Hi everyone. I'm 15 and own a 300ex with $2,000 in extras, and was recently rewarded with the choice of a new quad. Of course everyone goes to the Raptor because it is the biggest. Although my many pro-racing friends say that 400ex handle better in the woods. Then again the new Suzuki Z400 comes out in Spring. I NEED reverse so the 400ex is kinda out of the question, but do you think the Z400 will kill the raptor in performance? I ride in complete woods with ocasianal gravel roads. My main concern is going up rocky hillclimbs FAST, and not feeling anything. Thanks you so much for the help. Really THANKS.


P.S.
The quad I buy will remain stock for about a year.

 

Its hard to say, because no one has ridden it yet, not even the mags. But I will say that it sounds like it is going to be a pretty sweet quad. Between the 400EX and Raptor, I say go with the Raptor. Gotta stand by my ride.

 

First, completely take the 400ex out of your decision. It's totally outclassed and out of date. Honda will introduce a new atv when the Z400 takes all of the 400ex sales.
If you can wait on a new Z400, I say wait and test ride one. It should run almost as good (maybe as good) and probably handle better in stock form than the Raptor. Looks are on par with the Raptor too.....if not identical...lol.

 

Look at the Cannondales. They just dont have reverse. They are so light though who needs it?

 

The 400ex and the Raptor are both awesome machines. I don't really know, in fact I don't think anyone knows a whole lot about Suzuki's new Z400. I am sure that it is a nice machine just like the rest of the competition on the High Performance market.

BigAl400,

I used to be in the exact same position that you are in with your 300ex. Except my 300ex didn't have $2,000 put into it in extras!!! Anyway, I sold my 300ex and bought a 400ex. I will admitt that I was a little skepical about it however, after getting used to the 400ex, I don't miss not having reverse at all. Sure, it would be nice to have but I seriously don't miss it at all. If you do a lot of woods racing/riding, I believe the 400ex is better in the woods then the Raptor. I'm not sure about the new Z400 because it is not out on the market yet. Both the Raptor and the 400ex have plenty of torgue and HP to go up big hills fast. The Raptor is faster going up obviously because it has a bigger motor. I hope my advise helped you out. Good luck on you new toy which ever one that you choose.

Fourtracker14

 

BUY THE RAPTOR. THE 400EX WAS THE MACHINE WHEN IT CAME OUT. I DONT THINK HONDA WILL EVER BE TOP DOG IN THE DISPLACEMENT WAR.YOU WANNA HAUL ***, BUY A YAMAHA.

 

I would definatly wait for the Z400! Too bad you need reverse though because all of the Cannondale models are looking too sweet for the competetion!!!!!

 

Yep, reverse is a luxury thats not necessarily needed. Just turn the wheel and hit the gas. Realistically.....probably just something to mess up sooner or later.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. Yes, the Cannondale's look pretty trick, but I really need reverse. When your riding the hills of Tennessee and come to a 5 ft. wide trail that dead-ends....... your up creek without a paddle. I think I will wait on the Z400 becuase Dirt Wheels said with a Yoshimura pipe it cranks out 52hp!!!!
Thanks so much.

 

first of all I would like to say that the new zuki will have no where near 52 horse with a pipe, What they meant to say is that yoshimura does the motor for the drz400 works race dirt bike and it is completely modded to the hilt to make that (the fuel they run is so much $$$ that it costs 100 bucks a tank) so I think that if the new zuki is lucky it will make 34-30 horsepower.
I seriously hate how dirt wheels blunders facts and makes "estimated guesses" all the time, also I hate how they make it sound like honda is makin a new sport quad to compete with the raptor when all they are doing is hoping and dreaming because honda does make great products but they are usually behind all the time (eg. yz426 then 5 years later the cr450f comes out)

Anyway just thought I would clarify

BUBBA