I've owned a 400ex, z400, and a 660 grizzly. I now live in an area of mostly gravel forest service roads, I didn't have my 400 ex while living in this area with gravel roads, I enjoyed the 400ex. I purchased the z400 and didn't care for it at all, main problem was handing on gravel roads it's difficult keeping it straight wanted to shoot right or left with little power or a lot, tried different air pressure and tires. Bought a 660 grizzly didn't like the automatic. So I'm wondering if the 400ex is simply a better balanced atv? Unfortunately I can't test ride one on gravel roads like mine. Any thoughts

 

Sounds like you want a sport quad. The best handling sport quad I've ever ridden is a Can Am DS 450

 

A little more info would be nice... do you like to jump and wheelie? How big of a person are you? How fast do you wanna go?

I had a DS650 a few years back and that thing was sick on gravel roads..but was too heavy to really jump on too high and doing wheelies was kinda a chore too compared to other machines I have owned.

400 ex is a great machine good power and great handling and solid reliability.

I have a Honda Rincon now have lots of fun on that.. you can shift or go automatic..handles nice and you can still have a 4x4..

 

I weigh 190, jump a little, like to pull the front up, slide, very little fun factor with the grizz 660, just didn't care for the wandering on gravel with the ltz400, I don't mind a little, however it was difficult to just go for a comfortable ride on the gravel without going over a cliff! Have any 400ex owners experienced behavior on gravel?
Thanks

 

A 660 grizzly will dust a 400ex on a long wide gravel road. Shifting is just a unnecessary chore. I have a 130hp 700 snowmobile and if I had to shift grears with it,Id think it would take the fun out of it. CVT is the way to go thats why 90% of the ATVs have it.

 

Th eZ is an inherently great handling quad. Tire choice and/or size may have had something to do with the wandering. I think you could even be OK on a Z once again, but put a stabilizer on it and that will cure most of the wandering. I know my YFZ will wander on smaller mx tires a lot more than on a trail tire. Either way adding a stab fixes it.

 

For fast trail riding give me my Raptor 700 or 09 and newer Z400 any day!

 

Actually, we owned both a 400 EX and a Grizzly 660 at the same time, and drag raced them several times. The 400 EX could easily beat the Grizzly 660 to top speed, and kept on pulling away. They weren't even that close.

 

Get a utility quad with a 5 speed semi-auto. Like a 2010 Suzuki KingQuad 400FS, or a 2010 Yamaha Big Bear 400 IRS. 5-speed semi-auto's are pretty fun its like a 4x4 race quad with no clutch and heavier :P

 

Size and body weight are a factor. If you are going for speed and stunts, you want a sport. For that, I would recommend either a 400EX or a Yamaha Blaster. The Blaster is great for speed and the best for jumps and wheelies. If you just want a smooth ride and just want to get around, go with a utility that has independent wheel suspension.

Good Luck with your decision.