Just nabbed the mag from the mailbox....Hello Dirty Wheels, this is how it goes.
On the inside cover is a sweet closeup of the front wheel/spindle...just a nice zoom showing the attention to detail. "sport ATVs, aren't necessarliy built to do what we show them doing-at least not without mechanical consequence....wouldn't it be neat if someone introduced an ATV we couldn't break?...Guess what, it's here. After this test, all we could come up with was big air and a bigger smile."
"The Predato is exactly what a sport ATV should be. It's the long awaited answer to the pure sport ATV performance and durability question. Without exaggeration, it has the potential to revolutionize the Sprot ATV industry." "The power oozing from the Predator's mill is a near-perfect mix of torque and horsepower." "As far as stock equipment goes, these shocks are the best we've ever tested on a Sport ATV."
"The Predator is among the best Sprot ATVs we've ever tested-even compared to the exotic and pricy Cannondale!"


Kinda a spendy little mag that's only sent out 4 times a year. They had a REALLY nice HPD story a few issues back....they even pulled Darrell and Mike from the laboratory, and caught 'em on a Kodak moment.


Ken

 

Did they complain about the plastic around the tank?

 

"The only complaint our testers could think up concerned the space between the gas tank and the seat." They go on to say this was slightly uncomfortable when the machine is ridden aggressively. They were told this would be fixed before production. At the dealer show, I was continually hanging off the Pred, tossing dirt, and lapping people (don't think the reps liked it...but I wasn't there to make friends, I wanted to rip!) the plastic never bothered me. Maybe since I'm only 5'9", it only affects the taller "leggy" riders. Not sure, but I sure liked it.

Ken

 

did they say how the speed compared to the other sport quads.

 

They didn't print anything about the top speed. They did get it incorrect about the origins of the engine..."USA-built mill", but they did say, "It's just right! Goldilocks would be stoked!"


Ken

 

One of the mags. complained about the brakes in their test. Can't remember which one, though. Can't wait for this thing to come out in force and see what it's really like!

 

i rode one,
the steering and chassis is the best part, that pro steering with revolutionalize the sport quad market.
the suspension is great.
the engine is almost perfect.
and the brakes are pretty good.

as for bad points.
the clutch was a tad bit sharp on engagemnet.
it could use a smidge more low down power (0-1/3rd throttle)
and i didn't like the shape and relation ship of the throttle and brake lever.
to brake for a corner and then get on the gas for the exit, had me taking my hand almost all the way off the grip, leaving the steering inputs to be done with just my left arm.
I didn't notice the tank or platsics bothering me.

but i did hear the accessory muffler for the pred gives something like 9 percent more power down low.

 

Modquad, yep just read the same thing. They basically said it was the best thing since sliced bread!!!! They said more to come next month. They also talked about the new 600.

 

Is it just me, or was that a GREAT article??? Course I'm still biased.hehe

Ken

 

yeah,i got the mag 1-2 weeks ago and they really like it,and i think those testers (all terrain vehicule mag) are TRUE comparing to others mags,they really tell the truth from a real sporty stanpoint without saying personnal digust or trendies remark,it is very cool,they said the PREDATOR engine is fantastic...