advice/opinions

[jjohnst03]

I will be buying a new quad in the next couple of weeks. I was pretty sold on the 450r and I am still leaning in that direction. I will mostly be trail riding, but may do a little racing this coming up season. I dont want to be underpowered when I go and ride with my buddies that have 450r's and yfz's at a local track either.

Yesterday I went around to the different dealers to just look at the bikes and get some prices on them.

A stock 05 450r is $6499 out the door financed, but they said they would come off of the price if I payed cash. I plan on paying cash for anything I buy.

A stock 04 polaris predator for $4999 out the door and $5299 for the 04 troy lee edition out the door(I like the 04 predators better than the 05's. The colors are better IMO).

An 04 suzuki Z400 with all the suzuki accessories for $6400 out the door. It had full skid plates, nerf bars, heel guards, full stainless steel yoshi pipe, the big aluminum front bumper, and the light kit. I could probably get an 05 with nothing on it for $6000 out the door. Thats just a guess though. They changed the shocks for 05 and the cam. The shocks went from 5 way preload adjustable to fully adjustable preload, compression, and rebound. The rear shock on the 04 was fully adjustable so it hasnt changed.

How do the other two bikes compare to the 450r and what are the strengthes and weakenses of each?

Thanks very much for the input guys.

[jjohnst03]

anybody???

[fasterthanyouex]

i would go with a 450 R ther nice for trail riding and proably the best i like the predator in trail riding but MX it really aint that good.. but i would have to say go with a 450r or a yzf 450:macho

[cuzron]

The Z is a great trail bike, but when it comes to high speed trails the 450R is the better quad. Get some SSD shocks on that thing and you will be 3 inches lower and handling like it's on rails. The new hi-performance quads all seem a little tippy to me, so if I got one I would def. lower it with some SSD shocks, but that's just me. I have never ridden the Pred. so I can't comment on it other than it looks goofy how the plastic comes together on the gas tank. lol. Hope this helps ya.

[400exrider707]

Our local dealer is selling 04 z's out the door for like $5000. They are $4575 on the floor and then with tax and such .......
My buddy got his 450R for $5999 and like $6400 or whatever out the door.

[400exrider26]

If you are mostly going to be trail riding and race a little I think the 450r would suit you the best. But if you are going to race all the time then I would get either the 450r or the yfz450. The 450r has mellower power that is easier to control on trails, but the yfz's power hits harder kinda like a two stroke. The Ltz is also a very nice bike for trails...

[jjohnst03]

I have narrowed it down to the Z and the R. I guess I will have to ride them both and decide which one will be the better bike for me.

Keep in mind that the $6400 for the Z was with taxes and with the accessories. The dealer said take $500 off the price tag on the stock 04 Z and $1000 off of the tricked out 04. Its sticker price was $7400. They just do that to make it look like your getting a better deal.

I didnt know I was going to be looking at the Z's that day so I didnt get any info before I left. I wasnt sure what the MSRP was on them or anything. IMO you should be able to get out of the place with paying taxes and fees on a stock bike and be right at or under the MSRP.

What do you guys think of Abernathy's? I called them and can get the 450r for $5349, but will have to pay sales tax when I get back home. Are they good to deal with? And when I get down there will the $5349 be what I really pay?

Again thanks for the input.

[400exrider26]

One thing to keep in mind too is that the 450r has a kick start and no reverse and the z400 has reverse and electric start. I dont mind kickstarting one, and you never have to worry about the battery dieing.. But i would consider if you want reverse or not... Myself, i would go with the 450r.