Hey Guys,

No, this post isn't intended to start another war.

Right now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to buy a Street Bike, or buy another ATV to race MX with down in Soutwick, MA and Jolly Roger in NH.

I could use the Banshee, but the way it is set up I believe I would have to race in the 2 stroke open class caust they have a 250cc limit in the regular Novice class there. I have never raced so I would prefer not to be in to open class for sure. I also know that the Banshee is not the ideal MX quad, but that really doesn't matter to me.

Anyway, a guy I know races in the 440cc 4-stroke class so that would probably be the one I would race in. I can't afford a Cannondale so a 400ex or a Z400 are just about my only options.

I just want to know if any of you 400ex owners have been on the Suzuki? I don't care to hear from people who are just talking out of the magazines, I have read them as well so please save your breath. That is what starts arguments. I don't mean to sound like a jerk by saying that, but people that have never been on both quads can't give an honest opinion on them.

If there are people who have ridden both quads what one suited you better and why? How did they compare power wise? Do you think there is a question of the reliability of the Suzuki or does it seem like a well built quad?

Also a few newbie MX questions. If I buy a quad, are suspension mods a must? I have seen pics of both of these tracks and it doesn't seem like the Novice class are taking massive jumps. Also, is there anything else I should know before making my decision?

The association is the NEATV-MX (New England ATV Moto-Cross). If anybody races in that series I would really like to hear from you.

Thank you all for the help.

-Josh

 

I just rode my friends Z400. I have a Race 400ex and a stock 02 Raptor also. It is a beautiful bike(the suzuki). Sits like a Raptor and 400ex combined but more similar to the 400ex. The seat is very comfortable. Handles like a 400ex and Raptor and rides and shifts like a dream. Power is not what I expected(felt identical to 400ex lacking in stock form) but break in will always yeild a faster engine and quad plus they say you can build it and get 50 reliable hp plus water cooling will be faster than air cooled of the same cc. It didnt have thirty minutes on it when I rode it so I cant be too critical. My Raptor wasnt impressive at first either but got quicker and quicker. If I had to chose between the three machines. RAPTOR hands down. If I had to choose between Honda and Suzuki,Suzuki because of the water cooling,price,hp,reverse, and proven motor. For the money though it is a awesome quad and will do what you want. My Raptor though with jetting and pipe and kn and pro design intake and advance key outruns my BUILT 400ex with 13/1 and everything you can do,port work,cam,fcr etc. That shocked me! You just cant beat displacement. The thing is awesome. The Raptor is the only quad I know of that you can pipe and jet and get 10 HP minimum and up to 14 they say. I know mine picked up tremendously. I love them all so I am not being biased, just my opinion. I still favor the Honda brand but own a Yamaha too. Who knows, I might end up with a Suzuki too.

 

Thanks for the honest review of both. I was beginning to wonder if there was anybody around that had ridden both.

I'm still not really sure what to do...I want a street bike pretty bad, but I would also like to race.

If I did happen to race I was leaning a little toward the Suzuki originally, and a little more now. There is just something about the 400ex that I really like though.

I'd probably be better of getting a used EX if I could find a good deal on one...then I wouldn't be out quite so much money if I didn't like racing.

How much work do you have to do to them to make them competitive in the Novice class? I would guess that mods aren't quite as important there cause the riders probably aren't riding the machines to their maximum potential.

I would just like an estimate of ATV + mods to get into it. Let's say that I picked up a decent 400ex for $3800....how much do you think I need to put into it to get it ready?

Thanks again.

-Josh

 

Out of the 400EX & Z400 I think the Z is an easy choice

Heres why:

Looks
Reverse
More Power & Speed
More Comfortable
Both Handle the same & Both have good suspension

I have ridden both.

 

Yeah....I would like a Streetbike more....I would get more use out of it, but I know how I get and an ATV is deffinatly safer.

I have a sick disese common amongst many of us here called the "need for speed". I get stupid...I'm lucky that I haven't really been hurt yet.

My "woman" gave me the go ahead to get a bike last month, and I was all for it until my family and some friends had a hissy fit.

I know a guy that races ATV's and he said that I should do it too....I was going to run it by my family and see if they would support me on it, and if they did it would probably be best.

I don't know....a lot to think about. You are right though, racing would deffinatly be more expensive.

Thanks.

-Josh

 

summer night rides on a sport bike with your girl behind you wearing her Daisy Dukes..... fun, fun, fun

 

Josh, Toughie man. I'm sitting here debating on selling both quads for a complete Lonestar 250R, or selling them and putting up a good downpayment on a 2002 truck, and using the money I spend for races as monthly payments!

I think I'll stick with racing though. No matter how fast a 2002 metallic blue Ford Lightning may be, it would never make me smile as big as a 1st place trophy. Racing is all about fun. If we did it to make money, we wouldn't have a computer to sit at.

My brother had a 1998 Honda SuperHawk. NICE bike. Turned heads everywhere he went on it. If you dont know, the SuperHawk was a DEEP sounding bike. I have never ever heard anything that sounded any better. His had dual D&D's on it... whoa! But anyways.. He grew out of it. By the time his wife had her baby, he was more than ready to sell it. I think it might just be a phase for some, but if I ever get one, I'll keep it.

Good luck. Stick with what you know. 4 wheels are always better than 2.