What are your opinions on Polaris Predator 500, DS 650 and Rappy 660R? Try to be nice people I know some of you are die hards for your bikes. Just looking for some objective opinions. Also what about the Suzuki LTZ400? Thanks in advance!!!

 

What kind of terrain do you ride???? Desert, trails, mountains, track, etc. ????

Off that list, my choice would be the Z! Great handling and well balanced, reliable......best all-around machine available right now. The motor responds nicely to just a few simple mods, like opening up the airbox.

I am very familiar with the DS and Raptor, not so much with the Predator. A friend had an early Predator and wasn't to fond of it, but I never got to ride it personally.

The DS is to large and heavy for the average size rider.....an absolute tank compared to the 250R you have been riding. If you are 6'+ and 250+ pounds then it might be a choice, but if you are average size why needlessly handicap yourself with such a bulky machine????

The Raptor has a thrilling engine (lots of strong throtle response), but it is narrow and carries its weight high in the frame (the radiator is way up top instead of way down low, for example). This all combines to make the quad a bit tippy. If I had one, it would need a wider axle and a-arms, minimum.

 

all the wheelers you listed are a good choice, just not the DS650 to big and lack of reverse. for me i like the raptor660 over the new 700 just for the fact that it is more narrow. I do a lot of tight woods rideing so the 660 works better for me but hey thats just me. heck i would rather be rideing a 1986 honda 350x 3 wheeler with the 660 motor in it.....yeah thats a good idea.

 

I mostly ride in the Sand Dunes, but do ride hard pack occasionally. I'm 5'10" 250 lbs(LARD ***). My little 250R and I longer get along, that is why I am looking to buy a quad to handle my size. I still like to ride FAST and Hard!!! So I don't want some Grandma bike. Thanks again for your input.

 

I like my Honda 450R as an all-around desert machine (it is dominating desert racing!), but for the trails in the San Bernardino Mountains I pick the 400EX. I don't think you would find the 450R to be to small.

The new Raptor 700 has potential, but for me I just don't like the ergonomics all that well. It is still to narrow for the desert, but you could go with some wheels that have a greater offset than stock (like ITP Baja), and gain something like 3" of width.

I think I get the Chulawanna thing- Chula Vista/Tijuanna????

 

Thanks reconranger for the input. You are correct on the Chulawanna thing also!

 

Does anyone know anything about the Cannondale 440?

 

Got to point out that you live in So. Calif., and the Honda 450R is the king of the desert! It is winning (got to finish to win!) all the big desert endurance races (Baja, Vegas to Reno), since the day it came out. That's all I ever needed to know...........

 

That is very true, but the 450R is abit out of my $$$ range at this time.

 

DS650

DS = Dune Sport. But I use it heavily on trails with no problem. I'm 5'10" 200 lbs even. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]