I can't tell ya if a 400ex will hand a Raptor what. however I can vouch that for your needs and what you're looking for, the 400ex will fill the bill. The YFZ- while crisp and nilmbe would be overkill on the trails and recreational riding. It's mostly a 100% on type of thing, which is great for it's intended place; competition. The 400ex employs the 'legenday' frame geometry handed down from the 250R, and, for 2005 it gets revers. The 400ed- it's got everything ya need, I even took the carburetor it was soo good!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

The Z is a pleasure to ride on trails, will climb almost anything you point it at (got pictures to prove that), and seems to be quite durable and reliable- On a very steep hillclimb about a week ago, I hit a good sized rock 3/4 of the way up, which popped my front end up and flipped me backwards. I bailed and watched my quad go end over end almost 300 ft down a hill I wouldnt try to walk on. Bent the bars and bumper, but frame is still straight and rode on the rest of the day W/O a problem. Buddy of mine has a raptor which he loves but for trail riding he said its too much, and he is 40something, weighs 300 lbs, and has been riding longer that I have been alive. And for the price, the Z is by far the best buy of them all for what u get. Would recommend full skids, filter, yosh pipe and rejet and it will run with the big boys all day (stock tires suck too- Razr2 the way to go)

 

Oh and I dont know much about the ex, know honda makes a great motor, but the design seems kind of outdated and every one I have ran with ends up eating my roost the whole time[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Get a Z, know plenty of very happy owners and for what it seems like what you want, its the only way to go if you dont keep the aging EX. good luck