i was just wonderin which would be a better quad for me to get i want it to have lots of power yet in the 6500 or less catagory, this will be a few years but wanted a head start. Heres what ive come down to DS650, Z400, 400EX, Banshee or raptor what do you guys think is the best im really lookin for 2 features SPEED AND HANDELING

 

You need a Raptor 660r.
Chet

 

Speed and handling, then the Cannondale Cannibal is your choice. Here is why:
Raptor - good speed but poor handling, too top heavy and a heavy quad
DS650 - same issue, good power but very heavy quad, does not handle
400EX - handles great but no speed unless you spend some serious $$
Z400 - jury's obviously still out but looks to be under powered
Cannibal - great speed, handles like a 400EX, lighweight

 

the raptor would probably be the best for you, the raptor has decent handling you need to put your weight in it. the 400ex has awesome handling but no power at all.

 

The raptor has some serious handling issues, just way too top heavy plus it tips the scales at 400+ lbs. You have to sink some serious $ to change the handling problems, wider a-arms, shocks, axle, etc. After all this is done, your center of gravity is still too high and it's still going to be heavy, not a good jumper at all.

 

The Raptor is a great trail quad BUT if you do any high speed riding you will be severly limited by it's narrowness. When I first got my 250R I went riding with 2 guys on Raptors, a bunch of 400EX's and a DS650. We were out in all kinds of terrain; tight trails, mudholes, 3rd-4th gear trails and WFO dirt roads, The DS had a hard time in the tight trails and wasn't to great on the 3rd-4th gear trails either, but once we hit the dirt road there was no catching him. The 400EX guys did great everywhere but when we hit a strait on the road they got passed like nothing. The Raptors were perfect for the tight trails but once we got going in the faster trails they were doing alot of 2 wheeling and had to put there foot down alot just to keep up. When we got to the roads the Raptor's took off like a rocket but once we got to a corner everyone caught right up. Overall If I had to choose one of the 3 I would get the 400EX and spend the left over money on a few motor mods to get the speed up and the handling is allready there.

AS for the banshee there pretty quick BUT they have crappy suspension and there not that great in the handling department, there also nose heavy which makes things alittle more tricky when your jumping.

If I were you I'd try and save up 7K and buy a cannondale!

 

I would have to say the Raptor is a cross between the 300EX and the 400ex. The Raptor handles much better than the 300EX and while maybe not as good as the 400EX in handling it mores than makes up for it in the power department. Everyone here who says its to tall or tippee well use somebody English in the turns. Until Honda comes out with the 650EX the fun factor remains with the Raptor.
Chet

 

Dude get the banshee. You cant beat a 2 stroke. They r so peppy. The banshe would kick the 400ex *** and would run right with a raptor. 1. Banshee 2. ds 650 3. raptor 4.cannibal 5. 400ex

 

Banshee's are nice quads, but the front shocks suck, IMHO. However, you can pick up a nice used banshee for less than $4500, and throw on some QUALITY aftermarket shocks, and they handle pretty good, again IMHO. I haven't ridden any of the other quads but have raced some with my ATC250R and beat them all on a flat course with no jumps, except the DS and C-Dales(because I haven't seen either out riding), and the Z400 isnt out yet. Another thing, where are you going to be riding/racing? Of all the quads, I would get a Cannibal just because it actually is the most economical if you ride many different terrains, you don't have to mod the motor or suspension for anything, unless your a harcore dedicated MXer.

 

Love the cannondales but i want somethin new off the showroom and UNDER 6500 i would have to think it would be between all of those but I also want somethin to have handeling thats not like drivin a tank