Kawasaki 185 Bayou

[Chet]

I bought one of these yesterday for $600, seems to run ok, was kept in a shed and still has the original tires on it. Not beat up, no cracked plastic etc. ( I knew the folks I bought it from) Has a shaft drive. But no rear suspension... any idea about the age of this thing?? A friend told me it's too small, but I have never even riden one before and it seems to be able to go way faster than I have any desire to go. Seems like every thing nowadays is 400cc + and 4WD, but I don't intend to scale MT Everest. Comments? Tips? Suggestions? Thanks, Chet

 

[JeffRey30747]

If it is like the one we used to have twenty years ago, it doesn't even have any racks on it. It was okay, not a lot of power but I don't recall ever having to get off and push and it was small enough that you could weave in and out between trees and go almost anywhere. I don't recall whether it had reverse or not but for some reason I'm thinking that it didn't.

Jeff

 

[Chet]

Jeff, Yep, it has front & rear racks, also has a reverse. You have to push and hold down on a red handle on the left aft side of the case (conveniently located just beneath the hot exhaust pipe) and then lift the shift lever up with your toe. This is a complex task when you are also trying not to spill the cool refreshing beverage /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif All the forward gears are down, I don't know how many, I have not gone past third. Also has a headlight and tailight. Does not appear to have a brake light. It is narrow compared to some of the machines I see in the stores, also does not weigh too much, the wife and I were able to set it off the back of the pick-up. Chet

 

[Nasty135]

Chet , Wow I think that price was great myself ,I'm sure like you said that thing will go plenty fast. I bought my twins a 90cc 4 wheeler made by eaton 2cycle auto , I think it was 2 or 3 years old
no lights ,no racks etc. but it is fast you hit it too hard and it'll do a wheelie with my 210lb behind on it , but getting to the point I paid
$1000. dollars american for it and I had been searching for a while
to find one that was in my price range, It was nice that you knew these people , that seems to have gotten you a break ,(maybe?) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I finally broke down talked myself into buying a used polaris sportsman from a guy just around the corner from me so I could ride with my boys and I thought after riding theirs the which is small the sportsman was huge , but your bayou is just about right like previous post , for get thru the tighter spots, So enjoy your bargain priced unit /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Happy 4wheelin

 

[BB_TX]

You are right in that everyone wants the biggest and baddest. And that is fine if that makes them happy. We have a Suzuki 125 2x4, about 15 years old, where we deer hunt. We often carry 2 men and 250 lbs of corn on it and climb up hills to our feeders. Put it in "granny" and it will climb easily unless it gets really steep. Goes thru sloppy mud and water with no problem. Year before last we got our 4x4 GMC Suburban stuck in the mud with a trailer behind it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif We had to disconnect the trailer to get the suburban out. Then pulled the trailer out with the Suzuki. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[moeh1]

They started making them in 84 -5 or maybe 86. I own 2 of the bigger Bayou 300s, they started in 86. Good machines, parts can get pricey but they are parting out old machines. I thought the 185 had a high and low range, but I'm not sure anymore /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. Either way, it will give you alot of fun and use.

 

[teadave]

i got one of those too. kawasaki.com has a page that will give you lots of info(year too) just get the serial # from the frame behind left front wheel and check it out. mine has a small switch under the left handle bar for reverse. also reverse is down & all others are up. my 8 yr old rides it alot more than me and he loves it!

teadave