I just got my Polaris Escape mag., and it gives a nice list of improvements over the 03 model. This is what is said about the 04 Predator.

Already the best handling sport quad on the track, the Predator for 04 has a redesigned swing arm that's lighter and slightly shorter, which produces smoother and improved weight transfer.


The ball joints have super-durable carbon fiber (not plastic) internal bushings. The results is a lighter steering effort that will remain consistant and predictable year after year.


The rear shock has been recalibrated for a better ride.


Shiftin is smoother with improved positive actuation. Judging from our track time on a 04 Predator, we would call the shifting twice as easy as last year. The engineering gurus concur, telling us there's a 52% reduction in shifting effort from 1st to 2nd, it's 60% eisier from 2nd to 3rd, and 44% eisier from 3rd to 4th.


Other changes reduce fender flex to improve fender durability, and the gap on the inside edge of each rear fender has been closed up to block mud and sludge from spraying onto rider.


The 04 Predator has 9" aluminum wheels standard and the new hubs and bolt patterns will accept more aftermarket wheels.


The silver matallic color has been jazzed up for 04 as well, and there's wickedly cool Troy Lee Disigns Predator 500 model with black bodywork and an orange graphics package from Troy Lee himself.


These look to be some nice improvements. If my shift foot ever gets better, there looks to be a new Predator in the stable.

 

hey ge4x4 where do you ride in nh i ride up by osippee and windham sometimes. Osippee is awsome but it got it got worse this year because there's no dirtbikes allowed and there's rangers in there so you cant get away with much anymore.

 

I was just up a few weeks ago riding at Osippee. There were three of us My brother on his DS650 and My buddy on his YFZ. That place is pretty cool. The day I was there some Yo yo got dumped out of the back of a pickup truck and got hurt really bad I guess. State troopers were everywhere! Questioning everyone. We ripped around all day and did some drag racing out in the back. We put a pretty good hurtin on all the locals no one beat any of the three of us! We had a great time just sux when someone gets hurt!


Nocando

 

ya the new predator is supose to be a little bit better of a race machine. but shifting better i dont get... i have no problems shifting mine... but other people say they do.. mines smooth though. i wonder if it could be the oil i am running or something?