Just released new info:

Page 14 ATV Sport magazine w/ pic.

My local dealer said available late this year, $6500

V twin engine from the Prairie 650, increased to 700cc

Auto tranny and clutch

Shaft drive

Totally sport machine

Looks vaguely like a KFX 400

[ 10-08-2002, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: DUNERAIDER ]

Here is a link to ATV Connection Mag's article on it. http://www.atvconnection.com/atvconnection...700-V-FORCE.cfm

there was one at the sand sport show, looks pretty ncool, looks heavy too.

Yeah at 506 lbs. I would say it's a little on the heavy side. and that plastic looks like it was an after thought. Can we say ugly. But it's more then Honda is willing to give us.

One must beware with Kawasaki and buy with your eyes wide open.

Remember when they released the 650 Jet Ski and what a dog it was, and how the early buyers felt burned.

Don't want to get bit by the same dog twice.

According to some people I spoke with, the KFX700 was taken down to carlsbad raceway. It raced against a raptor, honda 400, and suzuki 400. the KFX700 was the fastest there with lap times about 4 seconds faster than the next closest quad.

p.s. It comes out in March

mxgirl, that is shocking. If the big Kawi turns out to be faster than the others in an mx-type environment, I'll be more than a little amazed.

It's a pretty peppy machine dispite it's weight. Just slightly pulling back on the throttle and the front end jumps. There is a lot of talk about how this machine is going to suck because of the weight, size, auto tranny, etc. But I think people are gonna be suprised when they actually ride the thing.
If you are into drags up olds hill, this machine is for you.

I must say, speaking from experience, that yes some kawasakis have design flaws (like the electrical system on the Tecate), but I think that times have changed. I for one am happy to see someone roll out something new and different. Face it people, the twostroke motor will eventually be phased out and we need to start looking in other directions for power. Yeah it may weigh 500 lbs. but its a big o' v-twin so I think it will be very competitive at the hill. I hope to get a ride on one.......

I've owned a lot of Kawasaki stuff over the decades and it's all been very good quality.

I can't remember anything of bad quality they've ever made. Maybe a little under performance expectations, or desires, on occasion.

I've always been amazed by their good quality.

Ahh Hell, when ya think about it, most all the Japaneese stuff has been very good over the years.

In the Prairie 650, the V-Twin has about 42-43 horsepower. It would seem they'd need to crank out quite a bit more power than that to haul 506 pounds around the track faster than a Raptor. The only HP rating I could find for the Raptor was 45, and that's hauling around 100 pounds less.

I guess it all remains to be seen. Competition drives innovation, so the more the merrier!

Yes it's based on the Prairie 650 motor, but they aren't exactly the same. They've tweeked it to put out more HP so it's not gonna have the same HP output as the 650. It's a 700cc motor.

[ 10-11-2002, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: mxgirl714 ]

Hard to believe all that by just looking at it. Looks like a tank.

For more info on the KFX700 go to: www.kawasaki.com
Click on ATVs then on KFX
Features and Specs will be available in the next few weeks