Honest opinions here...What do you like/dislike about it? I feel confident that the Z wont have major probs like the raptor did 1st because Zook did very very well 1st out with their new Gixxer line. So what do you guys like? Im trying to decide between honda, zook, or raptor.....honda has reliablity...

 

You can't beat a honda , My friend bought a 2001 400ex brand new just a little over a year ago , and the bike is so damn reliable. Hes only had a adjust the chain once!!
Hes had no problems with it that haven't been caused by himself (cracked plastic chipped frame paint).

 

Suzuki messed up. They where too conservative. Same MSRP, alittle more power, added reverse, and added liquid cooling. Everyone knows that the 400ex does not sell for MSRP in the states anymore. So for $300, add the high compression stock bore piston, and a XR cam.....pow it's right back in the picture.

The Z It might have a good summer, salesdollars wise, but I think it will drop off after that. It will not keep rising like the 400ex sales did.

Zuki missed their chance at possibly de-throning the 250r as the best production quad ever built. A DRZ powered quad, instead of the DRZ-S engine, would have been THE quad to own. They couldn't make enough of those. The first from the Big 4 to make a true bike engined quad with no de-tuning would have set the market on fire. Just look what C-dale is doing this year....

The saying still goes, "What wins on sunday....sells on monday" And 400ex's are still holding their ground.

 

The Z looks good so far. In reality, it is just a warmed over 400EX with a better engine. If I was in the market for a new 400 class bike today, I would probably pick the Z. No way would I sell my 400 at this point to get a Z though. The bikes just aren't that much different!

For the future, I am looking for a quantum leap over the 400 (and the Raptor just isn't what I'm looking for). If we don't see a 650EX pretty soon, I will get a DS Baja (an out of the box desert racer), and return the 400EX to trail bike duty, and that is really where the 400 excells anyway!!

 

Honestly guyes, is the Z equal to the EX as far as agility? If yes ok. If no could you give a coment on where you think it lacks. My use, cool trails and hill climbs, trying to gather some comparison info.

Thanks guyes...

 

Only more time will tell...

Liquid cooling and reverse are the biggies in my opinion. I want my girlfriend on one just for the reverse. I am tired of hopping off my bike to help her move the 400ex around.

Reverse speaks for itself. Liquid cooling should help the engine run smoother due to tighter tolerances. Nothing like the simplicity of an air cooled engine though.

/NotuRaptor

 

I now own a 3ooex, for 2 years now I have walked into the Honda shop and pointed to the 400ex and say "if that 400ex had reverse we would be signing the paper work right now".
Now that I can buy one with 400cc and reverse then throw in liquid cooling and aggressive looks, I found myself signing the paperwork on a new "Z".
So yes, the new "Z" will take buyers from the 400ex sales, I only hope the "Z" is as reliable as my 300ex has been or I will be looking at a new honda when they wake up and take care of the couple of features that the other machines have.

 

I like the Z also. I would was thinking about saving up for a Z and maybe buying a used one or something, but I think I will just mod the 300EX a little more instead, might save me money in the long rub, or I will mod the 300EX then sell it and then buy a used Z or something.

 

JVc400ex- look at what cannondale is doing this year? What wins on sunday, sells on monday? I doubt that cannondale will have 2500 sales for the year. Suzuki 400 sales will be that high in less than a month.

If i had to get a another quad, it would be the Z, in white and black.

 

14mins,

Sorry, they've already surpassed that. Just a note, they projected 200 motos for the entire year.....they've already sold over 600....[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] So people are buying $12,000 fourwheelers on Monday, than won the race on Sunday.

And Cannondale has a fraction of the dealers that Suzuki has and only 1 MFG location....I hope they can outsell them! duh...


And everyone knows that the yellow 400z is way faster than the white ones....just like the blue Raptors are faster. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]