well i like my friends 450r. he races it and never has ridden on a trail at all. he has a rancher for that. so ive never touched it. are the 450r good trail quads or are they to quick in tight spots? would a 400ex be better. the fastest quad ive ever ridden was a raptor and i didnt get that good at clutch but im alright. if the 450r was my first clutch quad coudl i handle it? or would i want a 400ex becasue i only ride trails.

 

Stock for stock, you would want a 400EX. They can be had a lot cheaper than a 450R and have better low-end for trails. The 450R is geared a bit high for trail riding, although this can be taken care of with a 13 tooth front sprocket I believe. 400EXs respond well to mods and the more power you want out of it, the more you can do to it as the aftermarket for this machine is virtually endless.

 

i still wanna be wicked fast in the fields since i ride with a raptor and a dvx. i wanna line up with them and show them up. but i do need it for tight trails. if i get the 400 im waiting till 05 to see what they do. im hoping theyll get rezzies, e start, and reverse then the 400 will be my quad for sure.

 

I pick the 450R for fast more open trails and the open desert. The 400EX for tight, but not very technical trails, and the Rancher for the really technical stuff.

The stock 450R has an outstanding trail chassis, but the gearing is to tall. And, the power is kind of pipey. The 400EX on the other hand, doesn't mind being lugged down and run slow.

 

the 400ex already has electric start! but if you expect to line up with a raptor and dvx and want to show them up you'll want the 450r. i still think the 400ex is a better bike for you tho becuase it will be your first clutch and they are so simple to drive and don't stall easy at all.

 

for what you describe the 400ex sounds like the ticket

if you were using it for the MX track,,,I would say 450r

 

i would say that is pretty accurate

 

I'd look at the suzuki z400's or kfx400's. they are same as a dvx, and a little faster than a 400ex, and some other advanteges, and a pretty good trail quad.

 

Given your experience with a clutch and the tight trails, you better get the 400ex with electric start else get used to being super frustrated kicking. Don't believe the hype about not having to kick this bike more than once. I've participated in taking turns kicking one trying to get it restarted. My Yamaha WR400 was a lot easier to get restarted even after a fall.

 

Don't believe the hype about having to kick this bike more than once. Those guys just don't have the technique down!