I think you need to decide if you want to focus on trails and sacrifice on track or focus on track and sacrifice trails. The choices 4strokemurder lists are excellent choices for the trails but you'll sacrifice on the track. Sacrifice big time with the IRS machines. The 450's will be excellent on the track but (depending on setup) sacrafice on trails (depending on trails).

 

What koopa said is true... you really need to choose!

 

Well folks, you can't go wrong with an Outlaw 525 IRS if you want track performance and trails. Nothing short of a 4x4 can even compete on the trails with the 525 IRS. And it being the quickest stock bike on the market can make it a decent machine on the track. Now lets be honest, to setup any of the 450's to dominate on the track, then you might aswell stick to back roads as your trails. But, for Ohio and WV trails, you wouldnt be caught riding a track bike in these woods. So, it ultimately comes down to what do YOU want more. A track bike, or a trail bike? Sadly, you can't have them both ( atleast not for cheap anyway ). All comes down to riding. When I got my new quad over the summer I asked myself. What do I want to do with it? Ultimately, since tracks are far and few between on finding ( atleast in my area ), specifically when it comes to a track worth going back to. Then, on the other hand I think, where can I trail ride ( since I already own a Raptor 660, I already know where I can ride ). I have ALL sorts of woods to ride. Right behind my house in my 15 acre woods, neighbors 100 acre field and TONS I mean TONS of land between all my riding buddies. Ultimatley I had to go with a trail bike, and with that in mind the search went from all bikes straight down to one option. It makes my poor Raptor look like a blaster and the SMOOTHEST trail riding I have EVER done. So comfortable and easy to handle. ( don't get pulled into the whole, IRS can't HANDLE mumbo jumbo ) Cause, it's EXTREMELY inaccurate. I learned it in no time. It's just pure amazment. Just test drive the bike on the terrain you want it on. Atleast around here, most of our dealers are based in the country and have test tracks, obstacles and trails in the woods.... hell, they even have a mud pit ( pretty much for the beater testers and you can bring your own quad there for competitions ). All up to you.. pick your main interest first, then tweak your bike to be able to do your secondary. You WON'T get the best of both worlds though, obviously.

 

well for trails the irs polaris would be excellent, id say stay away from the 700xx or kawi, they are both abysmally SLOW compared to others. as far as track useage goes, the ltr is king, right out of the box. the honda can be set up to work real good for xc, but it takes some money.

 

Zickefoose,

You're the first I've found with a Raptor and an Outlaw IRS...

What's better on the Outlaw?
Handling?
Suspension?
Comfort?
Trail ability?
Engine?
All?

 

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

Zickefoose,



You're the first I've found with a Raptor and an Outlaw IRS...



What's better on the Outlaw?

Handling?

Suspension?

Comfort?

Trail ability?

Engine?

All?</end quote></div>

Well, I'm getting my email notifications again, so I thought I would "BUMP" this thread just once more, hoping you get a notification and reply...

 

duster, read his sig and you'll know what he prefers (outlaw). Beyond that it was the first year 660, uggh. Make 700 makes my 660 feel like a blaster also.

 

Back on topic. Curious why the poster did not list the new can-am 450 in his choices.

 

Myself, I ended up choosing the KFX450R.

Everything just felt right about the bike.
Not tall and leggy feeling like the TRX, and wide feeling but not as wide as the LTR450.
Plus it has reverse over them.

Comparing to the Outlaws though, BOTH are serious powerhouses in HP and torque over all of these.
I was very impressed by the power output and engine design.

But I was not as impressed with the shifting of the trans, or the rest of the Outlaw machine.
It just felt like it was a little bit much motor for the rest of the quad.

A 525 with really excellent shocks ALL THE WAY AROUND would be awesome.