Hey Mike, are you considering the KFX700??? I figured that that machine would be right up your alley, considering your extensive Sport experience. Or are you finally looking for a manual trannied (and light [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]) machine?

 

Hey Alaska YFM,

Yeah, I'm actually considering something simple. Both my Bronco and I actually want something lighter. I would have thought about the KFX 700, but it's heavier than my Sport by about 60+ pounds while not being any faster. I also want something easy to maintain. Not that I had any troubles with my Polaris, but I got a little tired spending the better part of a day both washing and doing routine maintenance on both it and the Trailblazer. I wanted something I could "ride hard and put up wet". Besides, I want to see what all the fuss is about these "new fangled" machines.

In short, I've learned my lesson. I'm leaving what ever I get stock. After investing $10,000 in my Sport and only selling it for 1/4 the price, I know not to do that again. The only thing I would replace on a new machine is something that breaks.

I'll give you a little history on myself. When I bought the Sport (December of 1997) the only other game in town at the time was the Banshee. As I didn't care for its pipey nature, the Sport was the natural choice.

Funny how a Japanese manufacturer can come out with a auto trannied "High performance machine" and Polaris would have never been allowed to do that. Oh well.

I want something that costs less than $6000, and is utterly reliable with little or no maintenance. The only to performance machines to fit the bill are the 400EX and the LT Z- 400. I do not count the Polaris Predator in this group. Granted it is under $6000, but I really don't feel the need to wait a year and a half for Polaris to fill all of it's orders before it gets to mine. Besides there is the unknown "reliability factor" and the fact that it weighs as much as my Sport.

 

Yeah Mike, I can see where you are coming from. If I had it to do all over again, with the machines that are currently out, I would probably go for the Z400. When I bought the Rappy back in 2000 it was the best sport machine out at the time for what I wanted to do. The C'dales just weren't up to parr at that point, and I had ridden a 400EX and wasn't impressed with the power. I had just sold my 250R and I knew that I wanted a machine with alot of power or cheap potential. I hadn't had my quad for a month before I took it out to the dunes in Oregon and the day after I got back from that little trip I was on the phone with CT ordering their sonic pipe kit.

If you don't plan on modifying the engine at all, at least do yourself a favor and get a set of aftermarket front shocks. None of the sport quads on the market today, sans Cannondale, come with really good front boingers. Spend the $500-700 for a nice set of dual-raters if you only ever do one mod.

I don't think that you could go wrong with either the Z or EX, but just from my own research I think the Z is the better machine for the money, IMHO.

 

AlaskaYFM,

I finally got a chance to ride the Cannondale Cannibal this past year. All I can say is OUCH! It had pretty good power but the suspension was way too harsh for just trail riding. Perhaps if I were, say 20 years younger and loved doing double and triple jumps at the local MX track, they would work fine. But for just plain trail riding the shocks were just way too stiff. I'm inclined to believe the magazines on this one. I love a nice plush suspension. Normally this would be a problem, but since I'm a bigger guy, most suspensions are set up nicely for me from the factory.

Like I said, if the suspension fails (or any other part) I'm going to replace it with aftermarket. About the only thing I might buy is a 5.5 gallon tank for it. I love having the extra range without filling up. Besides, all of my riding gear is in red.

 

I would just pit the dealers against each other, see who wants to give the best deal. I really like my EX, and I equally like my freinds Z. I think the hype about broken axles and frames is just that, hype. The Z is under a magnifing glass. Reverse is nice, I like it on Matts Z and miss it alot on my bike. But what is it really worth to you, for your riding needs. I speak from experience when I say both bikes can be rode hard and put up wet. Good luck making the choice.

 

Soggyrider,

I think I'll do that. If the dealers insist that I pay retail (or close to it) for either machine, I might go with the Suzuki. I honestly can't see how Honda plans on NOT discounting the 400EX to maintain their sales supremecy. I believe there is a $300 rebate on the 400EX and special financing to boot.

 

i am new to this forum but where i live the z4oo and the 400ex go for the same amount of money out here i live in mass. around 5699 and all i now is for the same amount of money the z has got liquid colling wich is a big plus reverse which comes in really handy and way more power stock. so i think for the money you get a way better deal buying a z 400 then an 400ex. i own a z and i weigh 250 pounds and i ride my z hard and never broke a thing i even hit some pretty big jumps with it. i have had no problems with my axel at all.and have got 0ver 50 hours of hard ridding on mine.and in a drag race ill beat a stock honda by 2 quad lenghts.no for the same amount of monry i cant understand how the honda would be the better buy.no reverse no liquid colling and way slower . and for durabilty i hammer the **** out of my z and no problems except the front end is real hard to keep on the ground[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Well as you can see from my Icon I now have a 400EX. I paid $4699 ($5200 otd). There appears to be a price war going on between Honda and Suzuki. We (the consumers) will be the winners of this. The LTZ was going for $4999. I LOVE CAPITALISM!

 

Rumor has it the z400 may or does have some frame problems. It is also the first year out, give em a while to work out the bugs. I want one for my wife who needs a reverse because of a medical condition but i'll wait till the problems are worked out. She rides a 300ex now because it has reverse but needs more performance/power. The 400ex is essentially bullet proof and will last a long time. I ride a Raptor and my buddy rides a 400ex with a pipe, jet kit, crankcase breather, rev box and filter he keeps up to me well but i pull him in the top end. My 2 cents - if you want reverse go with the raptor. If reverse is not an issue go with the 400ex. If your weight is greater than 200 lbs take the Raptor. If your weight is greater than 260+ go with the ds650 baja.

 

There have been 2 Z's listed on here with broken frames due to MX use. I would bet money that there are more 400EX's with broke frames, broken swingarms, and bad rear bearing carriers than there are Z's with frame issues. Honda still hasn't fixed the rear bearing issues and the 400EX has been out since 99. All of the local shops in this area keep Lonestar carriers in stock because it's a known fact. Most 400EX's around here that are seriously MX'd like the 2 Z's that have been mentioned are have also broke their frames right above the shock mounts. They are built the same as the Z. All it takes is a gusset above the shock mounts to correct the problem on both quads. Normal riding will not break your frame unless you enjoy doing 60 foot doubles all of the time. The 4699.00 price is what I have been seeing on 400EX's also. The Z is going for 4999.00 and the Raptor for 5699.00. Bring on more new models we all benefit from it. When Honda debuts their new machine the 400EX's will be even more affordable. Especially used models.