I raced many many 03-04 preds... always beated them not by much...
recently i raced 2 brand new 05 TLD PREDATORS... i dont know if its just me but those machines flyes!!!
some of them told me the 05 comes with a closer gear ratio...
we raced stock for stock, new preds VS 01 ds650... preds beated me by a half quad...
plus it got reverse too! amazing!
is it possible that this change in the gear ratio made the preds so fast?!

 

do you know if they changed the sprocket size to? or just the trany. they prob. got it breathing better,
I like polaris they dont sit around changing just stickers and color schems. they actully make some really good changes.
did you ride one of them?
Sam

 

The TLD's got a close ratio tranny for 05. 2nd-4th gear are close ratio. Should make it accelerate faster, but shouldn't do anything to the top end speed. Polaris is also claiming 50hp with the best power to weight ratio out there. Take that for for what its worth. May or may not be true.

 

They also raised the rpm's some.

 

yes the new 05 Pred looks like the best trail machine made. If I had the $$$ I'd buy one. Power, reverse, great looks. Still love my DS though.

 

Yes reverse would be nice. However I still wouldn't trade that 1% of inconvenience for the ride, reliability, and comfort my 04 Baja X provides 99% of the time I am going forward.

Hats off to Polaris for listening to its customers and making some significant improvements to the Predator. It would probably by my first or second choice if the DS did not exist.

 

guess it is the best trail ride...

do u think with the 05 TLD new gear ratio change will make the pred faster then ds???

 

I think it IS faster then the DS only because it handles better then the DS. Allowing a rider to go FASTER on trail then the DS. The DS might beat it on a straight shot but yippi... I want trail speed.... That is why I am getting rid of my DS. Ya, its comfy, ya it has great straight line speed but I can go faster and ride harder on trails on my wifes stock ex then my DS. And that is more fun to me then straight shots.. The stock ex does low 60s and 99% of the time your not going that fast. Unless your on a freeway or boring straight trail...

 

I never have a problem keeping up with everyone on the trails. I find that early in the day they might get ahead a bit but by the end of the day their back is sore while I'm still going strong. A properly set up DS can be great on trails, especially for larger riders.

 

I am totally out of shape and never been sore on the EX after all day and tons of miles.
I get more sore on the DS trying to move all that weight around. No one can argue that 95% of sport quads can out do the DS on tight trails. You may be able to keep up but your putting more effort then the other rider. They are simply to large. Dont get me wrong. I like my DS I am just pointing out a fact that smaller quads handle better then the DS and allow you to go faster..

Properly setup. Well, I have a ton of motor work done on the quad along with suspension work. My quad is NOT close to stock and that EX STILL is quicker on tight fast trails. Just because of its weight, size and ability to move very quickly. My DS eats up the EX on any straight aways. But straight aways are for drag racers. Not woods/Trail riders.