I`m looking into buying one of those to have some fun over wintertime since its winter quite along time overhere.
What i`m searching for is a nice,tolerable bike that can withstand some mild abuse on the ice and on the trails.
I`m not very keen om doing alot of tinkering with it (its not that i`m not able,i just dont want to) so it need to be a fairly ridgid constuction. Services etc will be done religiously as always.
I`ve been driving ATVs and ATCs for about 15 years so i consider myself as a "Advanced rider".
What are the weakspots on these bikes and what are the known "design faults"?
Any input on this would be great.
Thanks for a really nice forum and i`m looking forvard to hang out here.

 

LTZ is still an unknown, the TRX (450) doesn't have reverse which on trail riding can be a issue and only the '06 has electric start . That would narrow you down to the YFZ and the Predator.

I don't know what your defination of mild abuse is, but if you're a MX type, the YFZ would probably fit that style better as that is it's purpose. If you want the best all around, no mods needed, out of the box bike, go with the Predator. I'm not just saying that because I have one either...well, maybe a little, but allot of folks will agree with me on that.

One that might also be worth considering is the Yamaha Raptor. You'll hear good things about that one also, but handling and suspension doesn't match the predator.

Welcome to the forums...!!!! Lots of good information here.

P.S. - Where is Sodertalje? Looks Swedish.

 

First off welcome to the forums. Since you will be wanting to ride trail and some ice i would go for the predator. It has reverse, better suspension, and in my opinion it is just a better trail quad. Like Webopper said the trx has no reverse and if you want the the LTZ i would reccomend waiting until october to see how the LTZ 450 is and since you say your an advanced rider i wouldnt go for the LTZ 400. As far as the raptor 660 goes i wouldnt it. its a little underpowered, way too narrow, and its not very comfortable. i would get the 700r raptor. hope this helps

 

oh and the YFZ is more a track machine than a trail quad.

 

Thats correct. Its about 20 miles outside of Stockholm (which is the Capital if you didnt know that[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]
I`m a bit concernd about the Polaris because of the lack of retailers over here so getting spareparts could be a problem. I was leaning towards the TRX but then i started reading up on the YFZ and it looked really good. But then i heard that some bikes throu the rodbearings and it seized up the engine just after 20hrs of riding time.

 

I know a couple folks with the YFZ and they are very happy with it. No problems with theirs that I've heard of. And I would also go YFZ over the TRX.

 

What about a raptor 700, they are awesome bikes and great for trials, Out of the ones you listed i would pick the yfz

 

From personal experience, the only time I REALLY miss reverse is in snow, in the winter. I would be looking at either the Pred/Outlaw or 700 Raptor in your shoes. The Z400 deserves honorable mention here also, and has proven reliability. The 03's had weak axles and frame issues, all easily fixed problems, and all made right on the 04 and up model runs. The Outlaw would work great in snow with the extra ground clearence, and is based heavily on the Pred with the exception of the IRS and some front end frame refinements. The drive system is still unproven by the public, but IRS is a Polaris specialty. Likewise, the 700 Raptor has an unproven EFI system, but I don't see EFI being real problematic on other first year quads, and Yamaha has experience with it. The 700 motor is supposedly largely based on a bike motor already in service, while the chassis and brakes have received many YFZ goodies. I think this quad is going to be a sales landslide, mating a great motor with a super chassis and hardware.

 

I saw in a Atv Sport megazine that the kawasaki 700 and the ds650 are the best for snow they are both a 9. from the ones you chosse the trx 450 is the best with a 8. i would go with the trx cuz its a honda and its almost a 10 in everything.

 

I`m like the TRX because its fierce looking. I like the YFZ because its a screamer. I like the Polaris because its an odd ATV overhere and dont know mucha about the LTZ because info on it seem rare..What to do,what to do?..