So I'm looking for a new atv that'll keep up with a Can-Am X3. Currently riding a Raptor 350, which doesn't have great suspension. I'm 6'5" 140 pounds. We go to the dunes, desert riding, and sometimes mountain riding.
I'm considering the Raptor 700, YFZ450, or the banshee. Thanks.

 

I voted for the Raptor 700. The YFZ is great for racing but for everything else, I think the Raptor would be better. Banshee is fast but its all at the top end. The extra displacement of the Raptor definitely helps. Raptor should definitely be more reliable too. Its also physically larger so someone who is much taller than average would feel more comfortable on it than the others.

 

How much are you looking to spend? How handy are you? Percent dunes and percent mountains?

Banshee if you have a crazy budget and are mostly dunes.
Raptor if you mostly ride mountains, probably the most comfy for long riding days
YFZ is a great choice too, the R models are killer dune and desert rigs.

 

For your height, the Raptor 700 will be most comfortable.

 

Thanks greg, and scooter probabley 20-30% dunes, 60% desert, 10% mountain. I'm good with cars, not a mechanic by anything, but I can work on em. Thanks.

 

Well, they are all going to be great in the dunes. The banshee is king there. With your height I might learn toward the 700, but you really need to sit on them, ride them if possible. 450 and 700 are close peak HP, but have very different deliveries. The 450 will rev faster and hit harder. It pulls way higher up the RPM range and requires a bit more skill to ride at a slower pace than the raptor. The 700 is much torquer and can put along better. It will also be more tolerant of extended valve adjustment and engine rebuild intervals. If you go raptor, I would lean towards a model with the better stock suspension.

 

I care more about suspension than top speed, so how does that compare?

 

The banshee has horrible stock suspension, you need to go to the aftermarket. Both the new quads have excellent stock stuff if you are buying a model with the reservoirs and all that. The raptor has softer, more comfy shocks. YFZ has more of an edge and rides better the faster you go. They are basically the same shock just with some spring and valving differences. Those are rebuildable, you can have them set up for your weight, riding style and terrain. Again you have to be careful as both models have been sold with cheaper shocks that will likely be perfectly serviceable for you but do not have the tunability.

 

Any machine you buy may need aftermarket shocks.
My opinion, The YFZ.
The 700's are big heavy slugs.
My buddy got rid of his Raptor for a 450 and wished he did it long before.

 

Thanks guys!