I used to have a 87 250R and really liked it and I know the 400 is more reliable, I was just wondering what you r opinions were. I trail ride and play in the sand also.
Any suggestions?

 

The 400 class bikes both the z400 and the 400ex are 2 of the best mid size trail bikes made I realy like the fact that Suzuki finaly added EFI to the 09's as well!

 

I love my 250R but the 4 strokes are so much smoother in acceleration. No (or little) faning of the clutch. etc...
The stock Z400 is a fine machine IMO.

 

Yeah I'd say the z400 all the way....... do a pipe and jet kit, airbox, and you will run right with that 250R - but do it in a lot more comfortable position.....

It is no secret the z400 was modeled off the 400ex, (Honda and Suzuki always steal from each other) which was an improvement on the 250R...... so by that extension you are getting a excellent handling machine too....

And as was mentioned the '09 has EFI which makes me want an EFI conversion for my '05....... I'm already wondering what it would take to retrofit one in.....

 

a 400 wont touch a 250r i have a 85 atc 250r and i raced a guy who had a 400ex that was cammed piped and a couple other things he raced in the oregon circuit. i smoked that thing even when he jumped off the line thE THUMPER couldnt compete.

 

atc????

it beat a quad? no way! i cant believe it! wow man, i wanna be cool like you when i grow up!

seriously dude, THINK, then type.

 

if it wasnt for atc's you wouldnt have your quad. and its kinda sad how even after 20 years the old 250rs kick the new bikes ***? maybe you should think next time. plus the trx 250r is just as fast.

 

the trx is nowhere near as fast as the atc.

however, a built trx250r will still generally out run a built z400.

 

its true. a two stroke will out perform a four stroke in all out hp. but for the type of riding you do id go with the z. the z will handle a wide range of gearing where the 250r is kinda limited because of less torque. plus a four stroke will way outlast a 2 stroke on engine rebuilds. plus no mixing gas. i have a lt250r which i love and i have a quadsport as well. the 250 is a mean rush but when leasure riding i like that happy button pulling straight to a pump. plus with a stage two kit and hmf pipe the z is hella fast

 

obviously you are all forgetting the most important feature....the gearing. the stock gearing on the early 2 strokes are limited to around 60mph. i know my kfx will beat any stock geared 250 2 stroke. even if they are piped. sprockets change everything even gears on cars.