Looking for a new sport quad

[cody2]

Im selling the kfx for $4 700 which seems awfully good to me, but that aside what should my next bike be? I've been up to the Yamaha dealer and the salesman said i would be best off with a 700 raptor, the kawasaki dealer had a few kfx 450's that looked like nice bikes but i really dont know where to start. Im looking for something mainly for trails, preferibly a bit fast with some good suspension so i can hit a few jumps here and there, that wont cost me a fortune to keep running, the kfx 700 also looks like a good bike, but theres just so many choics, but around here we have a suzuki / honda dealer, kawasaki dealer, polaris dealer and a yamaha.

[super90]

Raptor 700 is the way to go for trails, although my yfz does fine on trails. It gets pretty hot when your just putting around but it does good.

[Ryan.]

ya id say a raptor 700 would be your best bet, or if your into bikes get the crf450x

[SYKO]

the ktm, that thing is sick nuts!

[300rman]

well, something that wont cost a fortune to keep running definitely doesnt include the 450's.
i would go with a raptor, and dont modify it in any way. not sure about the KFX 700, but it is probably a great bike too.
just avoid the high-strung 4-strokes, and it shouldnt need anything for a long time.

[ccdhowell]

Yep, the Raptor 700 is the way to go. I got an '07 SE in April and haven't found anything to dislike about it yet. The stock tires are junk, replace those and you're good to go.

Chris

[super90]

well, something that wont cost a fortune to keep running definitely doesnt include the 450's.
i would go with a raptor, and dont modify it in any way. not sure about the KFX 700, but it is probably a great bike too.
just avoid the high-strung 4-strokes, and it shouldnt need anything for a long time.

They do need more work than the lower revving quads but there not as much work as you would think. Ive seen 450rs and yfzs go a couple years without a valve adjustment or oil change and they still run. If you change the oil regularly and check valve clearance you can get almost 300 hours on a top end. Thats not too bad considering how high they rev out. I wouldnt trade my yfz for a raptor but thats just me.

[SpeedBump]

I have a 08 Kaw 450..Kinda stiff for trails, but it gets the job done quite nicely. The Raptor700 is a MUCH improved machine from the 1st gen Raptors. I got a couple buddies running them and they seem to be holding up just fine. They are a great trail bike and you can still jump em, drag race em and do just about anything you need. Like Super said...I wouldn't trade my 450 for a Raptor, but that is just me. I would stay FAR away from the Kaw 700. Nothing mechanically wrong with them, but they are HEAVY, weak suspended and underpowered unless modded.

[evand]

im not a fan of the 700. after seeing one strugle power wise to climb hills that i was doing on my stock Z and after seeing it not start at random, and then see it get its ass handed to it buy a stock honda 450.

i say get a 450, lighter, more power, and if you take care of them they will run for a wile.


a friend of mine races his 05 450 bike almost every weekend and is still on the factory top end:beer

[SpeedBump]

Well, evand, I would think there is something terribly wrong with that SPECIFIC 700 if it had power troubles. If you have EVER ridden one, you would know that are torque monsters and have NO problems in the HP department. As for drags, yes, they are not a quick as the 450s, but that isn't a major factor in which to buy, as ANYONE serious about drag racing will either build a Banshee or modify their specific bike, and then the debate gets completely different. You can't toss out a legit opinion of what is good or bad on ONE second hand incident. (well, you can give an opinion, but it would not be taken seriously or held with much confidence) I do agree with you about the 450s lasting a while...if well maintained and not pounded to death.

[BigGreenMachine]

The 700 has sack.

The Raptor 700 or Polaris 525 ifs would be my choices for a fourpoke trail ride. Lots of torque is a good thing.

[MTS]

for trail riding and XC polaris outlaw 525 with the IRS hands down, The kfx is pile on a trail IMO the outlaw hands it its ass,

[cody2]

well, something that wont cost a fortune to keep running definitely doesnt include the 450's.
i would go with a raptor, and dont modify it in any way. not sure about the KFX 700, but it is probably a great bike too.
just avoid the high-strung 4-strokes, and it shouldnt need anything for a long time.


What would be so bad about a yfz 450 for trails, like what would i have to do to it? Theres a nice one around here for 6000 almost new i was looking at, concidering buying.

[smokinwrench]

YFZ is a full on race quad. The suspension is stiff and the seat is like ridign on a 2x4. Totally awesome machine but beat you to death after an hour of riding.

700v force is a good all around machien but far from my choice. They are heavy but very fun to ride. Friend of mine has one and its fun to goof off on but not to ride all day long.

I own a 525 IRS and I'll go up against anyone in the type of ridign I do. The hp, handling and suspension are unreal. I can run with any 450 or 700 raptor in the drags that has a pipe and filter, then when it comes to the trails they can't keep up.

[super90]

True, they are built for racing. But a large % of people buying them dont use them for racing at all. The seat isnt the most comfortable but its not horrible either, and the newer models are suppose to be softer than the older ones. I stand up most of the time anyway because sitting down and large bumps dont mix. IMO theres not as bad as people say they are on trails at all. I bought it because I do alot of jumping and am considering racing. Its really personal preference but it is an awesome machine for fast trail riding and slamming through whoops or over logs. As far as suspension I think its perfect for my riding. They will handle just about anything as far as trail riding, and they really dont seem to stiff to me. Also mine has a 13 tooth front sprocket so it a little more forgiving when just puttin around. If you do buy it I think youd like it, I know after riding mine quite a bit that I wouldnt trade it for anything else. raptors are real nice but theres something about the yfz that I love, probably the hard mid range punch it has and the ability to go from track to trail with no modification.

[350Xhilaration]

I have a buddy that is selling an 05 YFZ450 that is like brand new for $4500. It needs a battery (from sitting in a garage for over a year) and that's all. email me rhuel.adams@gmail.com and I'll get you his contact info if you're interested.

He bought it from a guy after trikefest last year and hasn't ridden it yet. The original owner bought it, never rode it and then bought a house (I think).

The quad is immaculate. Totally stock except for the nerfs.

[cody2]

I would definatly buy that if it was around here

[ditchmud]

I just bought a honda 450r and so far I regret it. I have a 400ex that is my sons and I wish that I had bought another one. It is a great trail bike, and it has reverse a major plus in my book especially for the trails. You can only go so fast through the trails. I could keep up with my buddies on a wolverine4x4 when they all had raptors, 450r, and the likes. It was just alot more work to ride it fast. I had an '03 raptor and didn't care much for it cuz to me it seemed to top heavy. I think that the geometry of the 400ex is spot on and it handles very well with stock suspension. My son just raced his on the mx track during trikefest and doubled all the jumps and even hit the triple jump once. The 400ex is very inexpensive compared to the 450's for the price difference you could upgrade the suspension or motor if you thought you needed to. The 400ex has a proven motor that is almost bullet proof, and is a low maintenance machine, with no major issues. So in my opinion the 400ex is the best all around trail bike available and you can usually find a used one all modded out fairly cheap but I prefer mine all stock.

[cody2]

oh yeah man, those 400ex's run like hell, my freind bought his new in 99 and runs the hell out of it, 416 big bore now and dmc pipe dc maybe? im not sure, but it runs some pure with the hot cams and everything on it and i dont think he ever changes the oil, top notch trail bie theres just no good ones around here