I'm still deciding what to buy.I'm going shopping tommorrow PM. I know what problems the Raptor has and I know of the axle problem on some Z400's. What else afflicts the Z400's?Whats all of this talk of cracked frames?What causes it?How common of a problem is this?Thanks.

 

The Z has no real big flaws, just some little design things that are easily fixed. I believe the axle deal was handled early on and is no longer a problem. Cracked frames are a concern but i think recreational riders have nothing to worry about there. The rear rotor warps quickly and then squeeks. No performance problem, just annoying as heck! My air filter wouldn't stay seated to my satisfaction so I replaced it with a Pro-Design/Uni set up that clamped on. There are many different companies that make rotors and air filter upgrade components so don't sweat it. After 8 months of riding I am completely satisfied with my Z-400 and am very glad that I chose it. I had my choices narrowed down to the same ones as you did too. The Raptor is an awesome quad but I just liked the Z-400 a little better!

 

I have had the Z since last June, no problems. Have ridden in mud, snow, dunes, and MX track no problems and it is stock![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

so bobcatv8, if my rear brakes just started squeaking like crazy after some wet and wild riding, that means they are warped?

 

Most likely so, jt. I putted around on mine for the first couple of rides for break in purposes, but after 10 or so hours I rode it pretty hard. You know, running down 400exs and such. We rode for about 5 hours hard in the Ocala National Forest on some flatter higher speed trails with lots of braking and , you got it , it had the dreaded rear brake squeek. I put up with it for a while and then after reading this and some other forums decided to try a vented rear rotor. Problem solved. No more squeek even after many more riding hours. I don't purposely go into mud and deep water but sometimes it's unavoidable. I would say that a hot rotor hit with cool water would warp sooner rather than later. Besides the Speed rotor looks cooler and is lighter!

 

Have not had any probs with mine yet , they are very picky to jet . My frame is still in order at the shock mounts and I jump everytime I
ride (6 to 10 ft high and prob 30 ft distance) on a good day. Axle , I dont think mine has any probs , I try to stay on my quad rather then behind it , and the times I was behind it I didnt have time to check if the axle was bent I was to busy checking for soft landing areas.

Design prob would be the forgot to install the seat belt mounts therefore forgetting to install a seatbelt......

 

I just bought the Z400.I'm picking it up tommorrow!

 

In a Majority of the "Broken or Cracked frame" post, it was usually a result of hitting something or bottoming out the Shocks repetedly. This is something that would cause this type of damage to a lot of different Quads, not just the Z.