I am in the market for a new quad. I used to ride a banshee but that is now long gone, and now I'm looking towards getting a 4-stroke. I ride mostly dunes (Glamis), with a little desert trail riding mixed in. My concern is power, I'm a big guy that needs some juice behind me to get up the hills in the dunes. I'm trying to decide on the YFZ450, the Raptor, or the honda 450r. I would mod each quad with the same; intake,exhaust,cam, high comp piston. The raptor seems to fit me best as it feels bigger than the other 2, but I don't know if the power is there, as it is with the 450's. I'm not concerned with a high top speed or drag racing all the time, just something with enough motivation to get me around the dunes easily, or would be comparable to a piped banshee. Any opinion's would be appreciated.

 

I can't caomment on the dunes as I have never been[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] However, with the mods you are planning, I would think the new quad would be able to take a Banshee with just pipes. In fact, change that to I know they would take a Banshee with only pipes.

 

No replacement for displacement in my opionion. If you plan to add mods, you will be happier with a Raptor. An open airbox, jets, and slip-on will put you in the high 40hp range. Seems like many big guys out west enjoy the DS650 too. You should at least check it out. Many big guys have posted they like the feel of it over the Raptor even. I'm tall but not necessarily big (6'5", 210 lbs) and always felt the most comfortable on the Raptor. I haven't ridden a YFZ450 though.


/Jon

 

I always hate to hear somebody say all they do is ride the dunes, because it means they are missing a whole world of great cross-country riding out there!

I like the power delivery of the 450R, though a big guy might find it a little cramped. It is my bike of choice for desert cross-country. It also has pretty good trail manners, but needs a gearing change for that application. I have not ridden it at the "dunes" however, so I can't really comment on it in that environment.

I am sure you would feel cramped on the YFZ.

I find that the Raptor carries its weight high in the frame, and it is pathetically narrow and tippy. At the least I would have to do a wider axle, wider a-arms, and all that would mean new shocks as well. That would add thousands to the price, so that eliminates this one for me.

I would also take a look at the DS. I have put in a few hours on one. Way to huge for my taste, but they are powerfull.

Another choice in a huge machne might be the Kawasaki 700. I have a buddy who has one and seems to like it. Not great suspension though, and again to huge to be any fun for me. I don't like the fact that it has no engine braking.

 

I have ridden both the YFZ and the 450R at Glamis. Being a diehard Honda person, I admit the following:
Of the 2, I'd buy the Yamaha. Wider and lower front-end, more bottom-end torque and still revs out.
Power of both is comperable, handling of Yamaha is better (IMHO), comfort is better on Honda, seat on Yamaha too hard.
Yamaha also has electric start, you need to kick the Honda.
I have also ridden a 450R with the HRC kit installed. More power, but only on mid-top and it doesn't like to go slow. I, personally, didn't care for the power band it had. Needed a lot more bottom-end torque.
I don't do reverse so no comment.
I have ridden a Raptor and while it does have a very cushy ride, it's handling is way down compared to the YFZ and 450R.
Also, watching people racing, the 450s are beating the Raptors. Now, you can really wake-up a Raptor, but do you really want a too-tall-too-narrow fast quad? The Raptor will need to be widened quite a bit to make it handle as well as the above two. Plus, it's a bit heavier.
I have a friend that is only 5'9" and hits the scales soaking-wet with all his riding gear on at a buck fifty and he just loves his DS650!
If you're concerned about your size, you can get longer steering stems, taller bars, lower footpegs, etc.

 

I ride a 450R and have not been on the others but my two cents is that the HRC kit really woke up my quad. I will have a Rosier Pipe put on later this week so we will see what kind of difference that will make. I ride the small dunes in Oklahoma at little sahara. I can climb the biggest dune there with a passenger. I am only 5'10" but I tip the scales as 220. My rider was a big breasted lass weighing around 130-140 (Guess). So together we should be over 350 lbs. Again no problems climbing the dunes bone stock without paddles. (I had just purchased it). For the trails I would change the front sproket from a 14 to a 13. One of my friend has a 450R with the sproket, open airbox, 190 jet, and resignator. With the sproket change I was riding the trails and actually getting to shift gears!!! I love the tight trails and will be changing my sproket soon since the trails are on the other side of a small city. I am not into the drag racing to much but with the HRC and pipe I am confident I will be able to hold my own.