i have been out of motorcycles for about ten years and have never owned a quad and i decieded i was gonna buy a honda 2005 400ex and was all set to get one... went down to the dealer and then the salesman said i should'nt buy the 400ex because its air cooled and should go for the kawasaki 400 because its watercooled..so i said let me think about it...or should i go for a left over 05 raptor 660....i plan to leave the quad bone stock and will trail ride here in the desert near las vegas and will probaly take it to the sand dunes(dumont) .....so now i'm confused....i like hondas and like the price of the ex400 and i think a 400 is plenty of power for me.....or is it worth it to just go big and go raptor 660 or go for the kawasaki watercooled, i'm itching to buy this week..cash is not a issue i just wanna make sure i'm not gonna regret it after

 

I ride desert in the cool months (and high altitude mountains during the hot months). The best desert machines are the great trail machines, with some modifications.

The best all-around choice is the Suzuki Z400 and its clones (which the Kawasaki is). It has great handling, lots of power (which you will need in the dunes), and is reasonably light. It is water cooled, which is an advantage in the heat.

I pick the 400EX for very tight trail riding in my local mountains (otherwise, it is my daughters desert machine). I have it geared down and I can lug the engine down through tight semi-technical terrain.

The Raptor is way to narrow! (Why Yamaha makes its bikes so narrow, is a mystery to me.) It carries its weight high in the frame and is kind of tippy. My buddies who have them, aren't 100% pleased with them. (The 06 Raptor is however redisigned, and I haven't ridden one of them yet).