Hi everyone,
Going to buy my first ATV, but which make and mdl???

Looking for a Sport mdl with 4x4. Will be use for recreation only???

Not sure if 4x4 is a must??? Want fast and good handling, good suspension...

Have several bikes and PWC...sure there is a learing curve, (as with any new toy)
but I am not a noviced rider.

Tks

 

The only two that are billed as sport 4x4's are the Yamaha Wolverine and one of the Polaris bikes. Then there are several sport/utility that blue the line towards sport - most notably the Kawasaki 650. As to if you need 4wd, that depends on what type of trails you ride and who you ride with. A true 2wd sport bike will outperform any 4x4 (until you sink it in the mud) but you may not ride rough trails like that. I often see a group of sport bikes traveling with a token 4x4 who obviously tags along to pull the 2wd bikes out if stuck.

If you want the ultimate in sport and 4x4 I would go with the Prairie 650.

Jaybee

 

I thought I needed 4X4 also. I was not sure but I got one. I was wrong. I have yet to see a hill that I can take that my buddies can't "bounce" up on their sport quads(2X4) with a running start. On the other hand, a 600-700 lb 4X4 is a huge liability on a long steep hill compared to a sub 400lb machine that can gain enough momentum before the hill to fly right up. I wouln't have believed it till I saw it, but there are actually a good # of long steep hills the 4X4's can't do that the z400 and 400ex's can take. just my 2 cents

 

Ok, not going to be pulling any stumps out of the ground...what are your suggestions for a 2x4, money is not really an issue, but don't want to buy more of a bike than I need. Have no plans race, but will probably want to mod. in the future...

 

z400 or 400ex. both light with plenty of speed and mods available.

 

Any Info on the Yam. Raptor 2001 or 2002 mdls,is it worth looking at compared with the EX or Z...and why
Tks

 

ISeeDoo, If money isn't an option you should really take a look at the Prairie 650. I don't just say this because I have one, I say it because its a fact. The 650's top speed is near 70mph and it is normally operated as a 2 wheel drive (with 4x4 and locking didderential available on the fly). True you won't need 4x4 most of the time, therein lays the beauty of selectable 4x4, so when you see a hill that needs to be tamed for the first time or a mud hole that looks irresistable you don't have to look the other way. Also if you plan on doing many trips that take over a couple of hours then the racks of a Prairie are a godsend, try packing everything in a backpack and/or six-pack-rack all day long. If you want an all around great quad look at the Prairie it may not be the best at everything but it performs so well at everything it can't be denied it's title as ATV of the year (from many many magazines and television shows). There are several machines that are faster (KFX400, Raptor, DS 650), some arguably better mudders (Quest, Sp700), and better riding trail quads (Rincon) but none of these machines seem to be able to go from one extreme to the next like the Prairie.

 

450HondaForemanS: I think that observation depends on your trail conditions. There are plenty of trails I ride on with my bike that *no* atv will get up, and almost every one I ride on a 2x4 atv owner would be pushing it alot, wheras my buddy's scrambler does pretty well. It just depends.

 

if you are looking at the raptor, avoid the 2001 models. they had a problem with the reverse and tranny. otherwise the rap has plenty of power for anything youll want to do. if you can get a used 400ex for cheap, it might be a better buy. if you are buying new, the raptor is a better investment than either the z400 or 400ex.