I have to agree with 2000Mojave. Dirtwheels and ATV Action are sister mags. What's interesting is that Brand "X" Johnson did the Dirtwheels test ride. They give this Johnson guy a new nickname everytime he's featured in a ride. He was also one of the four test riders on the ATV Action Shootout. What BS.....

It would be nice to see even a little consistency in these rags. People spend thousands of dollars based on their tests because they're supposed to be experts and their opinions are valued. But it seems like from one ride to the next, their previous opinions are reversed. How do you build credibility with that kind of reversal? And to top it off, the spelling and grammar (thus the quality of content) is very poor. Are we just paying for color photos???

I love this sport and would like to see it raised to a higher level all the way around, including reporting and magazine coverage.

There, I feel better now. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Mark

 

Kevin M, I totally agree with you. That is exactly how I felt when I read the shootout. I was really ticked off....They totally contradicted everything they said in their original test of the V Force. I was thinking 'are they riding riding the same machine I am?'. Unresponsive Tranny and cushy soft suspension?!?!?!? Not much power down low?!?!? Are they on drugs??? The low to mid range power on the V Force is the best part of the machine. Anybody who rides it will be impressed. I used to think ATV ACTION was a decent magazine, but now I really don't think so......

 

I almost always took everything these mags to to heart because their supposed to be the experts, right. Now after getting on this forum and others and then reading how they totally contradict theirselves I will never buy another one of these mags unless it's just to see a new atv and read it's specs.

 

I hope I don't repeat something but I just scanned through the replies quick.

ATV Action stated that the KFX 700 seemed like a high performance quad when we rode it on it's own when KAWA introduced it, but the KFX is more of a sport quad with a huge motor. etc. etc.

(The KFX really isn't a "normal" high-performance quad. Auto, shaft drive, 516lbs dry)
The Predator won over all and it said if you have to have reverse then go with the Raptor.

 

You don't know what power is.....you should try riding a Rappie! I smoke my boss's VForce all day long in our field at work....he know's the Raptor is faster, he's just in denial. In fact, his bike is more modified than mine.... Wish you VForce owners would WAKE UP and smell the RAPTOR!!!!

 

rapturdnator, i think your full of raptors if you think just because you beat one vforce your going to beat all of them especially if all you have is pipe and and a filter ,you should know that no matter how fast you THINK you are theres allways somebody thats really fast

 

Come on down! You're the next contestant on....."The Price is......too much to pay for a VForce". And Bob, what's the next item up for bid? Well, Billy-Bob, it's a slightly used, never abused, over spent, overweight, under appreciated Kawasaki VForce 700! Wow! I'll bid twenty dollars Bob!

You see, until we have enough time to really find out what the VForce can do.....all that talk is cheap. Worth about 20 cents....not 20 dollars. We'll see how time will tell the story of the VForce. I've ridden one. Very impressive. Considering it's about 100 pounds heavier than my Raptor. I was pleasantly surprised with the response. However, let's compare apples to apples. Two cylinders vs. One. 700cc's vs. 660cc's. Racing designed front end vs. Production trail bike front end. Hmmmm.... How much was that VForce?

Well, if I was going to spend $6500 on a "second" quad, it would be a VForce. But for my daily driver.....gotta stick with the old Raptor. Can't wait for this thing to wear out so I can build a VForce eating, Banshee devouring, Honda anything smoking, Bombardi-who DS650 crushing, Cannondale bankrupt blasting, carnivorous, snarling, growling Yamaha Raptor on Steroids. That will be my "Dream Bike"! Until then, I'll just have to keep beating those VForces by one quad length..... See you in the woods!!!!!

 

Raptortornado your a DU#A$$. Once the CDI comes out for the p650 youll be gettin beat by utility quads. '' see you in the woods'' i hope you dont want to see THE FORCE in the woods caus it would eat you allive.
[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

oooooooooooooooo ONE QUAD LENGHT I CAN **** FARTHER THAN THAT

 

I have another "SPIN" to put on this. Believe it or not, the results of this "Shootout" are pretty much what I expected.

First off, Inconsistencies in the Mags are by no means a RARE Phenomenon and in fact are common place. I will say this, they weren't riding the same Quad that I ride every time I hop on board my 700. Some of what they are saying just doesn't make sense, PERIOD.

Second, I have said over and over again, that the Mags tend to like an "ALL-AROUND GOOD" Quad every time. Example, they all liked the 400EX, because of it's Overall abilities and because it was the closest thing to the 250R that was available. They later liked the Z/KFX400 for much the same reasons. Good All-Around Quad and the closest thing to the 400EX, with updated technology. Out of all of the quads in this Shootout, the Predator is the quad that fits into these similar qualities the most.

Third, the Testers go into these Shootouts with a certain set of standards and qualifications that they are looking for in a SPORT Quad. In most instances it is EVERYTHING that the KFX700 is NOT. Example, Light Weight, Manual Clutch, Chain Drive, Long Travel Suspension, so forth and so on, basically the "Status Quo".

This Shootout neither Surprised me nor did it Shock me. Does it make any difference to me? NO. Do I now Hate my 700? NO. Am I going to sell it and go out and get a Predator? NO. So in the end, it is just like every other Shootout. Some will agree, and some will not. Bottom line is that if you like your 700 as much as I like mine, then Who Cares what some Mag guys think about it.

Besides, they will probably think that it is the Best thing since Sliced Bread in the next issue. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]