i say wait till the zuki comes out and see what they turn out to be, if they prove to be a worthy quad, wait a while to see what bugs gotta be worked out of them, then, if they are reliable, i would get one of them.. if the z400 motor doesn't hold up, then go with the 400ex, i wouldnt really look into a raptor much, but that's just me, you may like them alright, but i aint too fancy on em.

 

No Hondakilla, never owned a craptor and never will! Didn't even ride one. Fom what I hear from the feed back of people that own them is not to good. No problems with my 400ex. I also have a Banshee that would probably spank your craptor! No probs with the shee either.

 

when you guys all compare these quads I would like to know if you're talking about racing them or just "reccing" them/ Anyone who is racing bikes regularly should opt out of the discussion as racing and reliability rarely belong in the same sentence no matter what the brand.

 

i dont "race" my raptor and probably never will. it could be the guys who race that have had all the problems. i have bent the axle which was my own fault, but other than that,i have been lucky i guess. i dont think raptors are junk or any other quad for that matter. whatever gets you on the trail is the main thing. as for dependability goes,i personally think the ex is on the top. i cant tell my buddies that though cause i ride a yamaha. honda just needs to keep up with the times thats all. as for raptors guys being stuck up, just sticking up for our machines, thats all. im sure you would do the same.

 

Since I own and ride both, and both are "tweaked", I gotta say that they both have their advantages. The 400ex is a little more nimble on the trails, but only a little. The raptor's 49 hp more than makes up for its supposed lack of agility, and its' reverse has proved invaluable on numerous occasions. The 400ex is way overdue for an update in both hp and features.

Reliability? No problems with either. But if you get any new quad without the extended warranty, you're crazy.

Humility? No problem here, either. I don't care if you like any of my rigs. I just love to ride 'em and share 'em with friends. And if you go to the Oregon dunes, you'll find the banshee owners are the arrogant fools.

bty: anyone out there know of a raptor with tranny probs with a serial number over 7000? I don't. Knowsalot: pls check!

 

Raptor, period.

 

Cannondale weighs the same as a 400ex.

 

Raptor owners are stuck up??!!! Go to the Honda forum! No punches intended for all Honda owner's, but I'll be honest since I have been on this forum I have grown to hate Honda's just because of the way the Honda owner's talk on here. Honda is great and so is everyone else for that matter. All quads have their probs. regardless of who makes them. But I'll tell what I've noticed, every disagreement has a Honda guy talking something, every time. My good friend has a 400ex and he is the same way, everytime I turn around I get "shoulda bought a Honda". Whatever. I watch him try to start that thing when it's cold and just laugh, mine fires up within 2 seconds of holding the start button, even when it hasn't been started for over a week.

Well, now that I've got that off my chest, It is going to be very interesting in the next year or so for the sport market. Kaw. will be intrudcing something new, Polaris is too. The new Suz. looks good too. Can't wait. If possible, ride what ya got and give it 6-8 months and see what happens. Very exiting time right now and will get even better. However, if gotta make a purchase now, I like the Raptor. The 400ex is a good handler, but the Raptor is too, if you know how to ride it. If the 400ex had the same power the stock suspension set up would not allow for as good of handling as it does now.

 

Stebob, (not saying your lying or anything like that) My
400 fires up within 1 - 2 seconds when stark cold, fully choked with no throttle.
The 01' 400 that I used to have was the same way. Full choke, no throttle and it would fire
in about 2 seconds. (and im not in HOT Arizona, im at 5000+ feet in mountains, its 11:00 AM right now and its about 32F outside in the sun, this is cold arizona)

Wonder why so many people complain the 400's are a pain when cold. (and why are they?)

-Matt

 

Not sure, but my buddies does not like to start when cold. Keep in mind I'm in Indiana, cold up here is near or below 0 and wind chill on top of it. The climate is totally diff. here than where you are, I'm sure that's what it is. Also, there may be weeks in between from when they are ridden. Mine will start immediately, his never, will start just takes it a little longer.