I really like the Z400 but i was wondering how the Predator compares to it. Is the suspension any good and is it reliable. Also if i can find a Z400 with nerfs and a yoshi exaust am i better off with that over the stock predator. Price wise the predator is around 500$ more used. The 02-03 Raptors run about the same price as the predator. I know ive posted before about a similiar topic, but i was wondering if the Predator is similar to the Z400 in that it has good control and stability but has faster acceleration and higher top speed.

 

The predator is comparable to the z400. The suspension is good I think it has fox shocks which are mostly used by snowmobiles but are starting to enter the quad world. The acceleration and top speed is also good but just like any other polaris it is heavy!!! It weighs around 75 pounds more then the z400 which makes it alittle more sluggish but the extra motor over the z covers it up. I also heard about the first predators that they had a few tranny problems. If I were you I would just go the smart way and do everyone else is doing and be smart and go with the z

 

OO i really like the Z just that i dont wanna get smoked in races. What year did the predator come out i think the ones i saw for sale where 03 and 04. What is quad would win in a drag Predator or Raptor. Thanks for info, i just wanna know which quad is best for me because if i can get the extra 500$ i would like to spend it on a predator or a newer raptor.

 

Well between the predator and raptor the predator would get the jump on the raptor but in the long run the raptor would win because it is geared very high for top speed and not so much acceleration. I would probably choose the predator over the raptor because it is set up more to race and it has a lower center of gravity compared to the raptor, which sits alot higher and tends to tip because it sits so high. Depending on what kind of riding you will be doing a raptor would work for riding in trails and with buddies in fields and even some jumping I choose the raptor just because I do know its reliable. Im not saying the polaris isn't reliable but I dont know anyone that has one. I see that you are worried about getting "smoked" lol with the z, which is understandable, if all you were doing was straight line racing. But other then that it will keep up in the trails and the track especially because it is so easy to throw around. Even if you still wanted it to be faster you could take the extra money you save over the bigger bore bikes and bore the z out then it would out accelerate just about anything

 

OO, also is it true that the 04- predators dont have reverse. Other than that its the only real negative I have. How is the predator for trails? And is it a big deal not having reverse.

 

No the predator doesn't have reverse and not to dis the predator but it is definetly no fun not to have reverse. It wouldn't be so bad if you were riding like a blaster, but the predator weighs more then the raptor and if you got stuck on that it definetly wouldn't be any fun. If you know you are going to be doing alot of trail riding the predator isn't for you

 

I would go with the pred. any day, the lack of reverse is not that bg of a deal, and if it is too heavy for you hit the weights. 45 lbs or so wouldn't make that much of a difference, and as far as trail riding I see just as many preds or more than I see the z or its clones combined. the z seems like a good quad, but the first thing people seem to do is look for more power, the pred. has plenty. It was a very hard decision for me before I bought my 450, but weight and good deal better handling won the day for me, so I passed on the pred. If you buy a pred. spend the time setting up the suspension, the stock settings don't seem to work for anyone.

 

Go with the Pred. Buy an 05 it has reverse. If you get the le or tld then you get the better shocks. Mine is so smooth. I had a KFX400 and the Pred is WAY nicer in every way. The Z/KFX is a nice bike don't get me wrong. Just go and sit on both bikes and if possible test ride them and see which one fits you best.

 

the predator is a heavy high maintanance machine. z400 deffinately

 

the Pred is heavier than the 400 and the raptor but not by much. Maybe 30lbs more full of fluids. The pred engine is very powerful and responds real well to mods. If you get an LE or TLD model you will have a great handling quad not that the standard is that bad. By the way someone posted earlier that fox shocks are new to quads? Ummm NO! i have fox shots on my Honda 86 250r! The 03 pred had tranny problems so stay away from that and the 03 400 had frames cracking so stay away from those. The years after are bullet proof for the most part. The pred handles just as well as the 400 and way better than the raptor. The raptor and pred have very close power and who wins depends on rider and who has more mods and a hoped up 400 still cant compete with the pred. Get the 05 pred tld or le and you will also have reverse. If you ride in dunes i would get the raptor, the woods and racing i would get the pred and on a budget get the 400. I dont think you would be unhappy with any of them. In this age of quads there all real good.