Kawasaki Prairie 700 Review

Halfway through the production run of the famed Prairie machines, Team Green released the Kawasaki Prairie 700. Boasting features and a powerful engine heavily influenced by the V Force™, this 4×4 strengthened the series' foothold in the sport-utility sub-segment. Undeniably remarkable, the Prairie's short-lived production run stirred quite a conjecture among avid Kawie followers and general consumers.

The Kawasaki Prairie 700 is a big-bore sport-utility quad better known as the revamped version of the "King of Firsts" – the Prairie 650. Sporting the same powerful 697-cm3 V-Twin engine, rugged styling, and industry-leading features, it rightfully earned the moniker "The New King of 4x4s."

More than just a descendant of Kawasaki's breakthrough machines, the respected Prairie 700 marked the beginning of monstrous behemoths and 1,000-cc UTVs. Its V-twin power mill, fine-tuned automatic CVT, and lockable front differential were only the first of many design developments leading to highly capable, present-day four-wheelers. Continue reading and learn more about the quad that revolutionized current utility vehicles.

The New King of 4x4s

Those who have read into the making of the Prairie series know that the Kawasaki Prairie 700 is a V Force™-infused 650-cc Prairie. It is pretty much the same vehicle but given a 697-cm3 power mill, improved styling, and slightly bigger chassis. And this is not necessarily bad news. The "King of Firsts" still has the same features that both recreational and experienced riders have grown to love but with a more powerful engine.

Introduced in 2004, the KVF700 felt more like a continuation of the 650-cc machine's run than a new Prairie model for avid Kawie followers. It cannot be helped – both big-bore machines had dual Keihin CVKR-D32 carbs and shared almost all other vehicular components. Not to mention that the 700-cc Prairie was launched in the market only three years since the inception of the KVF650. Nevertheless, the 3-year run of the Kawasaki Prairie 700 did not stop it from earning the title "New King of Big-Bore 4x4s."

Dropping the KVF700

Despite its bigger engine displacement and improved features, the Kawasaki Prairie 700 was only in the ATV limelight from 2003 to 2006 – before the Brute Force completely took over 650- and 700-class machines and took its place as Team Green's flagship utility vehicle. Many riders who were pleased with its performance were not too happy (if not left perplexed) with its short-lived production and can only speculate on the following reasons:

Kawasaki decided to stick with their mainstay 650- and 750-class utility ATVs.
The Kawasaki Prairie was a redundant vehicle, as most upgrades applied on the Prairie were also found in the KFX series and 650-cc straight-axle machines.
Prairie plastics were inferior in quality versus that of the Brute Force. Body panels and wheel fenders were flimsy and prone to breakage. To add, the Prairie was generally heavier than its SRA (straight rear axle) cousin.
Off-roaders believed the Kawasaki KVF700 was a shared bike sold under competitor brands Suzuki and Arctic Cat, as it had an uncanny resemblance to the Twin Peaks and 650 V-2 models.
Cessation of the Prairie 700s was a marketing strategy meant to give way to the 750s. Kawasaki needed a larger displacement gap between the big-bore quads. The performance differences between the 650- and 750-class machines were more noticeable. In the case of 700- and 750-cc UTVs, the 700-cc Prairies often performed better.

Consumers did not think that replacing the KVF700 with 750s and 750is was a clever marketing move. The 750-cc machines reportedly had more problems than the Kawasaki Prairie 700s. And while this may have opened more opportunities for upgrade kits and aftermarket Kawasaki Prairie 700 parts to flourish, it did not do well in helping improve Team Green's brand image. Whichever the reason, it eventually proved to be a necessary step for Kawasaki to develop its product lineup.

Kawasaki Prairie 700 Specs & Features (KVF650 vs. KVF700)

Engine

The Kawasaki Prairie 700 carries similar large, 30-mm intake/26-mm exhaust valves, high-quality foam air filter, and dual Keihin CVKR-D32 downdraft carburetors that its smaller-displacement sibling has. This setup pairs with an improved bore-stroke ratio and 697-cm3 power mill, lending to the 4×4's throttle responsiveness, fuel efficiency, and torque-heavy nature. Since fuel injection has not yet been introduced in the quad, adjusting the jetting is still a must when riding on elevations starting at 1,640 feet.

	Kawasaki Prairie KVF650	Kawasaki Prairie KVF700
Engine Type	4-Stroke, 90° V-Twin SOHC
Carburetion System	Carburetor, Keihin CVKR-D32 x 2
Engine Cooling	Liquid cooling
Engine Fuel & Capacity	17 L/4.5 US gal of unleaded gasoline of at least Antiknock Index/PON 87 or RON 91, containing < 15% MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)/TAME/ETBE, < 10% ethanol, or < 5% methanol w/ cosolvents & corrosion inhibitors
Bore x Stroke Ratio	80×63 mm (3.15×2.48 in)	82×66 mm (3.23×2.60 in)
Compression Ratio	9.9:1
Valve Clearance – Cold (Front)	0.10 – 0.15 mm (0.004 – 0.006 in)
Valve Clearance – Cold (Rear)	0.20 – 0.25 mm (0.008 – 0.010 in)
Starting System	Electric/recoil
Displacement	633 cm³ / 38.6 in³	697 cm³ / 42.5 in³
Maximum Power	41.4 hp/42 PS (30.9 kW @ 6,500 RPM)	46.3 hp/47 PS (34.6 kW @ 6,500 RPM)
Maximum Torque	52.1 Nm (5.3 kgf-m, 38.33 ft-lb) @ 4,000 RPM	60.1 Nm (6.1 kgf-m, 44 ft-lb) @ 5,000 RPM
Top Speed	65 mph (105 km/h) – advertised	65 mph (105 km/h) – advertised 71 mph (114 km/h) – downhill, owners' claim
Lubrication	Forced lubrication (wet sump)
Engine Oil & Quantity	1.54 L (1.63 US quarts) – w/ filter 1.75 L (1.85 US quarts) – w/out filter 2.05 L (2.17 US quarts) – when completely dry SAE 10W-40 w/ API grade of SJ meeting JASO T903 MA Alternatives: SAE 10W-30, 10W-50, 20W-40, 20W-50