I you had to choose between a new 05 Honda 450R and a new 07 Suzuki LTZ 400 which would the majority pick? Thanks in advance.

 

I have owned both. Just sold the Z, not because I didn't like it, but because I had to many quads and just didn't really need it. My relatives were riding it for free, so I decided to put an end to that and make them buy it!

I like the 450 for open country. It likes to rev, is geared tall, and doesn't like to go slow. Wouldn't really recommend it as a tight trail quad. I wish they had come out with a 450 that had trail gearing, because the chassis handles excellent on trails!

The Z likes to rev too, but not so much. It makes a better trail quad. It will lug down some, so you don't have to do so much clutch work on a tight trail.

For really tight more technical trails, I pick the 400EX. It can REALLY be lugged down and doesn't like being riden slowly at all.

So, my point is that I like the R for open country and the EX for tight trails. The Z fall somewhere in between, and if I could only had one quad, it would probably be the best all-around choice.

The Z has lots of hop-up potential with just a few simple mods (open up the airbox, aftermarket air filter, aftermarket pipe), but the 450 is way way faster.

 

Thanks reconranger. I forgot to mention I ride 99% in the sand dunes and with my kids alot, so I will be doing both easy putting and hard dune riding. Probably a 40/60 split. If that makes a difference.

 

The Z does well in the dunes, and the 450 does even better. I went down one tooth on the front of the R and it helps, but it's not a machine that likes to putt along......

 

So then if I am going to putt around with the kids alot the LTZ 400 would be better.

 

I know guys that ride 450s kinda slow with kids. Are they the best tool for the job? Not really. Do they get hot when you do that? Yes. However you can always open them up and it will cool them right now. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

if it was I .. i would go with the 450r.

 

I love my Z and would trade it for nothing, buuut that's probably partially because its modded to my liking now. Also, I ride enough trails to make reverse almost a necessity. In your case, maybe the 450r would be better? I am 6'2 and a bit more comfortable on the Z. Whichever you're more comfortable on is what I'd go with.

 

Looks like I am going to go with the Z400, thanks for all your input.

 

I bought a 06 LTZ400 today. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]