Well I've decided that I would like to get myself a sport 4 wheeler to go along with my Rubicon. All I have ever owned is Honda, but I am willing to give other brands a chance. My riding cosists of very wide open fast trail riding and slow technical trails. Basically what I am looking for is a sport bike that will flat out RUN FAST in the wide open, but still be able to slow down and putt around the tight slow woods trails without haveing to be constintly on the clutch. Reliability is also very important to me I want a bike that will last forever and pretty easy to maintain. I have Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, Artic Cat, and Yamaha as my choices. I will also be buying new.

 

easy.. 400ex. but I may be a little biased.

 

That was one I looked at and have ridden many times before, but Im just not sure if they are fast enough for me. The one I rode had a full exhaust, jet kit, and air filter. It just seemed like it got boring fast. I know there good on the slow technical trail's but I also ride alot of fast wide open trails, and I want something I can putt around on, but I also want something that will just flat out scream to. Im also really considering the Honda 450r, Yamaha YFZ450, Yamaha Raptor 700R, Polaris Outlaw 525, Kawasaki KFX450R, and the Suzuki Quadracer R450.

 

You want two extremes: You want to go fast out in the open, and yet you want putt along and go slow in the technical stuff....so, you need an ALL-AROUND QUAD!

The 400EX is the best tight trail quad ever, but it is the slowest of the performance quads out in the open. The 450's are all very fast out in the open, but lame on a technical trail because they like to be ridden reved out.

So....that leaves you with the Z400 or Raptor 700! The Z is a bit revy, but nothing like the 450's. The 700 is a torque monster on the bottom, but falls a little flat on the top end compared to the 450's. I personally don't like its ergonomics.

 

Yeah I am starting to get away from the 450's just because of the more extensive maitence schedule and engine rebuild's that they would need. I have considered the Z400, but I am not sure if it would be quick enough to give me the real thrill I want when Im out in the open. I am also looking very hard at the raptor 700. I plan on doing the basic full exhaust, jet kit, and air filter.

 

IMO the 700 is the best "Allaround" quad made. There is just not a quad out there that offers as much bang for the buck technology,power out there period! With basic 3 mod setup (intake,exhaust,programmer) you will be basicly untouchable on the trail or on the straights. JFYI the Raptor has EFI so no jetting is required.

 

Haha yeah I keep forgeting about that EFI. Shows how lost in the past I am I guess. Ive pretty much narrowed it down to the Suzuki Z400, Yamaha Raptor 700R, and even though it's a 450 and not really trail friendly im still gonna kinda consider the Honda 450R.

 

The current version of the Z is EFI as well! It also got heavier.

The R has a superb frame/handling for the rough stuff, it is just that it is geared very tall. Even geared down externally, the internal gearing is still going to leave it tall. Had there not been a recession, I think we would have seen a redesigned R and CRF-X bikes this year....maybe next. They have done both the CRF-R bikes, so it is natural history that the X bikes and quad will follow.

 

For me, I was so put off by the Raptor 660 disaster, that I don't really care to ride anything with the word "Raptor" in the name....

But, can't say I had a love affair with my Z400, either!

 

What worries me most about the 450's is that seem to require quite a bit more maintenance than any of the other sport quads, and while I have owned and riddin 4 wheelers forever this will be my first sport quad. Which is kinda what has me leening more twords the raptor and Z400. The group I ride with ranges from large and small utilities and mainly honda 450r's and 400ex's and while im not really worried about out running them out in the open Id like to be able to hang right there with the 450's, which has me leaning twords the raptor 700.


Could you all give me the good, the bad, and the ugly on the raptor 700R preferably the 2009 model, and the good, the bad, and the ugly on the Z400 preferably the 2010 model with efi?