CC's don't have much to do with top speed. Gearing, weigh, and power all combine to give you top speed. A Stock honda 300 will out run a stock 450. I did say that a 450 with 27" mud bugs was pretty close to me in top speed, but a factory one could not keep up with me at all. I offered to race a stock 450es with only a winch and he refused, cause his buddy's 450es with 26" vamps would race the stocker. So me and the vamped 450 raced. We both started in 2nd gear and at the begining we were dead even, then I we shifted. As soon as I got into 3rd gear I left him, BAD. I'm talking 1 1/2 quad lenghts. It only got worse as the race went on.

As far as the mudding ability goes, I have out mudded a 450es with 26" Vampires(different owner and bike) with everything stock on my bike. I must admit that he did out mud me in a couple of places after he got his homemade 3-3.5" lift, But I still kept up with him in ALMOST every place.

As far as the 425 goes, it will race a 450, out pull it, and out mud it. The 425 also steers easier and tighter than the 450 while also riding better. The 450 is a good bit more comfortable(besides the hard seat) as far as controls go and I can't stand the gearing of the 425. It has too much space between gears 2-3, but it does have AWSOME compression braking(chirp the tires down shifting from 2nd to 3rd on cement).

 

Boner I must admit that I have not personally driven an Expedition. However the shootout in 4wheel ATVaction reported the opposite to what you are saying. They said the 450 was quicker and handled better (I believe the quote was that the Honda was a demon in the turns). They also said that in the quicksand like river bottom that they rode in that neither bike could leave the other except when the Expedition got water into the airbox.

As far as top speed is concerned, I do not consider 1-2 mph as very significant. Maybe you do and that is fine.

Your statement "CC's don't have much to do with top speed" is not realistic. Gears, tires, etc certainly have a bearing but to suggest that displacement (ergo power) doesn't affect top speed is more than debatable. Suffice to say that all else being equal the biggest motor is going to be the fastest in most cases. As the man said there is no replacement for displacement.

Samurai ... my advice remains the same ... try them both. When you consider the accessories the price would appear to be the same so it comes down to personal preference. Boner, Andy, myself and several others have given a pretty good accounting of the quads pros and cons. It is up to you.

Temp

 

OK you have stired the pot!!! I have a AC 500 auto and I have gone places on my 500a that my friends riding Honda 450's can't go. There is also some places that they go on 450's that I can't go. They have me beat in deep water and mud. I have them beat on hill climbs and in the woods. I have had Hondas, Kawasakis and now a AC. None of them are perfect for everything. Ride safe!!!!

 

DITTOS!!! I couldn't have said it better!!!

 

Tempest and Boner thanks for all the helpful input.

-Samurai

 

Not to bash anyone, but when I saw an Artic Cat for the first time I was disappointed by the quality of how it was built. Cheap, and not well thought out. I have to give it to the Japanese for the quality and craftsmanship. For the cats, their suspsention is clearly better, but adds alot of WEIGHT. But why are we comparing the 450 to your 500? Why dont we compair RUBICON vs CAT-500. Now, there is a nice transmission. No rubberband in there! Your rubberband transmission gets wet all the time, just look at all the posts, (how do i keep my belt from getting wet) and please never compare any Honda to a go cart. Thats just wrong.

Thanks- and ride hard.

 

Well you want to know why he is comparing the 450es to the Arctic Cat auto?

Look at the prices, The 450 he is priceing is about 500 bucks more expensive than the cat. Can you imagine the price difference between the Rubicon and the Cat?

 

Tempest,

I forgot to mention something about the 450, it had 27" Mud bugs on it. Thats probaly the difference.

I did find that the 450 handled a good bit better(I find most polarises top heavy), but IF I had to choice between a 425 and a 450 I would probaly pick the 425 cause it has a smoother transmission(without a dought) true 4wd, a better ride, and it just flat out embarasses the 450 in the mud(when both are stock).

 

Boner, read his post more carefully. There is a $400 price difference and part of that $400 is due to a winch being in the equation.

Temp

 

The AC500 is better than the 450, bigger engine more power. Now if you compared the AC500 to the Rubi thats a different story.