05 Kawasaki Brute Force 650

[ICRage42]

Hope to post some pics soon but will be checking one out this morning.

Was told by owner he rarely rides it. He had to get hand surgery and it was just hard for him to grip the handlebars and its sat for a while rarely used maybe taken out a couple times a summer.

Now Ive asked on other forums what I should look at when checking it out.

Checking the filters and oil and removing seat to expose more of the engine to see if any leaks etc. Bearings and whatnot I can check and axles and boots.

Does anyone own one of these or have a buddy with one? Are there any pontential problems to check for?

If the kdx could plow my drive I wouldnt even look at the 4wheeler lol. But that is going to be its main purpose.

From what Ive read on forums it sounds like a solid machine. Typical Kawasaki bullet proof so to say. I did see it had a recall on it for some front end issue. I do know it was bought used at a dealership and hope this work has been done on it already.

Thanks for looking and if you got any input that would be great. Its my first fuel injected 4x4. If all goes well then Ill have to post some pics and show off the new Kawi in the family.

[Actionman]

I know every case is different, but I personally know 3 seperate people who own brute force models and all three suffered differing types of catastrophic engine failures. Cant judge the entire run by that, I know, but It was enough to scare me off. A local dealer recently had two brand new 650's (unsold 2011 models) for $4600 out the door! At that price id almost have risked it.

[Actionman]

Forgot to mention that one owner unloaded it, rode it about 1000 feet, and it locked up tighter than a monkeys ass. I think twin cylinders are too risky personally. I used to own a bayou 300 4x4 and it lasted 18 years without problems so i know kaws are reliable- but I wouldnt have a twin cylinder atv personally.

[ICRage42]

I will give it to Kawasaki on this point

Feels right and helluva fun to ride. Got it earlier today and couldnt be more happier with. LOVE IT!

Little known facts its a 650 straight axle and the 750 is rear independent and like 220s has a prone to failure.

What a beast and I mean BEAST!

Gotta love the KDX respect here. I wouldnt be where Im at now without the kdx. If I didnt do a rebuild and read every thread I would be lost with a blown engine. No lie here, a little screwed the first time with a kdx goes a long way in any direction of buying.

He couldnt get it running and within the first 5 mins of him pulling out .....


I WAS RIDING!

Gotta love Kawaski man o man what a rush when I hit the throttle.

Pics soon!!!!!!

[ICRage42]

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Got it muddy after running through the levels and whatnot. Gonna give it a good rundown and cleaning. Had it down the road a bit and well it attracted some attention from other atv riders on the block.

An 09 polaris (biggun not sure what size), a yamaha 450 also like new, guy farther down road has a ltz400 and my neighbor to the rear with two honda 400exs. Everyone LOVES the new Kawi.

Moral of the story

This thing ate a polaris, shat out a yamaha, wiped its suzuki before it got the hondas.

[Actionman]

I was mistaken! My examples were for the 750, not 650! To my understanding, the 650 is a more reliable ride. My local dealer did indeed have new 2011 for less than$5000 new, thoughof the 650.

[fuzzy]

Enjoy. V-Twin has to have some TQ. However, at 30hp and 650lbs, the guy on the 450 must be a complete spode.

[ICRage42]

Rofl nah just a kid who is learning more and more. He just got on that one beginning of this year. So I pushed him not his atv. Knew I pushed him faster then he went all year I seen the o **** look on his face and his dads

Yea its got some umph. Learned the hard way on that one. Thought punch it and see what it has. Put the front end straight up like nothing. This thing is just plain heavy and it surprised the hell out of me. Wound up trying to throttle a decent wheelie down so not slamming the front down wound up riding a wheelie for a good 60 ft or so.

Its gonna get cleaned up real good and greased. In the mean time Im putting together a order list and getting it up to par again. I know the owner did absolutely nothing to the machine other then oil changes and one valve adjustment. So it needs work. The valve adjustment is nice. NO SHIMS! The belt is a bit worn not bad but will replace anyways. All Im worried about now is doing the timing chain. Dont want to slam pistons into a valve. Starts like hell cold but thats because it needs valves done. All in all just a neglected bike. Slowly getting it back into shape.

Think I found a good plow setup on RockyMountain ATV for 300 shipped. Winch setup and got great reviews so I will probably get that.

[ICRage42]

The tires and rims are itp mudlites and they grab anything. Downside to this is he never put a heavier spring in clutch for larger tires so I will have to get that in.

Full pro armor skidplates. Made it hard to see underneath for damage you cant see anything really covers entire bottom. I put the aftermarket parts close to a grand on this.

Yea the guy thought it was a 750 and Im glad it wasnt. They have a very horrible reputation and fuel pumps run 500 dollars and dont last long. 70 bucks to rebuild my two carbs for the kits.

Might snorkel and jet it after I get the major stuff done. Pretty much gonna snorkel it to remove the need to use the choke and I can just cup the snorkel. Relocate the radiator up top. Hang a set of green truck nuts off the back. Put a ktm orange first aid sign cover for the radiator. Found some kawi green (almost) camo covering for it as well.

Its already got a lift kit on it which isnt extreme and I cant go anymore I do believe just because plow wont work right if too high.

Ill take some pics going along the way. One good thing is theres a ton of parts for these basically from people NOT checking oil or doing maintenance. Or they suck in water from them turning it into a submarine. Pulling wheelies or WOT for extended periods of time. Also front bobbing in water taking oil from the cylinder and shooting it into the air cleaner.

Worked all day on it yesterday just trying to clean it up and Im about a 1/3 of the way there. Once I get the plastics and whatnot fairly cleaned up Ill strip it off to expose everything.

Took the kdx and the wheeler to car wash and already had wheeler in bay and started up the kdx to pull in and had several people going OMG and a variety of reactions. Had a lady come over to offer me money since she thought my bike was going to blow since it was smoking. The 4 wheeler was the fat ugly chick at the party. No one noticed her after the kdx fired.

But glad I can ride some in winter because I dont think Ill get any more riding days here for the year on the kdx.

[ICRage42]

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5734/dsc0025ct.jpg

http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp19 ... railer.jpg

Green just looks right to me

http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae25 ... 4423c4.jpg

[ICRage42]

a little update.

The brute has been a pain really. Just because previous owner was a tool. NEVER ADJUSTED VALVES and at 230 miles was due for atleast two adjustments. Chains are stretched and cams are gone. Valves surprisingly weren't bad? Not sure if I caught it in time before or not. Chains are about 100 bucks and tensioners are about 30 a piece. So its not a total hit. Then I got a bright idea to get a hp kit for it instead of replacing with stock. In fact it is a bit cheaper in price.

Currently I have done

Rebuilt carbs complete and learned to sync them.
Rebuilt front differential.
2 inch lift up and 2 out
Rebuilt rear axle (pain in the ass swingarm bearings after fighting them I would of killed for some rusted kdx ones. )
2 inch snorkel kit ( homemade but its lookin bad ass. Couldn't finish too dam cold and glue was gelling on me)
dynatek cdi (eliminates almost all safety features like limp mode and also removes the timing restricitons and ups revs)
k n n air filter
gas tank mod (holes in skid plate for water and mud)
put an inline fuel pump (35 bucks 500 for the kawi one)

Whats coming hopefully soon

665 kit so I can use pump gas still
clutch redone

Im taking it to get rebuilt. Im confident I could do the rebuild however I have decided to take it to VForce John. The guy is truly out of this world in building a brute. Plus he tunes everything and also puts it on a Dyno to get the most out of it. He also specializes in the cvt clutches. Once he gets his hands on it I am also trying to get more saved for a muzzy dual exhaust. Hell also be able to jet it perfect with exhaust and snorkels with me in the driveway Ill just be guessing and going off of by ear so to say.

Considering its condition I don't ride it at all lately just been getting it ready to take and rebuild. The snorkels have to be finished and some other things to test the motor when done. But my plans are for it to be my trail buddy in summer for my kdx and winter its gonna plow. Couldn't use it this winter which sucked. But all in all I guess its a good thing considering I need different clutch springs in for the tire size and such. Belt wants to slip with the extra weight off of start.



Here is with 2 in lift installed and about to take front clip off to do a snorkel and radiator relocate kit on it. (just gonna weld one up I cant see paying someone 150 bucks for two brackets and some hose)



took a quick pick of snorkels. Not really going boating with it ....its just the dam choke cables Ive had nothing but problems with them. Theres two that connect to one and two plungers that move in or out for choke. The dam things always stick and cause problems I took the carb apart many times trying to correct. Now to choke I just muffle the snorkel a bit till she gets going. Why Kawi designed it like this is beyond me.

All in all its going well but I bought a rear storage box and going to make some speaker tubes and such. Ill be able to take it to the trail with tools to help dial in or repair and have some tunes. I also picked up a bike rack and will see about fabbing something to haul the bike. Didn't plan on doing it this way but I think it will be easier considering I park mostly on gas well roads and have to travel some distance to trails and sometimes across yards. Going back and forth to truck for tools is kinda out of the question. This way I can just pull the bike with quad to the trail and have a mobile tool box/cooler/tunes. It sits pretty high and figured I can even make some new trails with it.