With a 235lb rider on board, you'll have to ride the LT-Z like you hate it to get anywhere on it. I'm 210lbs, and when I ride my son's LT-Z, I have to rev it to the moon to get good power out of it. Thew Raptor has a lot more torque. Also, larger riders have been know to bend stock LT-Z axles. If you have to have reverse, I'd say the Raptor's the right bike for you but you might want to consider the KFX700 V-Force, if reverse is not an absolute reqirement for you, the Predator or DS650 are both good choices.

 

im 6ft 240lbs ,i think the raptor for the bigger person,you will like the power better than the 400

 

6'0"-185lb and i think the Z and the EXlax feel like a tinker toy. bud you are going to need the torque to gitty up and go. jmo.

 

At 255# the Raptor is the bike for me. I am 5'10 and am very comfortable on the Raptor. As for power ..it has plenty for me.

J.Prentice

 

Hey Slowwarrior, I am pondering the same thing right now. Out here in Oregon I can get a Z-400 for $5399 and the Raptor for $6299. I want to get a bike and install an exhaust system and paddle tires and ride. I am thinking the best option is the Raptor, as it (according to Dirtwheels) gains at least 10 hp from the pipe and jetting, while the Z gains 4 hp at best (once again according to Dirtwheels). I sure don't want to buy a brand new bike then have sink another grand into the engine to get it to run. I see too many people with modified bikes sitting in the staging area with their quad on a stand and parts all over the place. I want to be riding it, not working on it.
Just my opinion, I am leaning towards a Raptor right now.

 

Raptor all the way. Just the way it is. Start with the best and make it better. Z's and predators are amusing. They think they are fast until the show up to race. Check out FSW's. The majority of the raptors were 50 or more hp. 1 piped and jetted z was 26 and one was 28hp. THOSE WILL NOT KEEP UP on the track,trail,strip or hill. The raptor has a few short commings but mechanical is not one of them.

Spend a few more dollars and get a quad that will last for years and stay ahead of the rest.

Buy a z or predator and 6 weeks down the road wish you bought a raptor.

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Guy I don't know where you all are shopping but i live in Midwest and just bought my 02 Raptor brand new left over for $5500 out the door that was with tax, I found plenty of dealers selling 03 for $57-5800 out the door tax included, I also found Z-400 for $5100 out the door, you really have to shop arround though, play it cool, call lots of dealers not just the big ones that sell all the shinny stuff like fancy helmets, jerseys ect.. call the joe smoe dealer who is hurting from not selling a single snowmobile this year, tell him up front that you have cash, no trades, and most importantly that you are BUYING ONE TODAY!!! (you don't have to go get it you can just give tham a credit card deposit over the phone if you do buy, this really lights their fire, they spend much of their time wasted on punks who walk in and are never seen again so let them know you are not one one those tire kickers! Then tell him you are shopping all over your state, these dealers know there is always that one dealer in every area who is going to beat their price so be patient, they almost never give you the best deal the first time they talk to you, they usually have to talk to "their sales manager" which makes the sales manager look like the bad guy, so you don't end up disliking the actual salesman. Then tell them no and be quick about it. They will almost always call you back if they reallywant to sell. MSRP is for Suckers or people who bought the first year raptors because they were so hot you almost had to have money down and dealers got MSRP easily. But right now Z-400 are everywhere and the dealers really want to move them out soon same with the Raptors as the 2004's are coming in the spring. Also never let the dealer know you are set on his model tell them you are considering another brand that makes them work for youu abit more also. But be patient and mostly have cash! Money talks to a dealer or salesman who is hurting.