I'm 2nd on the list for a Predator at my dealer, but I have never owned a sport bike before, it's been all utility. So lately I've been trying my brothers Z-400 to see if I like sport riding over utility. At first it was rough riding and a lot of clutching and I didn't come back with a smile on my face. The next time out I had alot more fun (getting used to shifting) then the first time, so it seems like this could be something I could enjoy. But today I took a sp700 out for a very tough ride up a side of a mountain. This thing has a lot more power then my sp500, and was a very enjoyable ride. But what really amazed me was, my brother made it up the same mountain as 5 other 4x4's did on his Z-400. He's been riding longer then me, but I can still hold my own. So I'm thinking that the Pred could also do it, make it with the 4x4's and still be able to do sport riding. The only problem is, I can get a Yellow sp700 with only 150 babied miles on it for $6200, only $200 more then the Predator. Would I be better off sticking to what I know (utility riding) or take the chance on the Predator and maybe learning to enjoy a new aspect of sport riding. What would you do?

 

Buy the 700. It will go everywhere the Predator can, and a lot of places it can't. With a sport all you do is look for opportunities to wheelie or jump or otherwise raise hell, and that's what gets people hurt, and what hurts our sport. Especially when you can't resist buying an aftermarket pipe audible from five miles away. If I wanted something for sport I'd go all the way and buy a dirtbike. But I am all done with sports, I am much happier with utility. It's not like a new utility is slow.
$6200 for a 700? Good deal!