off let me say that I am a VERY proud owner of an 03 Rincon. No regrets period. However, I do not believe that this bike was intended to be a top contender for "workhorse" of the year. That is for sure...
So now I am looking into buying a new Quad, one that will be basically for utility work around the farm and some occasional trail riding, long-side the Rincon...
I am at a point where I can't decide between these 3 which will be my next bike.
We all know that while the Rubi, being a Honda, is probably going to be the most reliable and a great utility bike.
However, while I am very much a Honda fanatic, I don't want to limit myself to just one manufacturer.
So the Prairie is looking very good also. I mean probably a little more power and speed than the Rubi, but belt driven.
About the same with the Suzuki.
So I need some advice. I know that the prairies are hard on belts, but exactly how hard? How often are they being replaced?
Suzuki owners, how reliable do they tend to be?
I did do a search, but it seems like most of the comparisons are between the Rincon and the Praire, not the Rubi.
Posted by: Cameron
Well I just looked at the Suzuki and found out that it is the same damn quad as the P700...
So well, comparing them two would be pretty stupid.
I guess it all boils down to the best deal then on those two.
Posted by: 700prairieman
I am a big fan of kawasaki and hondas. I have a honda recon and a kawasaki 700 prairie. My uncle has the 450es honda and a rubi (02). They are all great. I think the honda's transmissions are the best out there, but the 700 prairie has the most horse power and torque of any quad and in low range, it will pull a house down. We use it on our farm pulling a 16ft trailer with lumber and fencing stuff. But you can never go wrong with any of these you are looking at. I almost bought a rubi before the kawasaki v-twin motor came out, and I still will consider it in the future for a 2nd quad. Good luck.
