Had the same story last weekend but with a fully stock Banshee against my fully stock Z400. The Z400 fully creamed it out of the hole, the race was probably 200 yards long, and it was on a dirt road with slightly loose traction. The race was so surpriseing that we kept tradeing off different riders and always had the same results, the Z400 would win by 2-3 quad lengths. In the Banshees defence if the race had been all the way to top speed im sure it would have won, but in a 200 yard drag the Z400 always won.

 

I had the same result against an 03 Banshee just 2 days ago (200 yds on slightly loose gravel road). I was really surprised. Didn't expect to win, but we raced 3 times with the same result each race. To be fair, my friend is getting new fatty pipes soon. I think he'll beat me then, but who knows. The Z continues to surprise me.

 

well the raptors owners can continue to doubt the results that i have witnessed and thats fine.
and i'm sure that the raptor will flat out smoke a z400 in the dunes just becuase if it's shear tiorque,and sand robs hp very fast.but all things being equal,thats why we decided to run them on the pavement that way we both had equal traction .ttraction didn't become a factor in the race.there was no drag on the motors.just pure power to the ground.
and maybe with a little more time on each machine with some more break in period the results might be different.
and the raptor ran the same as every other raptor i've ever been on.
i have nothing against raptors as said by a previous post i just don't like alot of the raptor owners that think they have the nastiest fastest machine ever created..they are mean machines no doubt.but they aren't all that.they have alot of deficincies.and thats my opinion so take it for what it's worth. which ain't much.

 

Doh! I stand corrected on the RPM / SPEED statement earlier. Regardless of when each machine makes power......the Raptor makes more power and makes a more torque....as it should with such a displacement advantage. The Z400 should be no match for the more powerful Raptor (assuming the Raptor is'nt nursing a blown tranny). The is the reason for my initial post. The Z400 appears to be an awesome machine and I would speculate a better MX machine in stock form. Hopefully, girly riders won't brand the Z as a bad trail machine because of the lack of low end torque.....this is where 95% of the Z's will be rode.

 

Toe to toe, all the way to top speed the Z will probably not beat a Raptor,Banshee or Cannondale. But it was set up more for a trail and some MX type of rideing. It is an amazing performer with great handling. Every time I let another guy ride my Z they all come back amazed at the power and handling. Perfect for the trails and all around rideing I do. I'm very happy with it.

 

I will back up Megacrush on that. As mine sits, thirty hours or so, and still stock due to my surgery, it has just begun to wake up. Totally different bike than I bought initially. It really is. I cannot wait to put on my parts strung about the house. Sink some of the money I saved by not getting the raptor, and just make this faster. So then, well, everyone knows what that means. Happy camper. Better handling than the raptor, faster (after exaust of course), and cheaper. I do like the raptor though. That black and white, totally freakin' smooth. I personally like the look and color of that raptor over the white Z. I like my yella. Don't count honda out yet. They just didn't see this coming. It's going to get better and better for this sport. All I can say is bring it on.
peace

 

Well here is a good one for you. I have raced several dif models with the Z and am impressed with her.

I was chalenged by a Prarie 650 on asphalt from a dead stop, for only a short distance, guy said I defenantly couldn't beat him. Well to tell you the truth, I doubted if I could beat him(to myself). But I stood up for the Z and said no way, I'll smoke that 650.

Well we paired them up for only a 100' run. Well I put the Z in 2nd, tacked her up and let her go. The 650 pulled me by 1\2 a bike, but by the time I shifted to third, I was just nudging past the P650. A fairly easy win for the Z. Any thing longer than 100' and the Z totaly smokes it, the chalenge is to beat that auto tranny in that short distance.

The games people play, (HaHa)

Later...

 

hmmm i havent got to race a raptor yet, but my bike is not stock and it should beat a stock raptor though. i did let my buddy race my other buddy on his 02 banshee with 14th sprocket and k&N filter and he beat him almost everytime up boxcar, the only time he didnt was on bad starts. in a longer drag the banshee would win with its 6th gear. i really love the Z now that i have my pipe and stuff on it pulls hills like a my buddies modified shee. i have to let up in 3rd gear now instead of shifting down to second. if you get my fat 270 **** off the seat and let someone who knows how to race it should eat a raptor. i just cant wait till i get the FCR carb, better cams and port and polish the head [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I think that the Z400 beats the 400EX for sure but I don't believe a 400cc engine could beat a 660cc engine but even if it did as soon as you put a pipe on both the raptor would smoke a Z400. The engine used on the Z400 is a motocross type engine so just like as in motocross bikes pipes make little difference cause the quad is tuned allready tuned to almost maximum performance. Where as you get the Ct pipe kit on a raptor it makes a huge difference.

 

wow its a motorcross engine but its in a quad so that would = really detuned from the factory. if it had the same bike as the DRZ it would push almost 50 horse with pipes and airbox mods. right now it has a less aggressive cam and crappy mikumi carb, the only thing good is it has the higher compression piston. add a lighter piston, better cams, port and polish the head and put a FCR 39mm carb and its easily over 50 horse, and it has more potential if you were to make it a 440 or 450. the raptor is the same, detuned from the factory especially in the exhaust, you raptor guys gain alot from pipe and intake mods. even though you have 260cc more its still not going to be that far of a margin in a win and the Z should keep up nicely. i just like the handleing and suspension of the Z over the raptor, and the price too. im not brand loyal i have a honda 400ex too ( which i think is weak compared to the Z ). if yamaha was to come out with a YZ450 engine in a chasis like the Z or EX id be all over it [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]. expect i probly wouldnt buy the first year of production lol [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img].

ride what you like and have fun.

btw id probly lose to a blaster in a race since im still learning how to ride lol. it all about the riding skillz most times.