Ok I've finally decided to sell my scrammy cuz of weight issues but I'm not sure what to buy. I think reverse is somethign that I really want so 400ex is kidna out of the question. Oh I'm about 6'1" and 190lbs or so. I'm looking at a pred or z400/kfx400 mainly. I ride on some MX tracks just with friends not competitively and a bit of trail riding, I don't need a ton of power but would like to keep up with their 450s in a drag, the 450s are too harsh of suspension for my usage. what would be a good cross to be somewhat quick on a track and still a good trail ride. Heard Raptors are too tippy and banshees have bad shocks for jumping much but idk...budget is 2500-3000 maybe a little more if I find something with extras I want.

 

Raptor 660s are tippy, but the 700s have the same chassis dimensions as the YFZ 450, and handling is great on the 700s. They're newer and more expensive than your budget is likely going to allow though.

I wouldn't let the lack of reverse hold you back from a great affordable quad. I would certainly consider a 400 EX if I were in the market for the quad you describe.

DV

 

you can find pred's for around that price in good shape, two of my buddies just picked up an 03 pred for 1800 and an 04 pred for 2000. and right now in the local paper there is a fully built pred (558 cams ported etc.) for 3500. and they are good machines.

 

Yea I like the extra power in the pred for the minimal weight difference, and I guess reverse isnt too important but it would be nice to have, when was the first year for reverse on the preds? I also like the reliability factor of a 400ex or suzuki vs polaris from general thigna I have heard but personally I've neved had a problem with my Polaris.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 2000scrammy....the 450s are too harsh of suspension for my usage.</end quote></div>

Obviously you have not ridden one with properly tuned suspension!!! I can bash huge desert whoops at full throtle....and I am running stock suspension on my 450R!!!

Just for the record, the 05 and later 400EX's do have reverse....

 

I have not ridden a 450 only seen reviews, a couple friends have the suzuki 450s and i will ride one of those, i just ride a lot of trails as well as on a track which the suspensionon a 450 would be great for a track from what I hear but maybe too stiff for a long days ride but idk never ridden one, I just assumed 450s would prob be quite a bit over 3 grand. Thanks for the ex info

 

the preddys I think got reverse in 05. might be 06 though??? one of those two. FYI the 03 predators were the fastest predators. I dont know why. But i had 2 friends with 04s and one with an 05 and another buddy and I with the 03. The 04s and 05 were in a dead heat. (all of us with exact same mods). The 03s would waste both the 04s and 05 and with me on the 03, I weigh 210, the friend with the 05 weighed about 130. 80 difference and I still wasted him.

 

I looked and 05s got reverse, ratchet-style shifter, and some other stuff, I just dont know if I can justify the extra $700-1000 of cost for an 05 vs earlier models. I also heard that 03s had sloppy and weak transmissions/shifters, and that the anti-squat rear worked almost too well so that you couldnt wheelie, my friend has an 04 pred that I'm gonna ride once he gets it out of the barn and well see if I like it, hopefully ride the 450 suzukis and my friends kfx400 and then I'll at least have some personal preferenece as to what I want other than every else's opinion which I do appreciate very much, but every likes different thigns.

 

I don't know man, whenever the Pred comes up in a conversation, its all just about how it breaks down all the time, I don't think they'd make up these stories either, I know a few guys who are Polaris fans, but they say the Pred isnt worth the tin used to make it, it sells very low for a reason, I've only dealt with Polaris' utes personally, and there always seems to be a problem with them, it seems Polaris likes to cut corners, and dont think I'm saying this because I hate Polaris, I love the new 450 and 525s and cant wait to test drive them, but I've owned a Kawi for 3 years and its been nothing but dependable, so I'd go with the kfx 400. And you may like how the pred rides, but I think we all rather be out riding our quads than having to fix them all the time.

 

Honestlly I never had one problem with mine. Had a shorted wire and fried my cdi. Other than that not one. None of my buddys did either. My tranny has never messed up either. Not sayin there are not bad ones out there though. kfx400 and z400 are very nice though