I only ride trails on the weekend. I am sick of all the maintenance on my 08 TRX450ER. I have been thinking about getting a 400EX or a TRX700XX or even a Raptor 600/700. What's your thoughts on this? I love power to.. My TRX was pretty built up if you could say. Had a HC2, DASA Full system, Ported and polished head by racers edge az with +1 valves on intake and exhaust with kibblewhite springs, uni filter lid off.

 

The 400ex would be the most maintenance free of the bunch you mentioned in my mind. Not as exciting though.

 

When you have a chain you have a full time job.
I went riding with chain drive ATVs and the amount of fussing they do with that chain would make me nuts. Tension, lubing and replacing worn chains and sprockes.

Its to bad they do not make a shaft drive sport ATV.

 

Also considering a Renegade 500/800/1000

 

Spikers, the 700 Rappy is a beast and with a few bolt ons you won't miss the 450 power wise vs the longer rebuild requirements. Handling is not as good as they still tend to be a bit top heavy to me, but if you don't look to race mx/xc it shouldn't be a problem.

Chain maintenance a full time job? How about we buy a decent chain set! I spend about 10 minutes after every ride with a grunge brush and then lube her back up with some chain wax. Adjustments on anything with an eccentric cam take 5 minutes tops. Sporties are chain drive because that is still the most efficient way to get power to the ground, it is less unsprung weight, it is lighter/simpler than shaft drive, and it allows for easy final gearing changes to suit riding conditions. Way to spread poor information...

 

Fuel injection is really nice.

 

700xx and the rincon are the 2 best trail atvs I've ever driven which is why I own them. My riding is 95% recreational and trails so I really like having a traditional gear box. The xx is nice because the chain is up high and centered and doesn't hinder the GC at all. The irs great for the trail and it offers over 10inches of ground clearance front and rear. IMO, it's the best sport atv you can get for the trails. The XX is extremely fast. With the big 3 you can hit 87 mph. Honda designed it to go fast over rough terrain which is why it did so well in Baja. This forum really doesn't have many XX owners but if you head to Club700xx.com, you can see what the XX is about.

 

imo get the raptor 700 if you want a 2wd, i have never had to do a thing to mine and i might have tightened my chain twice and i have had it a few years, and the power will not be a problem. If you want a sporty 4x4 then get the renegade, personally i have went to 4x4 after been a die hard 2wd rider for 10 years, thats why my raptor is for sell.

 

I ride a ltz 400 I have to do very little maintenance with mine the 450s are usually only meant for racing that's why I went with the 400. A 400ex isn't very good in my opinion they have been running the same sort of Honda motor from the 80s. Like the people above said get the renegade they're expensive but worth it or if you like manual go with a 400. The ltz 250 is shaft driven too just not as much power as a 400 if that's what your looking for

 

completely agree i rode a z400 for years and loved it, no problems, also i agree with the 400ex coment, i rode with two the other day and both were broke on the trailer before we got done. Also the 450 comment is right on my friend.