2015 Kawasaki Brute Force 300 Test
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ย. 2024
- The entry-level 2wd sport utility segment is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated. It also happens to be one of our favorites. For the mature, practical rider, these simple, affordable machines often offer all the performance needed. For the younger up-and-coming rider, 16 years and older, of course, as mandated by the United States federal government, these machines provide a great starting point to learn the ropes, or a place to move up to having outgrown their youth ATV.
Kawasaki’s 2wd Brute Force 300 is one such machine. When it was released back in 2012, we came away impressed with its overall performance after our one-day test ride at its press intro. With Spring having sprung, we decided to acquire a Brute Force 300 to put to the test in our neck of the woods in southern Ohio.
The Brute Force 300 is a versatile machine that delivers a good time out on the trail at a price that most people can afford without mortgaging the house. A family of four could each have their own Brute Force 300 to ride for less than the price of most four-seat UTVs, leaving no one stuck in the back seat. It’s ideal for work applications where affordability, nimbleness, and easy transportability are key. Overall, we feel Kawasaki Brute Force 300 proves you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a capable and fun-to- ride ATV.
This review was very thorough and well-done.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for the positive feedback.
Problem is, Kawasaki jumps from a 2wd 300 right to a 650/750. There should be a 450/500 4x4 brute force somewhere in between.
+EDDIESPAGHETTI Agreed.
EDDIESPAGHETTI - I agree
EDDIESPAGHETTI agreed
The real problem is they don't offer a 1000cc... 750 brute is pretty mean though.
@@TomSlickery Who tf wants a 1000cc
This is an amazing machine I got one 3 years ago and one thing I can say about Kawasaki is they can keep up with a Honda for damn sure my first four wheeler was a Kawasaki bayou 220 and I still got it set up in my shed I don’t really drive it that much since I got this but I gave it hell every day and it turns over twice and busted right off every time no choke it just starts and runs 😃 plan on passing it on the my nefew next month 😃
Man when I was a young teen I used to tear it up on my Honda Recon. That machine got me everywhere. I gas the hell out of it through mud and it often did well. When it would get buried I’d just lift it out of the mud. Something that’s not happening on the big machines out there today. Something fun about these little ATVs.
I’m Australian and I own this and it very solid on the beach
Meme lord Barnes same
I love my Kawasaki brute force 300. I do burnouts all the time
One Two rip it!
I do them on my recon
Well built reliable simplistic. Comfy and fast!!! Only game in town. This sucker will keep up with quads twice the displacement. Easy choice
You don't need a huge ATV to have a lot ov fun.
This atv handles very much like a sport quad with the solid rear axle & light & nimble front end. The great maxxis tires help too!
I went to an atv dealer today and it was down to a Polaris 200 Phoenix or the Kawasaki 300. At 11 years of age and Being 4 foot 9 the 300 suits me well. I decided that the 300 could do decent work with it's ability to add a winch and to have a plow and do a lot of pulling this 300 was the winner
Literally stuck between this or a recon. Have ridden recons for a while and was gearing up to buy my own, but this could be a solid option. I feel like my trust lies in Honda when it comes to atv. Awesome video!
2 years later and im in the same boat
Wow. I was disappointed that Dirt Trax didn't do a review on this at first, as I like to go to them for reviews, but I am amazed at how well this review was done! I would say it's easily better than theirs (sorry dirt trax). I found one of these used for a good price and wanted to know what I was getting into, and this did a great job. Thanks!
I tend to enjoy the small atv’s more I have an Alterra 300 (the same platform) and I love it!
Small ATVs are a lot of fun!
I totally agree! Me and all
My friends that have the giant atvs agree the smaller ones like the 250cc and 300cc quads are more fun. I have a 2014 artic cat 300 it has this identical kymco 271cc engine as what’s in the brute force 300,Alterra 300 and the tracker 300 . It’s so much fun I put a winch and light bar on it . Mine tops out about 54 mph. It beast my 2024 rancher 420 4x4 in a race and It’s more fun than the bigger atvs for some reason as I can get anywhere where the bigger ones don’t fit. I like it more than my artic cat 1000cc I had same
Year. It was to big heavy and fast I thought I was gonna hurt my self on one that big.
@@ParadiseAtvTrail I know right! The bigger ones can’t get through those heavily wooded areas. With my 300 I have been able to see some of the most beautiful places, places where my Alterra 600 can’t go
@@danielsantos8625 That’s awesome!! The 300 s are definitely underrated Im my opinion so many people have said oh it’s only a kids for wheeler but yet it has a 400lb rider weight limit plus another 150lb rack capacity and 500lb hitch tow capacity. With the fully automated transmission is perfect for pretty much anyone. Not to mention they come with the best breaks. Hydraulic front rear and dual rear caliper design. It has way better breaks than every other atv i have ever owned! My similar side recon 250 had all drum breaks!
@@ParadiseAtvTrail Your 300 really beats a 420 Rancher in a race?
I rode it for the first time
It was very good
Thank you for sharing your opinion with us. 250cc to 300cc ATV were always a lot of fun. People just seem to ignore them these days because they think they need a 1000.
If they had a 4x4 fuel injected brute force 300 I feel like it would sell like hot cakes, I would definitely get one
That would be a good addition to their lineup.
Very good review
Excellent review...Lots of info to digest!
Thanks glad you liked it.
Small bore atvs are the best
Buying this one today
koolman7733 Have fun!
kawasaki is a good brand and is cheap brute force only $4,300 that's good!
gotta love the solid rear axle!! a sealed wet break in the rear would be a nice touch tho
+High Island DIY Perhaps, but with it being a solid axle and a 2wd machine its not a serious mudder, so we didn't mind trading the durability of the sealed rear brake for a little better feel and braking power. The solid axle and rear tires really helped it handle.
yeah the lower profile rear tiers were a great idea for handling.
This should be 4x4
A 4x4 option would be a good addition to the Kawasaki line. They need a smaller bore 4x4 to complement the Brute Force 750.
Bring back the Prairie 360 4x4.
We haven't thought about that machine in a while. You're right, they should bring that machine back. It wasn't the fastest thing out there but it was all you needed to get through some tough stuff.
Everyone thinks it needs to be 4X4 that would only raise the cost and complexity with not much benefit. Might as well get a 4x4 in the beginning, this machine is perfect and a fair price.
On a smaller atv like this, 4x4 eats some power and adds weight. Being smaller and lighter, its easier to get it unstuck if you do manage to high center it on some ruts or deep mud. I think there is a winch mount available for it.
I have one it is awesome I have a snorkel on it it looks cool I let my friends drive my yamahas while I cruise on the facie of quads
Thank you for this
Very nice . Thank you .
I wanna get a atv because I saved my money and got 5000 bucks. I know how to ride and want this. The only problem I have is that my mom ain't gonna let my buy it
B Fix Sorry to hear that! My mother denied me an off-road vehicle when I was a teenager and look what it got me. Let your mom know that denying your desire to have an ATV is only going to lead to a life long obsession.
Thank you I'll tell her
And this would be a good choice for me
Benjamin Fix
H
Not sure why you get 7mph in low, ours goes way over that. About 20 to 25 (half the speed of high). Makes it very snappy for hill climbing and tight trails. Also for towing.
I have the Arctic cat alterra 300, same bike, I want to put bigger tires on it but idk if it'll turn them.
It will probably turn them however it's not going to accelerate as well. You might want to look and see if there are any after market clutch kits available.
Bought this year ask question if you have them.
Fuel range 208KM per tank not including reserve.
Top speed 83 KPH in full tuck with wind on your back - 81KPH no tuck.
Any question's ask.
Whats yr opinion on this or a Honda recon? I'm gonna buy one of the 2 soon. My son has a new recon..thoughts?
2015 Kawasaki Brute Force 300 Test
I'm 14 and I just picked up a 2011 brute force 650 4x4i a week or so ago, this poor kids stuck on a little 300, get him something like the 650 and he'll be much better off
A Brute Force 650 is not a suitable beginner machine. Too much weight and power. The 300 is still a fun machine, even with less displacement.
I bet its fun, although, for what I want to do with my machine it just wouldn't be able to compare, I plow, haul, tow, and have a two up seat and more for it. Im also not exactly the skinniest 14 year old in the world lol.
y'all may be praising brute force 300s but there is no better 300 than a fourtrax
We saw your post and decided to go have a look at the Fourtrax 300. Honda doesn't offer that machine anymore, so people looking for a new machine cant buy one.
How good is the kawasaki brute force 300 I keep hearing it's good but idk I'm thinking of getting one but not sure i had a Honda fourtrax 300 an it was a good atv but i was think of the kawasaki brute force 300
Will the rear diff work on a kymco 300 since kymco designed them. I broke my rear diff
What's your thoughts on the older prairie 300's? Just picked up a 02 for the wife
What size tire do they have
They are 21" fronts and 20" rears if memory serves me correctly. Both are mounted on 9" rims.
Ok thank you
lol i just bought the 2018 i love it
Kawasaki is the besss
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I grew up on a yamaha warrior 350
I could also see how this smaller chassis could be used for Kawasaki to make a 450 class 4x4 utility. They have ignored this segment for many years. Keep the solid rear axle, give it a 400-450cc fuel injected engine and 4x4 with diff-lock and put 25" tires on it. They're losing sales to Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and even Can-Am in the 450 class because they have been absent. Price it in the $5500-$6000 range and it would be a great seller. Still wouldn't take away from this machine but would give those who wanted a bit more another option without having to jump all the way up to the much more expensive Brute Force 750. Its just too big of a gap between models from a 300 to a 750, there needs to be at least one model to fill the gap.
can you guys do a review on the mid size arctic cat 500 please
We will look into it. We haven't reviewed a Cat in a while.
I’m from southern ohio too
Right on.
I like it cuz they are small and you can move it
We totally agree.
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how much in australian dollar
I was riding a 300 at 4
Reminds me of a larger Chinese atv
I'm really considering this bf300 but would like to add wheel spacers in front and maybe back , anyone know the lugs specs for front and rear ? also would 25s be to tall for this quad ? Thank you .
entry level two-wheel-drive machines aren't ideal for adding big tires. Their smaller displacement makes it more difficult for the engine to turn larger tires and with shaft drive, you cant change the gearing. A 3 inch taller tire would be a significant increase on this machine. Also, wheel spacers are going to come with stiffer steering and increased bump feedback. We would use them on machines with exceptionally light steering like a Blaster or 250EX, but the Brute Force already steers a little stiffer. If you do install wheel spacers, do both ends, or just the rears. Adding wheel spacers to the front increases leverage on the front shocks which will increase body roll in turns and on side-hills. If you only do the fronts it will roll notably more.
you know I have a Kawasaki 4-wheeler it's a C300 1989
I wish I lived on a farm.
La Kawasaki Brute Force 300, tiene problemas con el freno de parking, se afloja rápidamente (en 3 o 4 parqueadas) y necesita ajustar constantemente; la manguera de desfogue de gases que va en la corona posterior es muy vulnerable, e ingresa agua a la corona; la corona es débil, no soporta jalar una carreta o remolque, el engranaje es muy simple; los cambios no tienen buena sincronización, necesita mover un poco la cuatrimoto para que ingrese el cambio sin dañar la caja, los repuestos en el Perú es complicado conseguirlos.
I don't get why anyone would buy this over the polaris etx with awd 4x4 there the same class and polaris power efi is amazing for the same price range go polaris
funnyright19 Probably because they aren't the same price range to the people looking for something in this price range. The Sportsman ETX costs almost 50% more than the Brute Force 300.
sasgeta We take nothing away from the ETX. It is a machine that we should definitely be throwing a leg over in 2016. That said, the Brute Force 300 costs $1,700 less and weighs around 100 pounds less.
ATVonDemand I'm certainly not saying the ETX is bad either, I was just pointing out the first guy being incorrect about the price
i was not trying to call out Kawasaki or anything i was just saying this machine kinda falls behind for the same bike to me at least the 1700 price range is quite a large amount difference but a 4x4 and the same size its hard to justify this bike but kawasaki knows there market and this must just fit
i really want some sport atvs to come back on the market 250 and up bikes where have they gone?
4wd makes the vehicle slower and heavier. I would smoke one of those polaris on my brute 300
how much would this four wheeler cost
and is it heavy enough to do donuts?
Its $4,299 and if you have the skill it can do donuts.
Xbeast X 4,300
ATVonDemand donuts are to hard on the weak transmission, if u like replacing drive belts and gears ,go ahead with the donuts lol ,my son is 9 and destroyed this bike in one year ,not for hard riding ,tread lightly trails mabe but that's it ,my complaints are ,weak front suspension, weak A frame and Steering components and weak transmission
Is it discontinued?
Yung Mar no
Yes, in Europe
Its a Kymco...
So are a number of Arctic Cats. Kawasaki certainly had some influence on the ride quality and other details.
@@ATVonDemand yes agreed.
I'm considering buying this quad this summer. I'm wondering if it has any issues with it? Info?
+Zac Hultink We kept our test unit around for around a year after out test and used it as a camera mule while filming a number of other machines in addition to some recreational use. While we didn't abuse it, riding with larger machines much of the time, we didn't baby it. At the end of a year of use the engine sounded as smooth and quiet as the day we received it and there was no play anywhere in the chassis. Any ATV will break eventually but the 300 seems well built and pretty tough.
I have a 2020... pretty nice but is no very fast.. maxed out at 20mph
Something is wrong there.
My 2012 does 30 easy and I've never tried to go any faster.
Brandon Welch its California.... i think they’ve dumbed them down for safety reasons... i think when its totally broken in...it’ll do 25....
raysmusic49 there should be a screw behind your thumb throttle try and unscrew it cause it could be limiting your throttle
Jaden Massey thanks for the advice....now that its broken its much faster..
How fast is it?😴
SGS_ JT top speed 48mph
I have a new one... max speed 20mph.. unless there’s some setting I don’t know about... definitely not 48!
raysmusic49 yeah it’s about 50 I used to have one but traded it in on a brute 750
@@raysmusic49 do you have a governor on your quad? because we have the 2021 model and it tops at around 52-53mph
@@jacksonmatt304 mine was fine after i got it broken in…goes 55 real easy…
If I could get a Brute Force 300 with 4x4, I might be so inclined to trade in my Prairie 360 4x4 on one. Until then I'm just not ready to shell out nearly 10 grand on a Big Bore machine.
Hopefully Kawasaki is paying attention.
These are Made in Taiwan for Kawasaki
True
The brute force 300 is just a kymco 270. So is the Arctic cat 300.
kawasaki is a good brand and is cheap brute force only $4,300 that's good!
Unfortunately, this ATV is not made by Kawasaki but in Taiwan by Kymco for Kawasaki. Just has Kawasaki stickers on it.
A cool category of atv considering its 4200$ brand new, Polaris doesn't seem to offer any cheap 400's anymore even close to that price. 22hp for a 271cc engine is pretty powerful actually, and with its light weight, I'm sure its more then decent in the speed department, another great review, keep it up on the more value oriented machines that get overlooked for the 6yr + financing, same price as a car, ATV\UTV's
at certain dealerships right now basic sportsman 570's are $4594
You can most likely get left over Brute Force 300s for less than retail as well.
Out of all the Brute Force/Grizzly/Alterra/Kymco 300 reviews out there on TH-cam, I think your's does the best at covering base specs but also what capabilities this gives you and mixing in some good riding clips. Thank you
Thank you for the kind well written comment. We had a lot of fun on a two-wheel drive Timberwolf 250 back in the 90s. We take the entry-level machines as seriously as the 1000s. Getting people on ATVs and having fun is the best part of what we do. Do you own one of the before mentioned machines or are you shopping?
@@ATVonDemand I'm tossing around the idea of buying a new mid-full size atv next year, and thinking about picking up something for my girlfriend to ride too, so looking at the 300's. She had a recon a few years ago when I had my king quad, but she didn't like having to shift gears, so these days I'm glad to see CVT's trickling down into the smaller ATV classes
i remember when a 300cc was the big bore..now they are for beginners.
Funny thing is today's 300s ride better and are more fun than ever, unless a person's idea of fun is having the biggest machine at the ride park rather than getting out and having fun on the trail.
is this a beginner... Kawasaki Prairie Automatic 300?
for a small moment in time, I recently thought about replacing my sport quad with one of these. I have many MANY fond memories of growing up riding a 1987 Kawasaki Bayou 300 (2x4). that thing went through an amazing amount of stuff when driven by jerk kids who didn't care if they broke it. Ultimately, I went with another sport quad (and only 1 company makes them...so figure that out) but I may very well buy a few of these when I'm ready to slow down. I know it's all Kymco at the lower CC's, but I still have a soft spot for these little Kawi's.
Thanks for the review.
I'm getting one for my b day 😀
Grey Bird05 congratulations. Keep us posted on how you like it.
In 5 days In hoping
I'm
I know it a 2wd but since it's 300cc can you mount a plow on it and if you can which size plow would work best
Moose Racing makes a plow mount for the Brute Force 300, along with a universal mounting kit. Being a 2WD, I would stick with a narrower blade, 50" or less. You may also want to consider adding chains to the tires for a little extra grip on ice. Hope this helps.
Yaakov Silverman this is not a good bike for plowing or anything but light trails..the transmission is not made for work and u will destroy the drive belt and gears the 1st time u try plowing ..ive replaced belts and gears 2 times in a year on my sons bike and he's only 9 , it is not made for hard riding for sure, transmission is a snowmobile application, also the frame and A frame in the front is very weak and will not support a plow ,we've addressed numerous cracks at the welds 2- 3 times in one year..if u buy one get the warranty
How can I get one
Visit your local Kawasaki dealer.
I think I'll buy one, When I can find one! For My use here around the place, It would do good for my needs...I think. Good review!
Glad you enjoyed watching. The 300 should be a very capable worker for many small jobs that don't require a truck or tractor.
@@ATVonDemand I'll pull small wagon, Hauling wood in, I wouldn't think more the 300-400 lbs. at a time, It being able to pull 500, I should be fine with it... Wouldn't you think? Appreciate the reply.
he should buy his son a 400ex/x
Brock Savage That's a far more expensive and different class of machine.
jordan green that happened to me because I have a 2013 model. I wish I had asked for a prairie 360 4x4 because We run into mud a lot where we ride
The YZ Savage it might also put him on his ass if he’s only ride me “YOUTH” quads lol
New 2021 Kawasaki Brute Force 300 owner. Amazing ATV. Overall, much better than my Polaris. It has a good kick to it. Solid control in a good chasis.
I have the same one that damon was testing
We love this class of machine. How do you like your 300?
needs 4wd.
Marc Plante As an additional model yes. It would cost another $1000 or more though then someone would complain that they raised the price too much.
Marc Plante Kawasaki needs another, more powerful 450 class 4x4 using this chassis and add that to the lineup. Then you have 3 Brute Force models to choose from instead of just 2. This machine is fine the way it is. Look at how many different utility models all the other manufacturers offer, Kawasaki has only 2. That's not enough.
For sure.
I'm not a big fan of shaft drives for some reason I guess it's the look of it. Not saying I wouldnt buy anything with shaft just dont like the look of it I like the look of the bigger style drive systems.
Excellent machine. My wife rides this one, I ride an '03 Polaris 250 Trail blazer. The Brute Force is extremely reliable and is a safe and solid trail machine. Kymco did a heck of a job with this one -- highly recommended!
sideskraft thanks for your feedback on the machine. Good or bad, we like hearing feedback from viewers who own the machines we test. Thanks for watching and commenting.
What do you think? This or the Honda trx 250X ?
If you plan on doing any work the choice is obvious. For play riding, the Honda seemed to be a bit faster, although we didn't do a head to head competition. The 250X is also a little lighter feeling. The Kawasaki's suspension is more forgiving all-around although the Honda steers much lighter. The Kawasaki is a little more stable and the Honda is a bit more nimble. If you want to hop then up, the Honda may have a bit more potential. The Kawi has better mud protection. Hope this helps.
JTJUlian 250
Trx if you ride for fun brute for work
Would this be a good one for a 12 year old kif
Are there after market parts for the. 300
There are a few that we can think of off the top of our heads. A couple companies like Big Gun and FMF make exhausts for them. You could go with different wheels and tires. We actually like the stock tires for general trail riding but aluminum wheels would be a nice touch. You could have Works Performance build you some after market shocks at a somewhat reasonable price. There isn't as much out there for this machine as some as it is more of an entry level trail/utility machine. It's still a lot of fun thought.
I just tour up the throutel wire and parking brake and my rims are bent and I have a leak in the back right tire
Is it possible to loop this quad?
does it start like a lownmower when u gotta pull DA cord
It has electric start. The recoil is there in case the battery fails.
Mine is 2017 and its tops at 82 kph. Any way to unlimit the top speed? Its seems to be an electronic limitation.
Mine tops out at about 96 kph and it’s the same as the one on the video
@@wetmanger69 Any power chip or something? Or its just standard brand new?
It’s just standard and it’s not brand new
What’s the top speed?
About 50 mph.
Looks like my Kymco though.
+J Bouchard because its made by kymco , only has kawsaki plastics, i have the 2012 model i alwase shop for kymco parts for it because its cheaper
The Arctic Cat 300 (even pricier) is also the same Kymco, except the plastic bits.
How fast is it
X1 Falcon Gaming 50 mph
Great video! I have the 2021 and so far so good. Lots of fun.
Congrats on the new machine. keep us posted on how you like it long term. We have a feeling it will hold up well.