Best Quad in '05??

[Bryan_D]

Ok so I have a friend that is looking into getting a new quad most likely and isnt sure what to be looking at. I was telling him a new trx450 or yamaha450 which would you recommend and why?? Or should he look into a used bike? He is partial to the raptor but this is his first quad in years and I told him that they are heavy feeling. Also whats a good wife quad for his wife?? Thanks for the help and if it causes a pissing match between manufactors sorry ahead of time.

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[racer_dude]

well... first off what type of riding is he going to be doing??? just desert stuff or will he go to the dunes a bunch?? or track??

the new yfz is a awesome bike, but not exactly the caddy in the desert, the suspension is set up for big hits and that kind of stiff... can be made for desert but money needs to be invested... electric start

the honda 450 is a good bike but like the yfz more motocross out of the box, but more rideable than the yfz stock for stock in the bush. kick start

raptor is a good quad... has a nice powerband and makes power everywhere but isnt as "pipey" as a 450, kinda like a mellow motor when stock.. suspension is nice and a softer seat than 450's... more of a cushy ride but top heavy... first years had tranny problems but only when abused most of the time... electric start

ltz/kfx 400 awesome quads... lots of bottom end grunt put into a rideable powerband that can be whipped around hard or a nice crusier for a girl... electric start

any more input anyone??

[desertratt]

both the 450r and yfz are good bike all the way around. i have spent less money on getting my yfz dezert race ready then my 450r. we keep braking the 450r. my self i like the yfz better. now buying used is a good thing if he hasnt had a quad in a long time. no sence spending the extra money on some thing that he might not like after doing again. you just have to go over it real well to make its in good shape. as for a bike for the wife, i would recomend a 400ex or ltz 400. the ltz has reverse and if he gets a new 400ex it has it as well.

[Bryan_D]

Ok so when looking at used bikes of these mentioned what should he be looking for?? Any areas apt to stress cracks or any years to shy from?? If he buys used any parts that he should get and or stay away from?? Thanks for all the help guys. He just sprung this on me tonight and we are going looking on saturday. The more the info the better about anything to lookout for.

[shrek]

Nobody has mentioned the 700 or the DS650??

Opinions?

Shrek

[Harpo]

You can find some pretty trick z400s @ z400centeral.com for sale forum. I have the KFX400 and I love it. the 450's pull alot harder but the 400 rides alot better.

[racer_dude]

the 700 and the ds650 are, sorry to offend anyone that has one or likes them, not so great... they are slower than raptors, are huge and heavy, and need a bunch of work done to them to make them quick... now the 700 im not sure beacause i havent rode it yet but it is also very very big

as far as checking over the quad...
look at the chain, check to see if it is loose or dry (no chain lube) and then check the teeth on the sprockets check to see if they are pulled one direction or another, or they are very deep in the valley between teeth.. also check for scratches under the swingarm. this will tell you how much and where it was rode... scratches and pits means it was rode in the desert and the more there is and the deeper they are tells you how much time it has on it.. check to see if it has a skidplate made of aluminum or the stock plastic ones.. if it is a stocker they bend easily and you can tell if it has been dragging on the ground because more than likely the rear brake rotor will have left grooves in the plastic... check the plastics for crease's and scratches. this will let you know if it has been abused.. check for straight bars and levers or torn grips.. check the clutch and brake and make sure they still have a nice easy but engaugeing pull or resistance to them.. check for dings in the wheels on the inside and outside or for hammer marks where they were beat back into place... check the front arms for grease (if they are dry by the bushing means it wasnt maintained) take the seat off and the air box cover off and look for grease or dirt, or other foreign objects that havent been cleaned out and shouldnt be there.. check the filter for filter oil and on the inside where the filter meets the airbox should be a ring of grease to seal it off.. check the steering and make sure that it is easy to turn, if not then the stem is bent and means it was wrecked hard. then try to get the best deal you can

good luck

[Mike_socal]

The quickest quad means it's the best quad? Would that make the lt500 still the best?

the 700 and the ds650 are, sorry to offend anyone that has one or likes them, not so great... they are slower than raptors, are huge and heavy, and need a bunch of work done to them to make them quick... now the 700 im not sure beacause i havent rode it yet but it is also very very big

[Kbach66]

Just to give my meaningless opinion....

Depending alot on the riding he would do, I'd narrow it down to the TRX450R, YFZ450, and LTZ/KFX 400.

If most of his riding is going to be track/MX, then go for the YFZ. It's a pretty good MX quad out of the box. It will most likely be too harsh for the weekend warrior that's going to the dezert, but it's right at home on the track. The YFZ will get plusher with speed, and will soak up some rough stuff. (I've put in quite a few laps on them at Glen Helen after weekend practice, when the track is super rough and it's surprising how well you can get the stock sus to work. Plus the thing rips in full power or "kit mode"

If he'll be doing some MX, but also a little desert and some trailriding, then the TRX is a great quad. It's got the MX capability and in stock form, won't be as harsh/stiff as the YFZ on the track, and is a great trailriding bike.

If he's going to be doing a little of everything, then the LTZ is the perfect choice. It's the best quad out right now that is a "jack of all trades". It doesn't do one thing perfect, but it does A LOT of things really well. It's rideable on a MX track and won't beat you up. It will handle desert trails/whoops, and it will get by in the dunes. Big thing with it is to definitely get the '05. It got some sus setting changes (resi shocks), new cam, carb, frame bracing, and others that make the '05 much better than the '04s.

If you want a decent all around bike that you can find used pretty cheap, look for TRX 400EX. It's kind of an entry level sport quad by todays standards, but still pretty good.

Soooo.....hope that helps.....
Funny thing is that by reading my post you'd think I worked for Suzuki.......but I actually work for Honda!!!! You really can't go wrong with the Z400.

Good luck, and if you have any more questions feel free to PM me.

Kevin

[racer_dude]

The quickest quad means it's the best quad? Would that make the lt500 still the best?

depending on what your doing it might be, but for the other 99% of any type of riding its probly not... when i mean quick, i mean you hit the throttle and it might get out of its own way.. the raptor isnt quick in my opinion, big displacement but no power to follow. stock for stock the ltz400 won, and a trx400 beat it up oldsmobile in glamis without paddles, while the raptor had paddles... there is a plus on every quad i have ever rode over other quads, but i have yet to find one with more than any other

ride it like its a rental and they are all fast........till they blow