I also posted this on the Yamaha forum. I want something similar to the 400ex but more power and more speed.

I have a 400ex right now and I want to move on up. My friends are all going bigger (to the 450's) and I am wondering if I should go for the Raptor. I have never driven a Raptor before and I've narrowed my choices down to 3 quads

Honda 450r
Yamaha YFZ450
Raptor 700.

I know this is a Yamaha forum so I may not get any opinions on the 450r. I love my 400ex and I want something faster than it and that can handle a bit more and a just also, a newer quad. I have not driven a YFZ450 or any Raptor at all. I've only tried the 450r and I do like it, but am wondering if the YFZ or the Raptor would be a better choice.

 

The 450's like to rev and they tend to be geared tall, so they are better choices for more open country and fast more open trails. On tight technical and slower trails, the 400EX is king!

The Raptor is very torquey! I love the power, but hate the ergonomics. On my buddies, we lowered the bars and it helped, but I still don't like the fit. It isn't as tippy as the old 660 was, but it still carries its weight kind of high in the frame (like why do they put the radiator us so high, when everybody else puts it down as low as they can???). It would make a better trail quad than the 450's, but on a trail all that power is just wasted.......

The Z400 is a nice step up in terms of power from the EX, and handling is almost identical. They are a little mild in stock form, but the engine hops up real nice with just a few simple mods.

 

All those factors have to be considered when I make my decision. I have already lowered the gearing on my 400ex so I can just do the same on one of the 450's. I could even do the same with the Raptor if ever I wanted to out-accelerate the 450's.

 

All these machines will just stand up and salute (especially the 700) when you punch the throtle, so there are limits to how you want to mess with gearing and such......

 

I drove a 450r with stock gearing. Sure it's quick, but 5th gear lacks the torque that my 400ex has. I was driving a 450r and in 5th gear, I was passing my 400ex while I was still accelerating. If I geared it down, the acceleration would be so much more amazing!