I just sold my 2002 CR250 and am looking to get into a quad. I would like something with the power I am used to, but better suited for trail riding. Thanks for the input.

 

Quick answer: Honda 400ex or Yamaha Raptor 700.

You can't go wrong with either. The Raptor has EFI which is a big plus in my opinion. Rumor is the 400ex may get EFI for 2008 but we won't know for a few more weeks.

I would wait till Honda annouces the rest of thier 2008 line up the first week of September. Also should consider the Suzuki Z400.

 

How tight and how technical are these "trails"????

For very tight and technical trails where you will rarely get into 3rd gear, the power of a large displacenent machine is simply wasted. The best tight trail quad of all time is probably the Honda 300EX. It is small, agile, and fits between the trees easily. More than enough power for slower trail riding, torquey bottom end, and most important all that power is completely tractable! I now wish I had kept mine...

If the trails are faster and more open or include faster roads, then any of the popular trail quads will do: 400EX, Z400, or Raptor 700 for example.

The 450's are light and very fast, but make poor trail machines because they have to be ridden reved out, much like a 2-stroke. I like these for wide open country. These engines don't like to be lugged down though, so tight trail riding these requires a lot of clutch slipping...which gets old real fast.

So, I hope you are getting the picture here! The really fast quads like the 450's that might have a chance of keeping up with a 250cc 2-stroke dirt bike, are not necessarily the best "trail" quads.

And, if the trails are ultra technical, then we should be talking 4wd.....