Hello. Looks like I will be beating a dead horse on this one. I am new to atvs. My neighbors both just bought quads. One has a 2002 400ex Honda and one got a 2005 Honda 450r. I have ridden them both. I love the top end of the 450r but really like the ability to putt around in first without clutching all the time. I am from Wisconsin where we either have old gravel train track beds or private land with trails and swamps through the woods. I just bought a 2000 400ex and got it home. Finding out it needed a ton of work. Inexperience caused a bad buy. I still was able to sell it off for the price I paid. So now I am stuck. What is the quad for me. Casual sandpits and woods riding. I believe I would prefer a quad that has a low gear for first. I don't care if I get beat on top end. I want to enjoy riding it all around. Thanks. My price range is USED>no higher then 2400.

 

Welcome again! See your previous post!

 

Unfortunately I live in an area where test riding is very limited. I either have to drive over an hour and a half to the closest dealership. Or about the same for many of the used quads around here. Guess I was looking for some insight on a couple or personal experience with certain ones. Looking at craigslist. I seem to find a bunch of 400ex's 2000-2003. A bunch of raptors and some yfz450's. The yfz's are not in my price range. Plus I have heard they are super high performance. More of a race base quad. For the money should I really consider a 400ex that old? Or get a newer raptor 660. I have seen a couple of Polaris predator 500 limited editions in my price range. Anyone know the pluses and minus of these?

 

What kind of terrain will you be riding? Trail, Track, Mx, Leastrly????? Just need some more input on what you want and how much you have to spend!

 

Like I said we either can ride for miles on old gravel train track beds (pretty much a flat gravel road). Or we have a 1000 acre farm with trails cut in the woods, through old hay fields and a small old sandpit with steep walls on the backside. Pretty much just messing around and having fun. Also my experience level on quads is none really. Ridden a couple of times on a scrambler. But grew up riding a YZ250.

 

Sorry I missed your first post Sounds like you like the 400EX to me but love the power of a 450???? In that case a mix of both would probobly be the answer and for that I would look for a Suzuki Z400. It's a liquid cooled dual over head cam engine that likes to rev (tho not as much as a 450) and has the power to pull you out of pretty much any situation. In short a allaround quad that has a great top end similar to a 450 but can cruise like a 400EX. Another coice would be the Raptor 660 or 700 but you wont find them nealy as cheap or as plentiful as a 400 used!

 

I have heard the raptor is a tank. Actually called on a 2001 660 for $1950. But was a four hour drive just to see it. Would want to be pretty sure I was going to buy something if I drive 8 hours round trip. How about a predator. Parts of them are actually made in the town I live in. Quite a few of those around for sale

 

I personaly would get the EX before a Predator The EX is a staple quad and tho a old design is bullit proof! People can say all they want about about a Raptor and all I will say is this I will give you ONE ride and you can decide for yourself! People alway hate on things there scared of! If you look at a predator go with a 525 not that the 500 is bad but the 525 will run circles around the 500!

 

The 500 in the Predator is pretty bulletproof. Same engine as the Sportsman from what I understand. In your price range I think the Suzuki 400 is a great choice. More than enough power for anything but all out racing. Fun to throw around. Not good in the conditions we ride up here in New England but sounds like a good choice for the terrain you will be riding. I doubt you can find the KTM powered 525s in your price range but if you can, it screams and is super reliable.

 

I am making a drive and looking at a couple different quads this morning. An 04 z400 what should I look for on these. Any common problems I should watch for. Also looking at a 04 yfz 450r I am assuming something is wrong with it cause he is asking 2400 bo. Most I have seen around here are listed 3000 or more. And has been listed awhile. What should I look for on this one? Thanks