For 2024 Kawasaki made some notable improvements to the FX line, anyone happen to have one and if so your thoughts?

Looking to replace a Pioneer 520 and I think I've narrowed my choice to this series, probably an FXR 1000. Seems to have the combination of utility I need along with a bit of sport. At 64" wide it's a little wider than I prefer but I have a 60" wide UTV for tighter trails. https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us...er/mule-pro-fxr-1000

Is this a steel or composite bed?
My dad went from a Mule to a Mule Pro Ranch Edtn for the back seat
He didn't need the speed, didn't like the composite bed & didn't want do deal with the timing belt on the 3cyl engine.

He traded it for a Mule Trans & is much happier with it.
His gets used for trash runs & running around the ranch for dove & Deer season

The bed (floor for sure) is steel.

For 2024 the FX series utilizes a 70 HP, 1000cc Kawasaki 2 cylinder engine which replaces the 48 HP Chinese Chery 3 cyl motor.

There were a few UTVs overseas with the Army. Keep in mind these were absolute worst case scenarios of used, abused, minimal mait. in the worst conditions possible.

The Mules were ok, definitely broken more than the other, and mechanics could not get parts due to contact and logistics reasons. They were faster and less "buzzy" than the gators and had a flat 3 person bench seat. (To repeat, this was absolute worst case scenario operating conditions)

The John Deer Gators were older but no question more forgiving under these conditions. I never actually got to drive one, but the newest version of the tacticalish John Deer UTV looked bad ass. Seemed like only high speed players, some Navy and contractors got those.

I have no idea about the $ or the specs between the two, but if even close, I would go JD for sure.

That's a perspective I've not heard before because the people I know with Gators seem to have more problems than those with other brands. I've been pleased with the Deere tractor and lawn tractor so I looked at Gators, in particular the XUV 845M, but the Kawasaki Mule FXR 1000 seems to offer a little more and for $4,000 less. Also I don't like that the Deere uses a smaller capacity Chinese motor.

Good looking machine, comes with doors, good ground clearance, bumpers. I would put windshields on it and replace the halogen bulbs with led’s (if it doesn’t have them already).
With just minimal maintenance that thing will work a long time. I have a defender hd10, the specs on both are close.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
That's a perspective I've not heard before because the people I know with Gators seem to have more problems than those with other brands. I've been pleased with the Deere tractor and lawn tractor so I looked at Gators, in particular the XUV 845M, but the Kawasaki Mule FXR 1000 seems to offer a little more and for $4,000 less. Also I don't like that the Deere uses a smaller capacity Chinese motor.

The Chery engine was one of the things my dad didn't like on the Mule Pro he had. It was fast, but he rarely needed the power/speed for the utility work his Mule gets used for.
That along with the composite bed made going to the Trans an easy choice.

Friend of his has a similar JD Gator with the 2 row seating & it's been working well for him as far as I know.

I discovered there has been a recall / stop sale on the Mule FXR 1000 due to the potential to catch fire if backfiring. They now have the fix so any unsold units should have the upgrade. Still it's a little concerning, perhaps I should hold off for the second model year 2025? Or look at others.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Good looking machine, comes with doors, good ground clearance, bumpers. I would put windshields on it and replace the halogen bulbs with led’s (if it doesn’t have them already).
With just minimal maintenance that thing will work a long time. I have a defender hd10, the specs on both are close.

Yeah I like the ground clearance and suspension, and the fact it comes with bumpers. It comes with 4 headlights, oddly 2 are LED and 2 are halogen. I actually prefer a 1/2 windshield with no roof, and no doors. When I added a roof and windshield on one it was a lot noisier and all the dust that the wheels kicked up got sucked back into the cab from the rear. And I like not having to open and shut doors every time I get in and out. The LE model ($1,100 more) comes with alloy wheels which I'd like, and also a roof which I don't care about but might put on in Winter.

One brand I haven't looked at is Can Am so I just looked at them on line, HD9 in particular. There's also a Can Am / Polaris dealer nearby so I may swing by there. One thing I did NOT like on a Polaris Ranger I had was with their AWD system you couldn't select 4wd with differentials open. It was 2wd, 2wd with rear diff locked, or 4wd with rear diff locked. I need 4wd but only want the differential locked when necessary which is not often. How does Can Am 4wd function?

Sorry Gents, maybe I was not clear and sounds like your looking at a higher class of UTV... 1st picture below is the military Gator I am very familiar with: 6x4 with locker when needed and diesel engine. Not fast and kind of buzzy, but always seemed to work. Maybe a jump start now and then. Handled a LOT of abuse and carried 1,000 lbs of ammunition no problem. I started seeing/using them ~2007, the last ones I used in HOA in '21/22 were seemingly indenticle.

2nd picture is the newer variant I think, but never had any hands on with one

Here's the drive options 2wd, 4wd, and with rear diff locked.

Speedbird Deere still offers a similar, if not the same, 6X4 and yes that is different category. It's more along the line of older gas and diesel work Mules. They work fine but have limited ground clearance and with only 15-20 HP can only go slow, which is just as well because even if they could go more than 20-25 mph with only 2-4" of suspension they would beat you up on anything but smooth terraine.

https://www.deere.com/en/gator...sel-utility-vehicle/

Newer Gators have double that suspension with more ground clearance, and the Mule Pro's (and many other utility UTVs) have more like 3X that much suspension and clearance. This lets them ride MUCH smoother over rough roads and trails and take advantage of faster speeds.

The disadvantage of better suspension and more power is they have become more expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Here's the drive options 2wd, 4wd, and with rear diff locked.

Perfect just as it should be, thanks. I have to pick up a part at the Harley Davidson store tomorrow and the Can AM store is right beside it.