The wait for the Z400 if killing me, i dont know if i can be bothered waiting for a delivery date that could be one week or 3 months! Should i just get a Raptor and be done with the pain and suffering?????[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

I was also in ther same position. I was torn between the two. However, I finally broke down and bought the raptor for the simple reason that the z400 has not been tested and there is no rider reports as of yet. I do not regret my decision at all. The raptor is awesome (JMO). I put on the aftermarket pipe and made other mods and the power is unbelievable. I like the looks of the z400 and I believe that it may even handle better because it is lower to the ground but I couldn't stand the waiting period either. Go with the raptor.. you'll be very happy!!!

 

The Z400 is just around the corner. That would be my choice from my current information, but I would wait until the Zuki is proven.

 

I personally would be hesitant in buying anything the first year out. Just for the simple reason that there may be quirks that need to be addressed, just like the raptor had problems their first year out. I hope suzuki does not have any quirks, and they have the knowledge and capability of producing one kicka&& machine. This has already been proven with the zilla, but every company always has quirks in the first production machine. Buy the raptor like I said. The quirks have been worked out and it is pure riding pleasure.

 

Patience is a virtue. Good things come to those who wait. It is killing me too but, waiting means making an informed decision. To those of you who have seen my other posts, yes I have a LT-Z400 on order. I would be buying a Raptor if it were not for the DRZ motor being in this quad. So many parts are already available for the DRZ that will easily bolt on. If the wait is that distressing, and you are not brand loyal, buy the Raptor. Otherwise, you might just wait for the LT-Z400, it should not be that much longer. It is new, shiny, and has a modern reliable engine.

Ride on.

 

Guard dog,
You are forgetting about 1987, the first year of the Quadracer 500. It first came out jetted wrong and a number of them seized up. They did get it dialed in later on in the year but the Zilla was definitaly not without its problems.

The Z400 should be a more reliable machine in its first year but I would not be surprised if there are teething problems. Additionally it will be hard for the new Quadsport to live up to expectations that have been building since last October. I think it will offer more performance than the 400EX with equal handling and suspension but be shy of the Raptor in power. There is just too much of a displacement difference to make that up. Even Suzuki is labeling it a mid-sized sport quad, so no matter what anybody says on this site, it is not meant to compete against the Raptor. It will probably steal away Raptor customers just because it will be a more balenced package.

Of course all of this comes out of my ***! I'm making predictions based on pictures. Still, its fun! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

well, everytime i call a dealership i get different answers. it varies from it'll be here any second now (sarcasm) to not till july (i actually had a dealership tell me that). i've got a $200 deposit on a z400 and i call the dealerships just to harass them and get an average answer. i rode my friends 2002 raptor and it is AWSOME. that thing has some serious 'nads. comparing the two on paper, the z400 sure sounds more of a "balanced" package and it seems like it's going to handle better than the raptor. but for those people who says that the z400 will out run the raptor is either full of doo-doo or just doesn't know what they're talkin' about. i don't see a "stock" 400cc motor out powering a 660cc.

 

<< i don't see a &quot;stock&quot; 400cc motor out powering a 660cc >>



The Raptor has a lowered compression ratio, restrictive air box and exhaust. IT was detuned from the factory quite a bit... I think the carb was also switched...

The Z400 looks like no detuning will happen. The Compression is rated at 11.3:1, opposed to the Raptor's 9.1:1.

Factor in the dry weight savings of 28 pounds... The Smaller gas tank, The careful weight distribution...

The Z400 obviously looks to give the Yami a run for the money.

 

your absolutely right about the compression. but, we don't know if the z400 is going to have a restrictive air box and exhaust. i really hope that the z400 will beat the raptor cuz my friend is talkin' too much crap. he tells the salesman, everytime we go in, that they should offer me a free wash because he's gonna be kicking up some serious dirt on my quad. i just can't freakin' wait for it to get here. i think i've called every dealer within a 100 mile radius of my house atleast 2 times. i think they recognize my voice.

 

Hey thrshr, if you want to really get your buddy going, do as I do with my buddies. Tell them STOP! DROP! and ROLL! is a fire drill not really riding. Stopping the vehicle, rolling their machine down a bank then dropping down rolling in the dirt is not really riding. What he is doing is called posing. It gets my friends fuming everytime.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]