Im 6'2" 230 and the ergos on the Raptor are good for guys our size. The power output is great. To be honest, I dont think you can go wrong with any of the machines listed. It comes down to a personal choice. I heard the 450 kicks butt, cant wait to try it. I sat on it and it does sit a bit lower. It comes stock with alot of goodies so the price tag delta isnt as significant as it first appears. I heard the Honda TRX450 won the baja 1000 for quads. I would consider looking at it before I bought anything. Its due out this month.

 

Im your size and I i dont feel to big on it. A different set of bars helps ...

I bought mine in Oregon a few months ago for $6835 OTD from the dealer in North Bend. Call around and you'll get a better deal.

Any of the bikes you mentioned will be able to get you up any hill at the Oregon dunes. IMO the YFZ is the best dune machine available right now.

 

I do... nothing.

 

May be not, but I made the first year quad buying mistake once, and I wont do it again.

 

I would think that any of those bikes would work well......

personally if I couldn't afford a yfz I would go for a raptor............or a shee(but you aren't considering it)
I don't think that I would get a predator.......my cousins 03 has put a bad taste in all of our mouthes..........it has had some problems........and still does.......the dealers say "it is natural to a predator"

 

Don't get me wrong, I had those thoughts before I got ours, but as of this time, there have been no issues with them. I've had problems, but none that are associated w/ the stock machine. It's a very well thought out quad and very easy to seriously mod.

 

I'm in your area and I'd have to suggest a Banshee. I'm a Raptor rider myself and havent regretted it one bit but I'd probably be better served in the sand by a Shee myself. My Rappy is fairly modified and can take most Shees at the dunes but for the same effort a Banshee would be faster. The Predator and the Suzi/Kawi 400s are lacking punch compared to a Raptor. If later on you mod your machine the Rappy is at a major advantage.....large displacement. In short of the machines you mention it's an easy choice. RAPTOR. Take a run to Sand Lake and see who's riding what and talk to them. If you want a cheap 4 stroke to play on the 400ex will climb almost anything you can point at. It just wont do it very fast.

 

To tell you the truth the owener of the desert for many years now is the banshee, but since you are not condersidering it I would have to say the 450, because of the overall peformance compaired to the others. It has way more components stock, yes it is more expencive but to have the others catch up it would cost much more

 

I have considered the Banshee. I have ridden many, and I really like the power. I like the torque of a 4 stroke more though. Seems like you always have to be on the gas with a shee. Not that it is a bad thing.

 

I take it that you didn't read my post about the 04 Preds? Problems with a first year quad should be expected by now.