I am 15 and selling a 300ex i was wondering if anyone could tell me whats is better for what i'm going to use it for a raptor or a z. I ride on my friends home made race track (fits 6 quads across). i also ride open trails, fields and hillclimbs. i mainly jump though thanks for the help.

 

Id say both in stock form the Raptor is probably better in the trails and a Z is better on the track. Seeing how no one leaves them stock, the raptor can excel at both. I dont have any experience with the Z except for what ive read on these forums. I ride the same type places as you( mx track and trails), and i am very pleased with my bike. Its got alot of power stock; pipe, K&N, and jet it and youre ready to dust youre buddys (unless theyre on the same ride). Add some "18 and 19" holeshots. My 2cents.

 

I personally would get a Raptor than a Z for the obvious reason that you get more power from the 660 and the price of the Z and the 660 are about the same!

 

first of all how big are you, if your not big for your age you might have a big problem with the raptor overpowering you.
my *** is 6' tall 200lbs. and i can bench 280lbs. and my raptors power can be a real hand full sometimes in the woods.
going from a 300ex to a raptor is like riding a pw50 then jumping on a street bike.
a Z will handle better on a track but the raptor will do every thing else better. allthough a mag just did time trialswith pros riding stock raps and Zs and they could pull faster times on the raptor. so if you can ride the bike right it can beat a Z even on a mx track.
the raptor will dominate all on the open trails and fields, a raptor can beat a Z on any hill, the steeper the hill the more the rap pulls.
a Z will be easier to move in the air but i hear they have weak shocks and bottom much easier then raptors do. raptors have big fly wheels and that tends to keep them very straight when in the air but you will feel the extra 260cc when air born. not saying the rap is a bad jumper but it takes more to move around in the air then a 400cc quad.
the raptor has alot more bottom end power and more power all around. the Z has a some what snappy power band with more of a mid to top end power curve, people say its more like a two stroke hit. the raps very smooth power band starts from the very bottom and is more of a low to mid power curve but still has plenty on top.
the z will give you a more stable feal since ther is less motor and a wider stance.
the Z is a first year quad could be some bugs
the Z is a more user friendly quad with a more plush ride
the rap has two carb to tune, and it will eat more gas.
these are all facts i have seen in mags i trust ( dirt wheels prints a bunch of BS to make more money)
if you cant handle a raptor it will hurt you real fast, alot of people flip them over backwords.
i ahve neve riden a Z so i can tgive you my opinions on it but i love my rap and would not trade it for the world, i have riden stock shees and 400exs and they just dont compair, they have also riden my bike and say the same, they take it for a ride in the woods and come back saying wow this thing is farging fast.
but i can not say the rap is for you, i would try to talk to more then one person how owns them both .

 

250rkid2,

I came off a 99 300EX and on to a 01 Raptor. My 01 is total stock.

If you ride open trails all I can say is hold on your going to love all the extra power the Raptor supplies.
The machine would cruse all day at 50 mph and do it effortlessly. I ride rock roads a lot and its like riding a gold wing for this purpose.

It might be geared a little to high, but I have always owned two stroke dirt bikes and the Raptor on the low end reminds me of a two stroke till the rpm's build.

I weigh in at 165 so if you don't weigh much it will be a rocket with no mods.

Jumping I do small stuff because I am older and don't want to be off the ground like I was 20 years ago so I can't help you there.

Chet[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Raptor

 

Thanks everyone i know i can handle it i have been riding since i was 3 i have road 400ex's and other big quads. I am probably going with the raptor the 400ex has power but not enought i would have to bore it out to have as much as i need the z doesn't have much more than a stock ex. the rap seems good for me. thanks again.

 

RAPTOR

there's no substitute for cc's

 

i also spent alot of time on a 400ex with a pipe before i bought my bike. in no way can you compare these quads. after riding my rap the 400 feels like a toy and i used to think it was fast. anyone can ride a 400ex or a Z but it takes more of a man to romp a raptor. the kid who owns the 400 is 14 and he can ride it as fast as i can, but when he rode my raptor in the woods and he couldnt take the power and it through him around alot, now he is scared to ride it fast. so just be carefull what you get your self into. i am not saying that you cant handle it but you need to put some thought into it if you want to ride it hard and your not to big of a person.

 

Get the Raptor...and bugg your dad till he buys you an extended swing arm.


800