Posted: 12/1/2002 8:40:33 PM EDT
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I just got a couple of new quads, a Polaris trailblazer for the wife and a 90 predator for the kids. I thought that these looked like good ones for new riders but I need a new one also (I have ridden a bit). Its going to be trail riding and the dunes. I'm thinking of the Raptor maybe a 400EX,any input? Steve |
| The Raptor is a high-performance sport bike, not the best for leisurely trail rides. You may want to consider a 4x4, preferabley a Suzuki or a Kawasaki. Polaris has a checkered rep due to the variable belt drive transmission. I have riddden a Zuke 330 4x4, and was quite impressed with it. I ride an older Yamaha Big Bear 4x4, cant see where anything bigger than a 350 would be an advantage. My $.02. Ops |
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Johnny, If I could have gotten one of those for the same price,it would be in my garage where the quads are sitting! There isn't much that would be considered leisure about my ridding,I can get a little wild (mostly not intentionaly :) ) I'm looking for a sport model for myself, I like the idea of a 4 stroke,less maintenece. I always liked the warrior but they seem to need extensive mods to get them to the level I want (kill myself level) Steve |
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With a 400 Sport in good shape there really is very little maintaineance. 1. Clean air filter after a really hard ride in the dunes 2. Keep oil resevoir full 3. Keep gas in it 4. Keep a spare plug with ya Not biased or anything, I have experience. I've seen this stock 400 Sport smoke every piped big bore 400EX in our neighborhoood (quire a few, welcome to hick country). Has also dragged a Raptor, and won. I just really like the Sport, if you want wild you want 2 stroke! |
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I always hear people downing sport quads for trail riding. I took mine out a few weeks ago and took it on some [b]very[/b] rocky trails (and I'm talking huge rocks). It worked just fine but I don't normally do that type of riding. If you want something for dune riding, then you definitely want a sport quad. I have a Suzuki Z-400 and I love it! I looked at the 400ex, Z-400, and Raptor. The 400ex was out pretty quick because it is air cooled and doesn't have reverse. You definitely want reverse if you are going to trail ride. I ended up picking the Z over the Raptor purely for monetary reasons. I have ridden a Raptor and it seems to have much more power on the top end whereas the Z has more on the bottom end. The Raptor also feels more tippy in the turns than the Z. The general concesus is that the Z handles better than the Raptor. The only complaint I have about the Z is the chain adjustment procedure is difficult due to design. Also the rear brake is not vented so it tends to warp and squeal but it's an easy fix to put on a vented rotor. I haven't checked out the new Polaris Predator 500. With this being their first manual transmission I would think they would have some bugs to be worked out in the first year. Anyway, here are some pics of my Z-400with a new graphics kit, full skidplates, and a CT Racing pipe. [img]http://webpages.charter.net/jeff.hoeft/Furn/NewZ2.jpg[/img] [img]http://webpages.charter.net/jeff.hoeft/Furn/NewZ3.jpg[/img] |
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Where I live I would buy the Raptor if I had the money. If I lived in the eastern part of the state then I would have the Banshee. If I were going to ride in tight woods most of the time then I would have the SuzukiKawasakiZ44KFX400 Anything else is just a farm utility quad! [x] As I see it: Honda Sportrax1 400 For: It's a Honda Against: It's air cooled. Yamaha 660 Raptor For: Nothing has the stump pulling torque of the Raptor. Against: Nothing. 360 Banshee For: For the sand and hill climbs and top speed noting comes close. A set of Toomey Pipes and some carb work and hang on! Against: Two cylinders mean twice the work on the top end. Suzuki / Kawasaki QuadSport Z400 / KFX 400 (same quad) For: Awesome package. Yellow or Green. Against: It's the same bike. Yellow or Green. Cannondale Speed Blaze Polaris Scrambler For: Only performance 4 X 4. Against: Heavy. Predator 500 For: Fast Quad. Against: Polaris quality is suspect. |
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I ride Dunes, Trails, 4X4 trails & I ride an old 1987 Honda 250R. It's not New but Extremely reliable. I run PRM skidplates all round & can't believe how this thing can run the trails. Run a low-end Pipe, gear down & run with the Utililies till the cows come home. If I had to buy new I'd lean towards the Zuki Z-400. Great all around Bike with Water cooling. I've ridden with Raptors & there too tippy, Low Clearance, Wheeley on a whim, not what you want on an off camber incline in the rocks. My.02 |
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Bunghole, Thanks, thats the kind of input I'm looking for (you to Joe) I looked at the predator but I was thinking the same as you, I don't want to be the test dummy, It does look good though. Is you suzuki a 4stroke? I haven't looked at that one yet,it looks good in the pics also has a good name behind it (as does the 400EX. What is the Suzuki? (cost). The Raptor is the high dollar one,but is it worth it? If its not balanced and only goes fast,thats not good. Thanks for all the input. Steve |
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The Suzuki is a 4-stroke. Retail is $5699, which is what I paid because I bought right when it came out (they were hard to get). I'm guessing that you could probably get a good out the door price on one now though. The Z comes in yellow or white and the Kawasaki version, the KFX400, is green. The Kawasaki is the exact same bike as the Z. I believe the Raptor runs about $6499. I guess your choice will be dependent on what type of riding you'll do most. If you ride the dunes more I would get the Raptor. The Raptor is very popular with the dunes guys. If you're going to ride more tight trails, I would get the Z. I wouldn't say that the Raptor and Z are radically different, but you really have to ride them both to get a good idea of what you like. If you have any more questions about the Z you can IM me. Here are some message boards to check out. For the 400 EX: [url]www.exriders.com[/url] For the Z400: [url]www.z400central.com[/url] For the Raptor: [url]www.bluetraxx.com[/url] |
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The Quad-50 mounted on a M3 halftrack has better crosscountry performance and superior crew protection. The quad-50 mounted on a 5-ton 6x6 truck has a lot better over-the-road mobility and fewer of the mechanical troubles associated with tracked vehicles. Both are a sound tactical choice, although better utilised for supporting infantry than in their intended anti-aircraft role. |
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Nothing does dunes like a Banshee, the Raptor is real close. But, speed is life in dunes, Banshees hate going slow... they overheat, foul splugs, and are a bunch of work on woods trails. 400EX are very good in the tight stuff, and very good overall (you will get your ass whooped, but not too badly). Durability and maintenance the Honda will likely out last all of them. |
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Based on what I have rode and where I rode them: Banshee - open desert, dunes, fireroads, cross country, woods. Open desert - the Banshee is the quad to have. Dunes - See above (although a Raptor that has a pipe and jet kit with a set of lower gears is a close second) Fireroads - FUN! Cross country - FUN! Woods - the tighter is gets the more work the Banshee is. You can tune the engine for top end, midrange or bottom end. Unlike the Raptor you can't have your cake and eat it too. Common sense tuning applies to the Banshee. Use Redline Water Wetter. Use a low ash synthetic oil. Raptor - Dunes - A stock one is ok, one that has been built a little is FUN! It's a little big, but it is balanced. In the woods that torque is the thing to have. Warrior - (I know, it's not included) Dunes - sucks Hills - sucks Cross country - It's a fun quad. Open desert - Underpowered Woods - Needs a little bit more power. Kawasaki KFX400 - Dunes - works ok Open desert - lacks top end I rode a built one, heck, that thing was able to keep up with a Raptor on the open spaces. I went riding with some guys that had the farm quads, I'll give them this, when it got tight they went into 4WD and just putted up the hills and over the rocks. The Banshee and the Raptors would go up the same hills and over the rocks, but it was WFO, hang on! If you are going to trail ride and not do anything radical (quadcross, dunes, hill climbs) then you should check out the Yamaha Warrior or the Honda Sportrax. The Kawasaki/Suzuki 400's are a well balanced all around bike. |
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I bought a '01 Yahama Grizzly from my good buddy for $3K. He bought it new in Maine and just didnt have time for it anymore. He sold it to me for whatever was left on payments. It rules! I use it for all kinds of stuff from trail riding to hauling debris and small fallen trees. Its 600CC, push button 4X4, automatic tranny, big tire kit, goes 70+ mph with my fat ass on it, etc etc etc. The only thing that sucks is that here in eastern CT is that open private land is seriously on the decline. Lots of places I used to ride are bieng turned into subdivisions. But like the old saying goes, its not illegal if u don't get caught. And it helps to know the cops. I wish we could ride in the state forests, but then again if I was hunting out there and someone ruined my chance I would be pissed. If anyone lives in eastern CT and has a place to go riding, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Forrest is out(of land to ride his quad). |
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So I guess no one here likes the Polaris ATVs.... I really have nothing bad to say about any of the other quads, I've heard the good and the bad. I've also heard of the Polaris' quality issues but I personally haven't witnessed any. My friend has a Polaris 400 Sport and it eats EXs and pukes Blasters. |
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I don't have anything against the Polaris, so far my wifes trail blazer seems fine and I hold the Polaris snow machines in high regard. The only Polaris that is an option for me is the Predator 500,This is its first year and I don't want to be a guinea pig. Steve |
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1-cannondale 2- 400ex i had a 250r i loved that would never die had to sell it when i needed money :( but the 400ex just never dies either. 3- suzuki sports quad stay away from anything used in the raptor department unless you want tranny problems. i have a suzukilt250r right now but wouldnt mind getting into a used 400ex for $3000.00 |
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heres the URL where there trying an experiment to let us use this state forest in eastern CT. the anti atv'est are already there. i had a guy in plain clothes tell me he works there an no atvs can be there. i told him i read it on the web page. he says i have to talk to them about that. but heres the URL anyways. http://www.friendsctstateparks.net/parks/pachaug.htm |