so I have had a Honda trx250EX for quite a few years now and havent started to ride it hard til last year. Now I see I am better than what it can handle, not enough power, nor is is built for jumping big.

I am looking for a quad thats best for me.
this is what i like:

-Cross coutry/ trails
-Jumps/Stunts/ (freestyle or whatever the proper term is)
-Maybe a little racing

Those are in order of what i do most and prefer to do most.
also im looking for a bike thats in the 400 or 450 class's, and want reverse. electric start is not required b/c possible failing.

I was looking at suzuki ltz400, kawa kfx 400, honda 400ex. and then i was constantly eyeballing the yamaha yfz 450 cause its supposed to be pretty good all around. and as for the 450r, i heard its not the best TOY.
I dont want newer than 2005
i need to save some money.

If anyone can help me figure out what fits me best that would be awesome.
also, im not sure of what all of those bikes are built specifically for so id like to know that,(and the term for stunts/jumps)

Thanks!!!

 

The Z400 and its clones are probably the best all-arounders out there.

All the 450's are high strung, and need to be ridden reved out. That means they aren't so great for slow trails, but they are great on faster trails and wide open country. For me, I picked the 450R because it is the king of desert endurance racing! You know, start it up and ride 1000 miles non-stop. If you aren't on a Honda (quad or dirt bike), you probably won't finish the race, much less win....this machine can go the distance!!!

The 400EX is the best tight trail quad off all time. It will lug down and can be ridden slow in the technical stuff. It isn't as fast on the top end as the Z.

As for jumping, I have busted out huge air on the 400EX (WorksPerformance suspension). I never liked how my Z flew in the air. It always wanted to pitch nose down, so it was panic rev all the time...not much fun at all! The R flies great too....

 

Thats quality information. thanks

 

The other nice thing about the 400 class quads is they have reverse where most of the 450 class machines dont!

 

I just compared the 2007 yfz 450 to the 2009 yfz 450r. I noticed it was a few inches wider and fuel injected. but why does it weigh 50 more pounds. and does the first yfz 450 not have reverse either.
Reverse will be the deciding factor between 450s and 400s.
So no 450s have reverse???

 

I think the only 450 with reverse is the KFX 450 (Kawasaki)!

 

There is always the option of the Raptor 700R as well! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

The kawasaki,polaris and ktm xc all have reverse.

 

raptor 700!

 

I was thinking. If a quad has 4.5/5 inches ground clearance, wouldn't that be bad for jumping. Suspension compression could lead to the frame hitting the ground right.
400ex 4.5 inches
z400/clones 10 inches
those with higher ground clearance are better for trails and jumping I assume plus the 400's (not the ex) have only one less inch of width than yfz 450.