Hello everyone...im just gettin into atv riding. a couple friends of mine have just purchased a z400, kfx400, and 2 400ex. after riding all of them im leaning toward the z400. i just wanted to know if the z400 is reliable? i was also thinkin if i should consider somethin bigger such as a yfz 450 or 450r? im about 5'9 and weigh 240lbs... thanks

 

just to make you aware, the 450s are nasty quads but they arent they best of trail quads, they are more designed for the track, they would be nasty to have but not the best if there are alot of big hills or rocky trails. I think the z4 is reliable and is a really nice quad, but think about looking into the z450, i havent seen it much but just a suggestion.

 

Probably you should stick with a 400. Of course since I am a kawie guy, i would say kfx400. Great quads, but the z400 is also very nice. I have ridden both, and loved them. My next quad will be one of the two. Trust me, 400 is plleeeennttyy of power. Welcome to the forums, too!

 

noname, the Z is reliable, and has plenty of power for trail riding. It is more than enough quad for the majority of trails out here on the east coast. I personally bought a 450 for trail riding, and it works great too. In my experience, on any woods trail or tighter trail, the extra power of a 450 is wasted, and if you ride a lot of wide open fields or fire roads, you will never have enough power anyways, lol. All of the 450's are great, you would be hard pressed to find a loser among them, although the extra long term maintenance may not be worth it fro trail riding when Yamaha has the 700Raptor at the same price point.

 

A artic cat DVX 400 is great, Z-400, or KFX-400 are your best bet and i know because i am your exact size and the most cozy is the AC.

 

The Z is probably the best all-around machine out there. Handling is excellent, and it is proving to be extremely reliable. It handles everything well: trails, open country, dunes, etc. I do prefer the 400EX for very tight and technical trails, because it's engine doesn't mind being lugged down and ridden slow.

When you are ready for more power, the engine hops up easily with some simple mods like opening up the airbox, and a freeer flowing air filter (UNI), and aftermarket exhaust.

 

im look at the z400 as well as the 450s but cant make up my mind on what to get either.this will be my 1st quad and want to know if the 450s maintance is alot more than 400s?if it is how so?

 

You need to change the oil on the 450's a lot more. That isn't the big thing though. The motors are high rev, high compression, and the pistons are "pancake" pistons. They have very little skirt so as to be light and fast revving and look more like a pancake than a more traditional coffee can piston. These things cause internal parts to wear out quicker/more maintenance costs. Basically, you may need to rebuild the engine twice as often or more on a 450 as you will on something like a 400 or open class quad.