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When shopping for a nice mid-sized all-terrain
vehicle (ATV), it’s easy to find
choices with a reasonable purchase price,
single-cylinder engine and four-wheel
drive. However, ATV shoppers have a better
option; the Kawasaki Brute Force®
650 4x4, the stand-out performer in this
class. With Kawasaki’s legendary
V-twin engine, a proven 4x4 system and
rugged styling — for about the same
price as the rest — its value is
even more apparent to those seeking a
sensible yet powerful 4x4 ATV.
Moving the Brute Force
650 4x4 along is Kawasaki’s popular
liquid-cooled 633cc, 90-degree V-twin
engine with single overhead cams and four
valves per cylinder. It is fed by dual
32mm Keihin carburetors that draw fresh
air from a snorkel intake located high
in the frame near the steering head. This
powerplant gives the rider plenty of industry-leading
torque and an unrivaled smooth-running
operation.
Matched to the robust
V-twin engine is the fully automatic Kawasaki
Automatic Powerdrive System (KAPS) continuously
variable transmission (CVT). With low
and high forward, neutral and reverse
gears, this dependable transmission functions
seamlessly, providing excellent control
for both low- and high-speed work or recreational
riding. Additionally, with the brakes
applied the Brute Force 650 4x4 can be
started in any gear.
Power is delivered to the wheels through
dependable, low-maintenance shaft drive.
The rider can select two-wheel or four-wheel
drive operation via the handy switch mounted
on the right handle bar. In normal four-wheel
drive mode, the front wheels provide extra
traction for adverse terrain, while the
limited-slip differential allows the rider
to make tight turns and reduces steering
effort.
Best of all, with the
Brute Force 650 4x4’s Variable Front
Differential Control, the rider can deliver
equal amounts of power to both front wheels
by simply pulling a small lever on the
left handlebar. This is a definite advantage
for riders encountering deep mud and slippery
uphill trails or when traversing over
large objects such as logs or rocks.
The cutting-edge Brute Force 650 4x4 braking
system design is a combination of dual
front disc brakes with dual-piston calipers
and Kawasaki’s sealed, oil-bathed,
multi-disc rear brake system. As an integrated
part of the shaft drive, the rear braking
system is sealed in the aluminum swingarm
where it operates in an oil bath. This
protects the brake pads from mud, dust
and debris, and is virtually maintenance-free.
Enhancing the high-performance
brakes is the Kawasaki Engine Brake Control
system, which electronically monitors
ground speed and uses the engine’s
compression to help slow the Brute Force
ATV under certain conditions.
Plush and controlled
rides are the Kawasaki 4x4 ATVs’
forte and the Brute Force 650 4x4 exemplifies
this specialty. It does this with MacPherson
strut front suspension with 6.7 inches
of travel and an aluminum swingarm featuring
a shock with adjustable preload, a piggy-back
reservoir and 7.2 inches of travel for
the rear suspension duties.
Additional comfort is provided by a large
seat and adjustable footpegs mounted atop
full-size floorboards. To help reduce
unsprung weight and further enhance the
smooth ride, the Brute Force rolls on
aluminum wheels.
Leading the conveniences
on the Brute Force 650 4x4 is a DC power
outlet to provide quick and easy power
for electrical accessories. Its fully
digital instrumentation includes speedometer,
odometer, dual resettable trip meters,
clock, hour meter, fuel gauge and 2x4/4x4
indicators.
The modern, aggressively angled lines
of its Thermo-Plastic Olefin, ultra-high
gloss appearance and is scratch-resistant
bodywork are complemented by bright cat-eye
headlights. Kawasaki engineers also provided
space inside the front guard to easily
accommodate a 3000-pound capacity winch
from Warn or Superwinch.
The Brute Force 650 4x4
also comes with front and rear steel racks
that can carry a total of 264 pounds of
cargo, and a hitch bracket that enables
the ATV to tow up to 1,250 pounds. Owners
can expand the versatility of their Brute
Force ATV via the extensive line of Authentic
Kawasaki Accessories, available through
Kawasaki dealers.
As with all off-highway
vehicle recreation, Kawasaki encourages
ATV riders to ride responsibly and to
respect the environment. Kawasaki will
pay first-time buyers of a new Kawasaki
ATV $100 for completing an ATV rider safety
course conducted by the ATV Safety Institute
(ASI). Interested consumers can call ASI
toll-free at 800-887-2887.
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