Kawasaki Mule Owners: Let's hear the good, bad and the ugly

[Victor Van Meter]

I am seriously considering a 2020-21 Kawasaki Mule SX XC. I have never owned a UTV, but the price and reviews I have read have me leaning to this model. Just wanting to hear from you guys if you have experience with Mules and what they were. Thanks.

VV

 

[bjseiler]

I have a pro-fxt. Really like it. Seats 6 adults easily. Can pull quite a bit. They had a recall on something with the steering and I'm not sure it got put in correctly.....other than that I've been happy. Neighbor has a Honda pioneer 1000 which was the other thing I was looking at and I prefer the Mule. A good balance of utility but still fun enough that the kids love it.

 

[Tree Spud]

I had a Kawasaki Mule 3010 for about 20 years. Very dependable for hauling trailers of firewood, discing/cultipacking/spraying 7-8 acres of foodplots, was a real workhorse. Gave it to my sister and she is still using it. Still have my Kawasaki Prairie 300 that I bought 23 years ago. Have mounted a seed spreader and use it primarily for spreading seed. Actually store it outside and it never fails to start.

Bought a Kawasaki Mule Pro FXT EPS last year and very happy with it. A 2 seater (actually 3 ride in the front seat comfortably) and has a huge back dump bed. Plenty of power from the 812cc 3-stroke engine.

 

[yoderjac]

I am seriously considering a 2020-21 Kawasaki Mule SX XC. I have never owned a UTV, but the price and reviews I have read have me leaning to this model. Just wanting to hear from you guys if you have experience with Mules and what they were. Thanks.

VV

I don't have one, but I wouldn't buy one. Why? Because I have an old Kawasaki Prairie 650. The fan died and I took it in to the local Kawasaki dealer. It was an expensive fix and they told me it needed several thousand dollars worth of service. That is more than the thing is worth. The shock was starting to bottom out from overloading the rear. I found a local motorcycle shop. They found a used refurbished shock on the internet and repaired and serviced it for less than $200 and most of that was the part. That was several years ago and the ATV has been running fine since.

With the dealer's "recommended service/repair" cost being higher than the value of the ATV, I suspect they were positioning me for a sale. I had a buddy take one in and he was not happy with them either.

The only reason I would not buy one is the bad experience I had with the local dealership, nothing to do with the Mule specifically. I'm not particularly mechanically inclined. For me, having a dealership/service shop that I trust is as important as the specific product.

Back to UTVs. When the dealership told me the ATV would not survive without spending more on service than it was worth, I started looking at UTVs. My first hope was an electric one. I took at look at them and simply could not convince myself they were worth it. I was not done with the research, but I was leaning toward a Honda Pioneer when I found the motorcycle shop to keep my ATV running. I will eventually need to replace it, but it is working just fine for now and I plan to hold off as long as I can.

Here is a thread I started looking for UTV opinions: http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/utv-opinions-advice-solicited.8208/

You will find some interesting opinions and options on that thread.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Turkish]

The Pro FXT is very highly thought of among the hunting and workings UTV crowd.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Now to find one. Been calling dealerships and because of COVID, they didn't get many in stock and of course all they have are the more expensive models.

Thanks for all the replies.

VV

 

[Tree Spud]

Now to find one. Been calling dealerships and because of COVID, they didn't get many in stock and of course all they have are the more expensive models.

Thanks for all the replies.

VV

Your local dealer should be able to source one from another dealer. He will then just add the accessories you want.

 

[roymunson]

I go to church with a guy who runs a repair/dealership and kawasaki is his main machine. Said pound for pound, the mule is the way to go. He said they're super tough, good engines, etc. May not be the sexy sand dune machine that can am or the RZR are, but they get work done.

As for availability, he is dying. Can't get now stuff in. Said he has 9 down payments on side by sides with no delivery dates in site. All the 3rd party manufacturers were shut down during the first wave of this (seat belt manufacturing, steering wheels, etc) and you can't send out the machine without those things. He's getting killed.

He also deals in used machines, mostly repos he buys online and fixes them up. Since everyone is getting reprieves for their loans and loan deferral, there are no repos. He has nothing to sell. This is a cluster duck

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Headed to an out of state dealer today who has one and hoping to get the deal done.

Thanks for all the replies.

VV


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[Worm]

Kawasaki is a great machine . Never owned a mule but have had a Teryx since 2015. I have had numerous 4 wheelers, side by sides , dirt bikes etc. over the decades and Kawasaki will hold their own against any of them .

 

[TreeDaddy]

Headed to an out of state dealer today who has one and hoping to get the deal done.

Thanks for all the replies.

VV


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You won't be disappointed

bill

 

[SwampCat]

I dont know about the SX model - but the standard mules are the roughest riding sxs I have ever been on. Rode on one quite a bit for a week and not sure my back could stand another week of that. We have a can am commander, a rzr, and a ranger - and the mule rides no where near as good as any of them. The SX may be a totally different animal, though.

 

[g squared 23]

I dont know about the SX model - but the standard mules are the roughest riding sxs I have ever been on. Rode on one quite a bit for a week and not sure my back could stand another week of that. We have a can am commander, a rzr, and a ranger - and the mule rides no where near as good as any of them. The SX may be a totally different animal, though.

My FIL has the RZR and I just commented on how great the shocks must be on that dang thing. I drive that thing FAST and on some bumpy country roads, and it’s very smooth. It’s made for speed and racing, not for work.


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[yoderjac]

Headed to an out of state dealer today who has one and hoping to get the deal done.

Thanks for all the replies.

VV


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If you get one, be sure to review it here. I'm sure in a few years, I'll be back in the UTV market.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Rit]

I am seriously considering a 2020-21 Kawasaki Mule SX XC. I have never owned a UTV, but the price and reviews I have read have me leaning to this model. Just wanting to hear from you guys if you have experience with Mules and what they were. Thanks.

VV

I had an ATV for years. I finally tired of pulling a cart, fixing said cart tires, frames, etc. I didn’t go with a mule but did buy a Can-Am defender XT this year. I absolutely love that thing. A UTV for me is hands down better than trying to do habitat work with an ATV. It’s also much more enjoyable for the entire family. The cargo space in the back fits almost everything I need to work with plus all the storage for things like knives, saws, tools, and pruning shears. I don’t think you will be sorry to go with a UTV.

 

[SwampCat]

My FIL has the RZR and I just commented on how great the shocks must be on that dang thing. I drive that thing FAST and on some bumpy country roads, and it’s very smooth. It’s made for speed and racing, not for work.


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I agree - although I have never raced mine and it has done a lot of planting, disking, and carrying seed bags. However, my ranger rides almost as good as my rzr - and much better than my commander. The commander has more problems than ride, though.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

If you get one, be sure to review it here. I'm sure in a few years, I'll be back in the UTV market.

Thanks,

Jack

I sure will. I am picking it up this afternoon. Supposed to be a beautiful weekend here in SE Ohio, so I plan to put it to work.

VV

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Well, after 56 hours this Mule is going back to the shop for the second time. Took it in already for the 50 hour service and because it wasn’t wanting to start. That wasn’t fixed, it still spits and sputters when it starts and then today after returning from my property it started to idle extremely fast and won’t go into gear without grinding. I will call the shop tomorrow and get another apt. I will hopefully get it fixed and then try and trade it in for a Honda or Polaris.

VV


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[yoderjac]

Well, after 56 hours this Mule is going back to the shop for the second time. Took it in already for the 50 hour service and because it wasn’t wanting to start. That wasn’t fixed, it still spits and sputters when it starts and then today after returning from my property it started to idle extremely fast and won’t go into gear without grinding. I will call the shop tomorrow and get another apt. I will hopefully get it fixed and then try and trade it in for a Honda or Polaris.

VV


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Good to know. I have a very old Kaw Prairie I bought it used many years ago. It is so old that when the shock started bottoming out (I overload it) they don't make them any more. The shop had to buy a used one off the internet. Last year, it started back firing. It got worse and worse and finally wouldn't start. It took it to a small shop and they rebuilt the carb. I still had backfiring and starting issues when I got it back. I just got it back for the third time (no charge after the rebuild. I'm hoping it is finally fixed for good this time.

I may be back in the UTV market sooner than I would like...

 

[bjseiler]

My profxt runs fine but it is not exactly like this motor sounds of quality. For the price these things are you would think they would have better engines. Neighbor has a honda pioneer 1000 and I'd stick with my mule pro over that.