I'm looking at upgrading my current Quad situation to either a LTZ 400 or Pred 500. What is everyone's take on these two machines? My riding style is ***** out and mostly in the air so I need something that hauls on the ground as well as handles nicely airborne (of course being able to touch back down smoothly would be nice). Any and all input would be great appreciated...

What is everyone's input on a "New" versus "Used" Quad as well?

 

I love my z. Never ridden a pred though. If you get the (lighter) z, just keep in mind that the 03/04 models had frame cracking problems with hard landings. This was corrected for the 05/06 models as well as adding more power, bigger carb and a 2mm bigger carb with tps.

 

Similar to Sparky, I ride the Predator and don't have experience on the Z. The Pred arguably handles and has better suspension (Fox Shocks are stock) than any quad out of the box. I also jump mine quite a bit, and can tell you she handles it just fine.

Used market on both of these is pretty good, but probably favors the Z in availability and price.

 

Yeah from the looks and sounds of things it looks like I'll be leaning more towards a LTZ400. Overall it sounds like a pretty solid and fun machine all around. What are some 'must haves' as far as mods go for those things? (Piping, Jetting, Axle upgrades, etc.) I'm planning on buying a 06 so I know some of the issues in the past have already been addressed.

 

As far as jumping, I don't know. I don't get big air regularly. The highest I've ever gone is about 8-10 clearance between my wheels and the ground. I weigh 230lbs and the shocks were too soft for me. I found out later, when I read a how-to article on suspension adjustment, that I was adjusting them wrong too though. I've heard they're awesome for jumping, but this is my first year owning a quad since I was 16. (I'm 27) And I've since developed a fear of heights and don't get such a kick out of getting big air, it actually makes me nervous. I did buy a 86 lt250r about 3 years ago and rode it without 2nd gear (It was gone when I bought it) a couple times. I got some good air on that once and landed on the right rear rim and bent it.

As far as mods-engine wise- get a cdi with advance curve and a pipe. I would've got the full pipe, but I did all my mods at once so I was already spending a ton of money and trying to stretch the budget. Chassis wise, I don't know what kind of terrain you'll be riding in. Mine is set up great for trail riding around here. We love the really nasty, rocky and rutty stuff. Not the mini roads. Most of the trails we ride you'd probably be better off with a ute, but we blast down them pinned. I've got full skids, bigger better tires designed for the trails, and I changed sprockets to compensate for larger tires and made it slightly lower geared than stock.

 

My dad used to have ltz i liked it a lot the are pretty good with jumps whelies all that stuff but he has recently bought a 660 raptor(just before the 700 came out[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] )over all verry nice bike.

 

i take it back about the raptor he bought it about a year before the 700 came out[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]