I'm here in defense of reverse! To say people who use reverse are lazy is bull. Ever have to step off in several inches of mud and attempt to lift your quad while sliding around? Ever ride in snow? Just because it's a sport quad doesnt mean you have to ride on smooth dry terrain only! I also trail ride and occasionally you drop the front end in a place you just dont want to be. It's sure nice to be able to put the machine in reverse and back it out. And last who would ever pass over an otherwise excellent machine just because it HAS reverse? That would be ridiculous. Bottom line is that any machine with reverse is more desireable to the larger group of potential purchasers than the same machine without.

 

i think that some guy in the honda forum explained the people that would ride rapters, "fat and stupid". hehehe... i think the 400ex is unough power for trails... the rapter will be faster, but what is speed when you are on some technical trail when you need handling. the rapter will be just like the ds 650... a waste

 

And Chuck when you're on that technical trail and stuck somwhere in a small mud pit wishing you had reverse to help you out the "fat and stupid" guy on the Raptor will wonder why someone would bring a quad best suited for motocross track on to a trail where it will need a tow rope every few minutes.

 

go ahead and bogg your rapter... i wouldn't go through a bog on my ex anyways... i'd smoke your rapter through technical trails. you'd roll over sideways and get mauled by some tree because your width is .2 inches shorter than even a 300ex!!!. go ahead and look at the specs on the 400ex compared to the rapter... why don't you just put some skyscraper on wheels and fly through tight trails... the rapter is like a box... as compared to the more spread out rectangle of the 400ex..

 

I dunno chucky...you sound like a 12 year old.
You have NO IDEA AT ALL about how the Raptor handles and performs, yet you somehow already know that the 400ex is going to kill it every..grow the hell up you little sissy boy whining S.O.B.

I wasnt expecting any less from most 400ex owners..all of em coming out saying its a piece of crap...

 

everybody seems to have there own opinion about these quads. There hasnt even been a shoot out yet! Everyone has there own needs and prefrences, and not all riders are alike. Madrider you should weigh your pros and cons and buy what you want, because I assure you that all these people with there opinions arent going to make your quad payment for you. buy what you like and have fun.......

 

The Raptor will be a hot ride! If it delivers. Hopefully it won't be a pig in the woods like the DS-650. The large engine will make it scream in the dunes & fire roads.

The first shoot outs will be very interesting! Either way it will take down the DS-650 as the fastest quad.

 

All you Polaris guys ever think of in terms of performance is a straight line..... Granted, I like the looks of the Raptor so far, but if it handles poorly, I don't care how fast it is.

 

I like the idea of the Raptor being a little taller than the 400EX. I have a 400EX and have often wished that it was a little taller. I'm 6' tall and find the seating position on the 400EX a touch too low. I get first shot at a Raptor at my local dealer- maybe I'll sell my 400EX or keep both.

 

Lets have the ultamate shoot out
THE RAPTER
VS
THE DS 650
VS
THE CANNONDALE FX 400
VS
THE 400 EX
Which Magazine will do it first!!!!