Last weekend, i was to the moto-atv showroom at Quebec. I Saw and sat on a z-400 and here my personal feeling about it.

When I sat on it it feel like a small raptor, but the seat is less comfortable then the raptor. The engine is really small; smallest than the crf450. The engine position is more forward than the 400ex, combine with the weight the oil tank that is forward of the radiator and the radiator itself, I think that the z-400 will have a good balance point for the power that he can produce. A good point for me is the z-400 have reverse.

A bad point is the z-400 still a new model and only time will tell about is reliability. But I wait until february 18 to see what is the new one atv. Maybe it's Z-400 they talking about or a new sport kawasaki 650. It will be cool if Bombardier will produce a new small atv near 400cc.

 

I don't think the suzuki is going to have very many problems. I think that they learned from past and present(Raptor, C-Dale) that quads need to be thorughly(sp) tested before being put into production. But then again, they have the same swingarm design as the old Quadracers, maybe it will have it's flaws.

 

I'm sure they're using some parts from the tried and true LT250R. Look at the rear brakes, they look just like the old ones off the 250.

Suzuki has been developing technologies for future quads for a while. I doubt reliability will be an issue.

 

I'm sure the Zuki will be fine. The DR-Z missed its original debut by about a year because of testing, and now they make a bullet proof enduro bike.

 

Anything can go wrong though. I hope for Zuk your right.

 

Suzuki has probly been planning this quad since 99 when the 400ex came out. I dont think they will have problems. I cant believe that they are useing that old style chain adjust. I know its beefy but the magazines are going to rip on it. I had a lt500 now I have a raptor. The lt`s chain was time consuming compaired to the raptor. The mags rip on the raptor for chain adjustment difficulty. I dont think they will be happy till every quad comes with honda parts anyways(chain adj, suspension, etc...).

 

I think too many magazines do expect other manufacturers to use a Honda design because they like Honda so much. Reading most ATV articles I find a heavy prejudice against machines that aren't a Honda or use the same design, like the chain adjuster.