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ATV – Kawasaki shows ’06 Utility Quads

Kawasaki Motor Corp., U.S.A., Irvine, Calif., also released information regarding select 2006 model year ATVs. Like Honda and Suzuki, the company is likely to reveal more substantial updates at its annual dealer meeting in September.
Kawasaki’s Brute Force 750 4x4i, winner of ATV Magazine’s Best In Class award for 2005, will remain identical in its second full year. The Brute Force does receive a new color option, however, as it is now offered in Galaxy Silver alongside Aztec Red, Woodsman Green.
Its closest sibling, the Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4i Camo, is now available in two camouflage patterns: REALTREE Hardwoods Snow in addition to Hardwoods Green. Kawasaki says the Snow camouflage is ideal for snow-covered hardwood forests.
The Brute Force 650 also returns for 2006, powered by Kawasaki’s V-twin, liquid-cooled 633cc engine. A CVT-type transmission with high or low forward gears, plus neutral and reverse are also again featured. The 650 is also available in camo.
The 697cc, four-stroke powerplant that has powered the Prairie 700 since its inception also returns for another year. The Prairie, which shares several features from its sport quad cousin the KFX700, continues to use a CVT transmission and push-button four-wheel drive.
In the smaller utility line-up, the four-stroke, air-cooled powerplant that displaces 362cc returns with the Prairie 360 for ’06. Once again, Kawasaki offers its Prairie 360 in two-wheel drive only and four-wheel drive. Both Prairie 360 versions utilize shaft drive.
For now, the Bayou 250 still receives the distinction as the smallest Kawasaki utility quad offered. The 250 remains unchanged from the previous model year, as independent A-arm front suspension and semi-independent multi-link rear suspension return. A 228cc, air-cooled engine remains the powerplant of choice for the Bayou.

– Guido Ebert

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