Im not a 'Craptor' fan. Seems to me everyone I know who's had them had to spend way too much money keeping them running. Blah! The Honda would be the least amount of maintenance and you can adjust the suspension to suit your weight just fine! If it's tight trail riding you want, then I would consider a 4x4. Sportsman maybe. Cadillac! Took one to Moab and rallied for 3 days and over 300 miles. No way I could ride that much on the YFZ450!

 

well he want to jump his quad a bit also so 4x4 is not really a option(unless he wants to break stuff). ive had my raptor 700 a year with no problems and ive takin meny long desert rides (75+ mile each).also had a 660 for a year before that with no problems and the guy i sold it to has not had any problems for the year that he has had it.
im not 100% sure but pretty sure trx450r needs more maintenance than a 700 raptor.

 

Go to:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sp...4/1656/0/compare.aspx


This is a comparison of the YFZ450 SE and Raptor 700R SE. These appear to be very similar for this year. I have ridden the Raptor, and these bikes are clearly different to ride. Both have qualities the other doesn't have. I personally feel the Raptor has an odd center of gravity, top heavy. I like to jump and wheelie myself. We'll always buy what we want, so I hope americanbulldog has had some interesting input, and in the end, I'm sure he'll buy what he wants too!

 

700 top heavy?

I thought it was based the same at the YFZ now..... Hmmm...

I have not ridden the 700 so I was just going on what people told me, but you guys are the first to say it is top heavy.... I trust you guys are making a fair judge call since both of you generally tell it like it is.

I have ridden a YFZ450 SE in recent weeks, and I loved the thing.... speed aside, I thought it handled nice... carved well in the turns and was easy to flick around over jumps....awesome suspension...... very nice ergos, almost as good as my z400 for my feel.....

But I was under the impression that the Raptor700 was built on similar chassis design....... guess I'll have to ride one ......

 

I just got a 2008 TRX450R. I rode an '07 quite a bit along side my YFZ when it was new just to see the stock to stock comparison for myself. The Honda is the smoother running machine on the bottom end and trail riding after it's broke in. My YFZ killed it in 5th gear. Now that I've added some mods to my YFZ, it isn't really a trail machine anymore, it's pretty much just the dune cruiser now. I would let my little sister ride the YFZ when it was stock, but not anymore! Haven't had a chance to ride the YFZ in the dirt since the pipe and intake, but I'm sure I won't be wishin for that 6th gear anymore. On the TRX, I think it absolutely needs an extra gear! I'm gonna change the sprockets. All it's power is in the bottom end.

I would like some input from KFX450R owners. I'm interested in how that fuel injection system is working for people. They're good looking bikes and have some awesome features for the price too! Here's the link.

http://www.kawasaki.com/Produc...id=211&content=photos


The Honda is the cheapest still!

 

I've ridden a YFZ 450 and they are extremely fun! Fast handle great etc. But i have to say a good mountain road still beat me up. They're pretty rough riding for the trails! A raptor rides better. And the 450 is fast as hell! Depends what you want. Both have great options for future mods.

 

As you can see from the post prior to last, the specs for the YFZ and Raptor suspension are near identical. To have a comfortable ride, all around independent suspension (Macpherson struts) like they put on Polaris, will provide this. So if that's what a person is looking for, they should buy one of those. Toughen up to ride the Moto-X ATV's and adjust your suspension right!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Crackerz

As you can see from the post prior to last, the specs for the YFZ and Raptor suspension are near identical. To have a comfortable ride, all around independent suspension (Macpherson struts) like they put on Polaris, will provide this. So if that's what a person is looking for, they should buy one of those. Toughen up to ride the Moto-X ATV's and adjust your suspension right!</end quote></div>

I think you said it..... it seems that most people do not know how, or do not take the time to set up their suspension of their machines.

I spent several days getting my z400 suspension dialed in to handle my riding style, and in some cases you have to give up something to get something. I'm a heavy guy who likes to hit jumps, so I need things stiff. But I also ride XC so I need it soft enough so that it gets traction and does not beat the heck out of me.

Basically I made a compromise to run it a little stiffer, and I just stand up more at lower speeds. I notice a lot of riders refuse to stand up, and then complain that their sport machine is beating them up too much...... I guess if you want to sit on your butt the whole time an IRS machine is the way to go......

 

My buddy has the KFX450, and I have ridden it quite a bit. It is a fine machine, but no way is it the "magic carpet" that the magazines have been calling it. It has razor sharp steering, great acceleration, and stiff track tuned suspension. We have had it up to over 11,000' and the fuel injection adapts just fine, but we had a 450R along on the same ride and it did well enough too (I was happily riding the Rancher 420 with FI).

Fuel consumption is high and the tank is small, so he runs out of gas all the time on long cross-country rides. (I am sure IMS must make a desert tank for it by now.) Surprisingly, its engine will lug down some (at least more than the other 450's), so if I were insisting on riding a 450 on tight trails, I think it would be the one I would pick.

But, if somebody offered me a brand new KFX for my old 04 TRX, I wouldn't do it! I think that says it all right there....

 

"As you can see from the post prior to last, the specs for the YFZ and Raptor suspension are near identical. To have a comfortable ride, all around independent suspension (Macpherson struts) like they put on Polaris, will provide this. So if that's what a person is looking for, they should buy one of those. Toughen up to ride the Moto-X ATV's and adjust your suspension right!" -Crackerz

I do stand corrected it shows they do have the exact same setup in suspension. I have ridden the yfz and to me it seemed rough. I haven't had any seat time on a late model 700R.