im looking for a new sport bike for trail riding and some mud and jumping. Right now i have a 05 wolverine 350, but i need a bike that will at least keep up with a Honda 450ER on the trails. I like the ltr450 a lot for the fuel injection and other things, but im not sure if it has suspension that works well on trails. plus to me it seems like a big draw back to not have reverse. everyone that has reverse seems to swear that its neccessary while ppl with 450's dont seem to think not having it is a problem.. is the reverse a big deal? is the ltz400 better suited for trails? and ive read things about it having a weak frame is this accurate? i jus dont want to be left behind by my friend on her trx450er. the rappy 700 seems to have everything, reverse and tons of power, but im not sure if this bike is to much for what im goin to be doin with it. i really have no plans on track racing or anything like that just trails and some mud. thanks for ur help...

 

The best trail quads of all time are the Honda 300EX and its brother the 400EX......but if you need to keep up with a 450......

My 450R has a great trail frame, but like all the 450's it likes to rev and doesn't like to be lugged down. For slower trails, they will all require some clutch work, but for really slow technical stuff they are all the wrong tool for the job.

The Z400 is a nice compromise machine. Probably the best all arounder on the market today. Not as fast as a 450, but the engine has tons of hop up potential with just a few mods.

 

GOt to get something with reverse. For those time when your facing down hill against a tree, do you really want to get off and push a 375 lb quad up hill? I dont think so. Just kidding. A kfx/z400/dvx are great trail quad. I have an 03 kfx and have had no problems with the frame. You could always wait and get the new kfx450r. It has reverse and electric start and is light as a yfz450. If it was me, i'd find a use kfx, etc.. and spend some money on Suspension.

Larry

 

Wanting to keep up with the 450's and have reverse sounds like the Raptor to me.

 

400ex ,hands down!! like rr said the 450r revs way to high!!!

 

Just my $.02, I have a Blaster all hopped up, a 660 Raptor, a Z400 and a YFZ. If I want to just hop on one and head down a trail, no question it's always the Z400, I just love it.

 

IM WITH HIM ^ ID think the z400 would be the best trail quad 400ex is alot like my 350 rap behind alot when comparing to a z400 or dvx 400 as for the ltr 450 my friend has one and i have no problem keeping up with him on trails its way to wide for trails and its power is no good in tight spaces so id say a z400 or a 660 or 700 rap if you need a big bore or if not a 400 ex or raptor 350 in the mid class which both are great trail quads..

 

LOL, most of you have missed the point, he wants to go where a 450R is ALREADY going! I usually ride at a pretty spirited clip, and while I have never ridden with a 300EX, I have found the 400 class quads are able to keep up pretty well. Likewise Raptors do the same, they have roughly the same HP as the 450's given similar upgrades, and deliver a better ride. They don't handle as well, but are a lot more comfy. Reverse is a luxury, if you know the trails and/or are a skilled rider, you can get your atv facing the opposite way faster w/o than with it. I have beaten guys around plenty of times as they have to stop, shift, stop, shift again, etc... Bottom line is that you will be fine with anything 400 class or above. Your freind may have to wait for you from time to time if he is really pushing hard, but it is possible it would be the other way around too.

 

IMHO from racing the 500, I think the Outlaw 525 will be the best trail quad out there. It's as light as the Raptor, but just as or a bit faster. Has tons of GC, hydrolic clutch, a 3.9gal fuel tank for those long rides. IRS so you can take those long rides. Very quick and has the reverse on handle bars so never do you need to take your hands off. Comes stock with Douglas yellow lable ultimate wheels with maxxis razr radial tires, so no need to buy like others do. And all the little bugs that were with the 500 have been fixed with the 525. Again this is my opinion. But all the new quads will make anyone happy.

 

The outlaw is awesome ive never ridden one but they do seem to have tons of great features but i was wondering how well does it corner say like drifting threw one does it try and roll since it not a straight axle or what?