Hell everyone, I'm new to the forums.
I am interested in upgrading to a new-used ATV, I am not interested in a utility model since my father has one that he lets me use. I ride mostly tight to semi open trails and there are a lot of fireroads along the way to let an atv stretch its legs. Right now I drive a Honda Xr250 dirtbike. I have been looking at the 400ex as I hear they're an all around good bike, but I've driven one of my friends Predator 500's and freaking loved it! Now I can't decide, I hear the Predators bottom end is no good for trails.
I am 5'8" and 17 and have a lot of experience riding both dirtbikes and 4 wheelers.

Thanks
-Cannuckkid1

 

the preditor is good but might be slightly overkill for the trails. the ex is amazing there bulit proof and it will bog down easily in tight trails. another good option is the ltz400. they liked 3 b reved a lil more than the ex but on the fire roads it will woop a ex.

 

The ex or the ltz would be good choices. Lots of mods to tweak the quad to your liking.

Welcome to the forums.

 

The 400ex is a great, very dependable trail quad, ltz's have a good name to, a bit more advanced, but its hard to beat the 400ex!

 

I was in the same shoes, as you're in. But chose the 400EX over the z400. Because previously, I had a Raptor 350 & 250EX, and I liked the 250EX much more. Never had any problems with the 250EX, and neither my 400EX.
It's not as up-to-date as the z400, but more reliability, and less maintenance. Honda doesn't need to upgrade anything that works perfectly. And it's about 1000$ less.

Go for the Honda. Awesome all-around machine, not needed to be faster, but if, you can mod it a long way. I'm putting a HMF & Elka Stage 1 on it, and it will be perfect.

 

Agreed with everyone else, get a Honda 400ex, great power and great reliability. If you find a good deal on a Raptor 700, you should go for it, nothing wrong with a Raptor (just stay away from the 660!). Don't waste your time with any sport quad Polaris makes, save yourself the buyers remorse, a Predator would seem wicked to somebody who hasn't driven sport quads that much, but trust me, I have nothing against Polaris, just their sport quads, for good reason.