banshee, 400ex, z400, dvx400, predator 500, outlaw 500?

[mudrunner35]

looking for a new (used) quad, and i want something fast but it's perfect for tight trails and is easy and fun to slide around. needs ground clearance because the trails i ride are like the GNCC tracks. open to any other suggestions, just no 450's because this is my first sport quad:)

[Drewltr450]

if you dont want the power of a 450 then no outlaw or banshee i would go with a 400ex or a Z400

[TeamOMatic69]

definetly either the 400ex or the z400. The z400 has the reverse gear, but the 400ex is better in the trails? I would go with the 400ex, you will get used to no reverse after a week, and you barely ever use it that much in the trails anyway. Well, atleast i dont.

[trx400EXtreme]

Originally posted by TeamOMatic69
definetly either the 400ex or the z400. The z400 has the reverse gear, but the 400ex is better in the trails? I would go with the 400ex, you will get used to no reverse after a week, and you barely ever use it that much in the trails anyway. Well, atleast i dont.


yea ive never been in a situation where ive needed reverse that bad, antway lifting the quad around makes u stronger:macho :muscle: and the 400ex is virtualy bullet proof, ya just cant hurt em.

[firefighterjosh]

IMO the only way to go

400ex, z400, dvx400

I would rather have the Z400 or KFX 400 over the 400ex though

[Barrymaxx]

All of the 400's are fantastic, you cant go wrong with any of them. 400ex's are more bang for your buck though.

[firefighterjosh]

Originally posted by Barrymaxx
400ex's are more bang for your buck though.

how you figure?

Worse suspension, no liquid cooling, slower.:confused:

[pro-rider46]

i think you should be able to take a 450 for a first quad. heck if i can im sure anyone is more than able to. this is my first quad ever, and about 6 months after having it, i can clear 75ft tables and pull nothings throught the air, i still am trying to get more power out of it and havent even had it for a year. by the way i am also fourteen

[Caseys 300ex]

Originally posted by firefighterjosh
how you figure?

Worse suspension, no liquid cooling, slower.:confused:

Suspension- Good enough for the woods i think. Plus hes prolly going to upgrade that anyway eventually.

No liquid cooling- Less things that can break and its easier to clean the 400ex without the radiator. Plus more room without coolant lines, radiatior, coolant bottle, shrouds. Also u dont have to change ur coolant ever.

Slower- In the woods you cant go top speed in tight trails. The 400ex has plenty of power when needed and there are tons of aftermarket parts if needed.

Catching my drift? ;)

[firefighterjosh]

Originally posted by Caseys 300ex
Suspension- Good enough for the woods i think. Plus hes prolly going to upgrade that anyway eventually.

No liquid cooling- Less things that can break and its easier to clean the 400ex without the radiator. Plus more room without coolant lines, radiatior, coolant bottle, shrouds. Also u dont have to change ur coolant ever.

Slower- In the woods you cant go top speed in tight trails. The 400ex has plenty of power when needed and there are tons of aftermarket parts if needed.

Catching my drift? ;)

Good enough? Why not get great:huh

Liquid cooling? Less to break? never heard of it breaking due to worn out parts. Takes 5 mins to clean with optimal cooling power

Slower: ya you do not need the top speed in the woods, but he stated he wanted power, Z.KFX,DVX are more tourqy then a 400ex.

[mudrunner35]

thnx guys, the only reason i don't want a 450 is because i don't have as much time as i would like to do the maitenence or else that would be my first choice, power really isn't an issue for me. why not the outlaw/predator or shee? anyone have alot of probelms with them?

[pro-rider46]

the 450s arent very hard to maintain, tighten chain, oil in motor, new coolant 1-2 yrs, check valves every 50 hours and can be done in 30mins, if no shims required.

personally i feel the 450s are one of the easiest quads to maintain, do to them being race machines they are easy to tear down quickly and get up and running quickly.

the outlaw sounds like a great woods machine cause it has independent rear suspension and the banshee it two stroke and you will foul plugs preety often in slow trails and through woods. the banshee is probably the hardest to maintain compared to all 400s, 450s, and the outlaw.

[firefighterjosh]

Outlaw: heavy tank, never proved itself as a reliable godo machine...IMO

Banshee: I owned one and raced XC with it. Once I swithced to a 4 stroke I was alot faster. Also matince is more.

[Caseys 300ex]

You did make good points firefighterjosh. But for the guy buying the quad i feel that the 400ex would take less to maintain, it will give you what your looking for, and being it around longer you can find them cheaper than the z400, dvx 400, and kfx400.

The predator and outlaw are kinda hard to find for cheap and the 400s have alot more dealers and parts are found easier.

For trails the banshee is geared high and the suspension isnt great. Plus the two stroke lacks in the smooth power that the trails call for.

[honda8&3]

Originally posted by firefighterjosh
how you figure?

Worse suspension, no liquid cooling, slower.:confused:

So reliability, less maintenance. That is why there is an aftermarket.

[Villageidiott83]

Mudrunner. ill sell ya my 06 kfx 400. its completely stock. got less then 20 hrs on it....

[Villageidiott83]

oh and fyi. how many times to people have to post this... maintenance isnt any different. you just do it. if you keep up with it your quad will keep rolling jesus christ. its not hard. if alot of **** is breaking you might have picked up a lemon. but thats the hand you were delt. clean the airfilter change the oil and filter. wash the bike down. common sense. and on the kfx keep an eye on the cam chain. (not hard, again common sense)

[dirtbike&quad]

listen man...no matter what you get, you'll be fine. every quad has its advantages and disadvantages. its like buying a car. if your parents have ever bought one, i bet theyve searched for 3-4 at a time, and put together a list of positive and negatives. no matter what, it comes down to what you like the best. id do what you like man...good luck on what you decide. I have heard that 400ex are very nice reliable quads, and that occasionally the Z has a few problems.

[TeamOMatic69]

Originally posted by firefighterjosh
how you figure?

Worse suspension, no liquid cooling, slower.:confused: what do you mean how do you figure, do you see the price of a 2001 400ex, its like 1800 bucks while the z or kfx is like 2900 at least.

[mudrunner35]

Originally posted by Villageidiott83
Mudrunner. ill sell ya my 06 kfx 400. its completely stock. got less then 20 hrs on it....

where are you located? i won't drive past washington to meet, anywhere else is too far

[BlaineKaiser450]

I think any 400 or a 450r would be fine.

[firefighterjosh]

Reliability is the SAME!


Price: You can get them all for about the same price. Just gatta shop around.

[Honda400exrox]

Originally posted by firefighterjosh
how you figure?

Worse suspension, no liquid cooling, slower.:confused:

My bros 400ex is a 2001, and my friends z400 is a 2004, the z400 has about 5 grand worth of fixing in it. About 500 in the 400ex, and it gets rode alot harder.

[firefighterjosh]

Originally posted by Honda400exrox
My bros 400ex is a 2001, and my friends z400 is a 2004, the z400 has about 5 grand worth of fixing in it. About 500 in the 400ex, and it gets rode alot harder.

Look at my sig, I own a 400ex. I am not dissing 400exs. My GF owns a KFX400, both of my machines have been very well taken care of. Both have been great.

Most my friends have 400exs, they all have had there share of problems.

Reliability is the same, they are both great quads!!!!!!!!!!

[Caseys 300ex]

Well its not our quad that were fighting about so lets just let mudrunner decide what one seems right for him. You cant make a bad choice either way you go.

[mudrunner35]

well up here not many people have sport bikes, probably 50 out of 5000 people who own quads up here (20,000 people in my town so it's a HUGE market) most ride utilities because of the amounts of mud and muskeg in the spring, but i don't care lol. back on point, every dealer has their top 450/700/525 500. and not many people buy them. so i figure i will wait until next spring and buy the one on the floor because the'll give me a wicked deal because it's been unsold so long. so i was thinking maybe the 450r, rappy 700, or the outlaw 525. only time will tell. and if honda does update the 400ex like the rumours have bee going out i'll probably buy that. time and money will tell:p i would look into the ltr but there isn't enough GC for the trails i ride

[firefighterjosh]

I have heard alot of good things about the rappy 700. I heard its a great trail machine

[mudrunner35]

Originally posted by firefighterjosh
I have heard alot of good things about the rappy 700. I heard its a great trail machine

so have i, my dad talked me into it:cool:

[firefighterjosh]

Originally posted by mudrunner35
so have i, my dad talked me into it:cool:

lol check out raptorforum.com