Hi all, I am new here and hoping I can get some advice on which way to go with getting into an ATV I will enjoy.
I currently ride a KTM 400EXC which I have decided to sell so that I can get an ATV. My wife and I usually ride the national forests of Arkansas (very rocky and sometimes steep) and do some trail riding here in Texas as well. She rides a 350 warrior and loves it. I am not a Yamaha guy in particular, just got a good deal on it and it has been a great ATV. The only complaint I have is that the solid axle provides no ground clearance and I am always having to hammer the skid plate back off the rear sprocket and brake rotor.
However, I don't feel I could really enjoy a 4x4 ATV as I have been a fast bike rider all of my life and will be jumping it and abusing it for sure. I will also expect it to haul pretty good a$$.

Here are some of the issues (in no particular order).

1. I ride very rocky and fairly steep areas but need to go fast and catch air as well.
2. I will have about ~4k to spend
3. I would like better rear ground clearance than the warrior. Can I mount tall tires to say a Raptor in order to gain clearance for the rear axle?
4. I would prefer a 6 speed as I will gear it low. The 5speed on my wife's Warrior kinda sucks.
5. I don't mud bog, but will occasionally need to traverse some mud. (Wife's does ok so I don't think this is an issue)
6. I WILL flip it on top of myself going up hills. I am like that, so light is good!
7. Its GOTTA have electric start!
8. Its GOTTA have reverse!
9. Would prefer a very reliable bike, Yamaha or other.

I would appreciate any advice! THANKS!!!

 

you have Raptor 900 SE written all over you.. check them out..

 

yeah i put itp mud lites on mine they are 22" and they helped my warrior out greatly, and hasnt messed with the performance at all. it would definitely save you from banging that skid plate out so much.

 

Think he meant Raptor 700 lol

but ya a 700 would fit you very well. You can find used 06's in that price range. Its not going to have anymore ground clearance but invest in a good skid plate and its no big deal. Some will run 22's on the back to give a bit more.

A Outlaw IRS 525 would be a good choice as well but doubt you could find one for 4k yet. The 500 version could be had for 4k probally.

A few other good choices

Z400/KFX 400 or a predator

All are good all around quads that can do lots of terrain. There are other choices but most others I would bore with the power pretty quikly.

 

There don't seem to be any 700's in the 4k range at this point, on craigslist at least. I am in Dallas and everything sells for way too much here. Or at least they ask too much. I may have to go to Oklahoma to get a deal, but that's ok, I did for my ktm.

Thanks guys, I think I'll have to get the tallest tires I can for both mine and my wife's ATV. As far as a skid plate, I'll take a look and see what is available out there.. made of steel.. thick thick steel... Does the power and weight of the big raptor seem a bit much for tight trails and rocky hills though? Is there something that uses, say the WR450 engine? Or the DRZ400 engine? Maybe in a little narrower chassis?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>1. I ride very rocky and fairly steep areas </end quote></div>

Do they make a sporty ATV with shaft drive? I never seen a chain drive ATV with much Ground Clearance between the bottom of the back sprocket and the ground.

 

oops yes I did mean 700 lol

 

well you can go with the Can-Am but it will set you back 9000.00 OUCH!!

http://www.can-am.brp.com/en-US/Vehicles/Renegade.800/

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cbd1

Does the power and weight of the big raptor seem a bit much for tight trails and rocky hills though? Is there something that uses, say the WR450 engine? Or the DRZ400 engine? Maybe in a little narrower chassis?</end quote></div>


The Raptor weighs in around the same as 400 class quads and is only 50lbs heavier than quads designed for the track.

It makes its power down in the rpm's and has a ton of torque. It was designed for the trails and thats were its at its best.

Just saw a 06 that looked like it just came off the showroom floor go for around 4500 and know of a 07 for sell for 5k. So if you keep your eye out you can find one.

 

The Kawasaki KFX 700 has shaft drive. It also has a CVT automatic transmission and weighs 516 lbs. It has tons of torque, but tends to wheelie real easy, and yes, you will dump it back over on top of yourself if you are climbing too steep. The KFX 700 is sort of a compromise between a utility ATV and a sport ATV, it has good points and bad points. They are a lot of fun to ride though.

DV