Raptor or 300ex
 

im lookin for a new wheeler to replace my predator 90. im torn between the 2 raptors 250 and 350 and the Honda 300ex. i hope to use it for tight trail riding so size and weight are a factor. a want to spend as little as possible.
WHAT would be best.

Raptor or 300ex
 

Don't even consider the Raptor 350! It has a clunky and heavy feel. A 400EX would be a way better choice.

The 300EX is a great little machine! It fits between the trees very nicely, and has torquey power down low, where you need it on a trail. Handling is agile, and suspension is good.

I have not yet riddent the Raptor 250....but if I was light and small enough to fit on one, that is what I would be tearassing around on!!!

Raptor or 300ex
 

I have a Raptor 660 and my wife has a Raptor 350. I don't think it feels clunky at all and it has plenty of power even w/ my 6' 200# ass on it. I have riden a few 300ex and I wasn't impressed my wife had a choice between the two and after riding she liked the Raptor better she is 5'2" 110.

It's really up to you I would test drive all of them and see what fits you best. It's like buying a gun everyone is different and they all fell a little different once you try them. Good luck!

Raptor or 300ex
 

Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!

Raptor or 300ex
 

300EX... my friend has a Raptor 250, I hate the suspension, overall ergonomics, and just the power... and the Raptor 350 is a REALLY old design underneath some pretty plastics.... I hate the ergonomics of the 350 also.

Raptor or 300ex
 

I think that i would go with the trx 300 ex or a 400ex. for tight trails. I have a trx 250ex and it does pretty good. but i'm looking to upgrade to a 400ex if possible.

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Canadian144

300EX... my friend has a Raptor 250, I hate the suspension, overall ergonomics, and just the power... and the Raptor 350 is a REALLY old design underneath some pretty plastics.... I hate the ergonomics of the 350 also.</end quote></div>

Nah.... the 350 is much more updated than you think..... It is nothing like the Warrior at all, trust me I've owned both.....My Wife hated the Warrior, but loves her Raptor. It is not clunky and heavy as some are saying at all..... It weighs 375 pounds which is a good 30 less than the Warrior. They changed the entire ergonomics from the Warrior too, pegs, steering stem angle, engine placement in the frame which totally changed the handling balance, the A-arms are all different.......

With all that said, its not as exciting as the 250, and probably does not handle as well as the 300ex but it can still be a fun machine for certain people.

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ss97

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Canadian144



300EX... my friend has a Raptor 250, I hate the suspension, overall ergonomics, and just the power... and the Raptor 350 is a REALLY old design underneath some pretty plastics.... I hate the ergonomics of the 350 also.</end quote></div>



Nah.... the 350 is much more updated than you think..... It is nothing like the Warrior at all, trust me I've owned both.....My Wife hated the Warrior, but loves her Raptor. It is not clunky and heavy as some are saying at all..... It weighs 375 pounds which is a good 30 less than the Warrior. They changed the entire ergonomics from the Warrior too, pegs, steering stem angle, engine placement in the frame which totally changed the handling balance, the A-arms are all different.......



With all that said, its not as exciting as the 250, and probably does not handle as well as the 300ex but it can still be a fun machine for certain people.</end quote></div>

Could not disagree more! I rode a Warrior for years. When a friend got the Raptor 350, I was keen to ride it to see what they improved. Know what....it was every bit the turd that the Warrior was!!! This is a tired old design...just pass it up....there are a bunch of better designs out there!

If you can fit on the Raptor 250 get that (suspect that that is the case, seeing you are coming off a 90). If you are big enough, maybe start looking at the 400EX and Z400.

Raptor or 300ex
 

deffinatly get the 300ex. thats what i have now and it treats me right. i have talked to others and they are having the same problem as me. having to replace the rear axle bearings. very light and the only time i have ever got stuck is when i got hung up on the axle. delivers enough power to be a competitable race quad. and reliable enough to be a trail quad and go on long trips with

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI

Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!</end quote></div>

Sorry to pop your bubble, but if you get ATV Sport mag, in the sept issue a guy named Dave Sulecki got Wiesco, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, DR.D to build a 300cc Raptor 250. It looks good, but it only makes a little more than 25hp, only as much as a stock 300ex. And with being under powered the 250 doesn't have reverse, which is a must for PredatorBasher in the the tight stuff.

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI



Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!</end quote></div>



Sorry to pop your bubble, but if you get ATV Sport mag, in the sept issue a guy named Dave Sulecki got Wiesco, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, DR.D to build a 300cc Raptor 250. It looks good, but it only makes a little more than 25hp, only as much as a stock 300ex. And with being under powered the 250 doesn't have reverse, which is a must for PredatorBasher in the the tight stuff.</end quote></div>

when u talk this raptor 250 making 25hp and the 300ex making that stock was that on the same dyno back to back or are u just getting the 300ex hp # from what honda tell u it makes?

Raptor or 300ex
 

Also, consider that the Raptor 250 is much lighter than the 300EX. That comes out in its favor in power/weight ratio!

This type of quad is ridden by smaller adults and lighter kids. So, an extra 50, 75, or 100 pounds of dead weight on the machine, is a significant factor in how the rider is going to be able to handle the machine!

Raptor or 300ex
 

The Raptor 250 is the clear winner. It only weighs in at 320 and like Recon says, it has the best power to weight ratio. Sweet machine from what I hear from my friends that own one.

On a side note, Beastly 3hundo there's no way a 300ex has 25hp stock(it has 17.5hp). A 400ex barely has that. Look it up.

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bigned1904

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI







Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!</end quote></div>







Sorry to pop your bubble, but if you get ATV Sport mag, in the sept issue a guy named Dave Sulecki got Wiesco, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, DR.D to build a 300cc Raptor 250. It looks good, but it only makes a little more than 25hp, only as much as a stock 300ex. And with being under powered the 250 doesn't have reverse, which is a must for PredatorBasher in the the tight stuff.</end quote></div>



when u talk this raptor 250 making 25hp and the 300ex making that stock was that on the same dyno back to back or are u just getting the 300ex hp # from what honda tell u it makes?</end quote></div>

I got it from another dyno test, Atv Sport did a test on the new, redesigned 300ex back in late '06. The Raptor only makes about 18hp from the factory according to Yamaha. The 300ex is only about 60lbs more, so the power/weight ratio would HELP the 300ex.

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bigned1904



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo







<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI















Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!</end quote></div>















Sorry to pop your bubble, but if you get ATV Sport mag, in the sept issue a guy named Dave Sulecki got Wiesco, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, DR.D to build a 300cc Raptor 250. It looks good, but it only makes a little more than 25hp, only as much as a stock 300ex. And with being under powered the 250 doesn't have reverse, which is a must for PredatorBasher in the the tight stuff.</end quote></div>







when u talk this raptor 250 making 25hp and the 300ex making that stock was that on the same dyno back to back or are u just getting the 300ex hp # from what honda tell u it makes?</end quote></div>



I got it from another dyno test, Atv Sport did a test on the new, redesigned 300ex back in late '06. The Raptor only makes about 18hp from the factory according to Yamaha. The 300ex is only about 60lbs more, so the power/weight ratio would HELP the 300ex.</end quote></div>

Well....please explain that one for us........

Raptor or 300ex
 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: bigned1904



<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Beastly 3hundo







<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DODGE57HEMI















Go for the 250 best bang for the buck in Motorsports bar none!</end quote></div>















Sorry to pop your bubble, but if you get ATV Sport mag, in the sept issue a guy named Dave Sulecki got Wiesco, Baldwin Motorsports, PEP, DR.D to build a 300cc Raptor 250. It looks good, but it only makes a little more than 25hp, only as much as a stock 300ex. And with being under powered the 250 doesn't have reverse, which is a must for PredatorBasher in the the tight stuff.</end quote></div>







when u talk this raptor 250 making 25hp and the 300ex making that stock was that on the same dyno back to back or are u just getting the 300ex hp # from what honda tell u it makes?</end quote></div>



I got it from another dyno test, Atv Sport did a test on the new, redesigned 300ex back in late '06. The Raptor only makes about 18hp from the factory according to Yamaha. The 300ex is only about 60lbs more, so the power/weight ratio would HELP the 300ex.</end quote></div>


well just to let u know no 2 dynos are the same. even the same dyno will read a little different on different days. for excample my quad made 80hp on one dyno and 70 on another. heck if i put it on a dyno like trinitys i bet it would make 85hp

Raptor or 300ex
 

Ok, you win, but what about ground clearance, the Raptor only has about 3.5 inches vs. 4.5 inches on the 300. Yamaha even says the Raptor was intended for a MX track, that includes the 19 inch tires vs. 22 inch tires on the 300, (now try to put those on a stock Raptor) overall handling, and ergonomics. I also think the headlight being on the handlebars is a clever design, you light the way you are traveling, like when you're sideways.


With the 300ex being around for so long, Honda has worked all the bugs out of it (except the frequent rear wheel bearings goin out), you never know what might happen with the Raptor. There might be a long term issue we don't even know about yet (example- the '01 Raptor 660s and their trannies goin out), or their might not be anything wrong, just theres the chance with the 250s trannies and all the gear ratios Yamaha had to make. Just look at the first KFX450Rs and how many recalls they had.

Raptor or 300ex
 

you can't beat a 300ex, no matter how you beat it ride, or just leave it sit, it's always ready to go

Honda 300 ex. spells out Dependability and Reliability. If your coming up from a 90, the 300ex is the best suit. Don't look at the 400, that's a good size quad. And it sounds like you just coming out of the starting gates. Take the 300ex for a couple yrs and get use to it. And then go up from there.

the raptor 250 is quicker,nimbler, lighter and smaller. that being said the 300ex has something that never gets old, but some people are ignorant enough to think bah... i dont need it. it has REVERSE. i know that the raptor is light and even the 450's are light. but i know if i got out somewhere and the only way to back up was to Fred Flintstone my *** backwards or get off and push that would get old really quick. the 300ex is a better trail machine just for that simple reason. its not as quick as a 250, but it has a higher top speed. its also been around since the 80's as a 250x which even those anciet quads are still running strong. when my gf was looking into buying a sport quad we looked at a raptor 250 which is what she really wanted, and then went and looked at an 07 300ex, it just fit her so much better and she is only 5'2". any adult riding this quad should stop, and throw it on their back and give it a ride. if you are moving up from a mini quad this might be the one for you. honestly you wont be disappointed with either machine. it just might depend on how often you need to back out of a tricky situation.

300ex they are bullet proof and are fairly quick with nice suspension

defiantly the 300ex it is just as fast even faster with mods than the raptor 350, my dad has one, they suck, they dont handle good, dont make that much power, and the 300ex is a really good handling machine and makes just as much power and alot better and funner in the trails

So what did you ever end up getting? My self I would have picked the Raptor 350 but that's just me...

300ex Honda reliablilty i never had a problem with them.

I stopped reading the battle in this thread after page 1.


Sounds like you are a lil guy... which they have forgotten I think... as I believe you were talking about coming off a 90.


Trust me when I say... and send me a message of thanks later... but get yourself a newer 300EX... the one with the 450R looking plastics.

You want to do the newer model for... better plastics, better reverse placement, and better looks.

I have owned the 300EX, 350 Warrior, and 400EX.... and in my collection of riding buddies, I have one with a 350 Warrior, two with Raptor 350's, and four with 300EX's.

I gotta say the 300EX riders are all four extremely happy. None of them would trade their ride for ANY of ours, except one... She likes my 400EX more because it's roomier, but mostly because it's just in better condition.

Of these four riders there are two lil guys, one adult male and one adult female.

This is a machine you can buy new for cheap right now, and keep riding for a very long time. I would have one myself right now, but I am 6 ft tall, and often carry kiddy passengers, so a little more room pulled me another direction.

All of them are great machines, but the 300EX is a little better.

I personally can vouch for the 300ex. But also I can push it as hard as it'll go. with that said you should get a 400ex imo. Edit: I forgot ur coming off a 90. get the 300ex, a 400ex might be too big of a leap between quads. Its a virtually bulletproof quad and will never let u down. plenty of low end torque and decent to speed. im gonna really miss my 300ex but its time for me to move on.

get the 300ex. you can find find it for the least amount of money on the list and the raptor 250 is more for the track. and the 350 isent what it is cracked up to be, the ex hangs with it, even with the 40-some CC diffrence.

OK,
I'm just talking for the honda's here....
Don't go with the 250ex, they are overpriced.
The 300ex is an amazing bike, i felt so confident on my 300, i could tear and rip up everything (with crazy high rpms and an HMF pipe :)), It rode so confortable, and it didnt have that stupid bend in the middle of the seat like the 400ex. I loved it, i loved reverse, it was great, but i soon outgrew it's power, although it did have a lot of get-up and go.
The 400ex chas a lot more power, and is just as dependable, for just a few hundred more...

I'm looking myself at a 300ex, the Raptor didn't even pop up in mind....

300ex is too small ill take my warrior any day over one

obviously the original poster is long gone, but for people that still want to know here goes. the 300ex handles better, is a much better wheelier, shifts much smoother, and isnt much slower then a warrior. a warrior cant even compete with a 400ex in any category! if you say any different, then i assume you're a warrior owner...sorry. its not a bad quad, but both hondas are better. if you're small i hear the raptor 250 is a fun little quad