newbie question and intro

[big block]

What's up everyone? Awesome site lots of good reading. My main hobby is drag racing but I have always wanted to get a quad to mess around on. I have a 99 Bayou for the pits but it's more utility and slow. I am sure this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything in a search so here goes. I am ready to take the plunge and have narrowed it down to a Honda 400 EX or the Yamaha Raptor. I am not a racer by any means, I just want something with power and something that will last if it's taken care of. I am 6' 200lbs and will be riding on mostly flat forrest trails with minimal jumps. What is your honest opinion based on what I want to do and your experiances. Thanks, Joe :D

[JD400exrider]

Welcome

For forest riding i would get the 400 ex over the raptor. Handles better for that type of riding and much more reliable. I ride the woods with a couple buddies with raptors. They just can't hang with the ex through the tight twisty stuff. They tend to catch up to me on the straights though. I weigh 195 and also 6' tall.

[JTRtrx250r]

Welcome Joe:D

I'd say get the 400...it more reliable,lighter and its a Honda(reliability at its best) or Yami's 450 before the Raptor,unless your sprung on one,regardless good luck w/ your decision
:)

[AndrewRRR]

Trails is where the 400ex shines. It doesn't have the power edge over the comparable quads but it makes up for it in handling. If you have $7K to blow a YFZ is a great quad or wait a couple months for the trx450r and see how that does (it's the 450cc successor to the 400ex).

[big block]

Thanks for the replies. The raptor caught my eye cause of the 660 motor and reverse, and the 400 cause I haven't heard one complaint from anyone. The YFZ's are going for around $7200 out the door and the 400EX's are going for around $5500 otd. I don't mind spending the coin but is the YFZ really worth the extra $1700 compared to the 400EX? Does anyone know if the YFZ's have had any problems with the new production? :confused:

[remlapr]

I have a 400EX and love it - but have you checked out the Z400's/KFX400's? Little bit better power then the EX stock and it has reverse and you should be able to get one for around the same price as an EX, maybe a couple hundred more. The Z is also very comfortable. Please take our advice and don't get a raptor. They may have a lot of cc's, and look cool, but they are not good reliable quads. There are some issues with the strength of the frames on the Z's, but if you aren't going to be jumping or hitting trees you would probably be O.K. My recommendation - Orange 04 KFX400.

[AndrewRRR]

Originally posted by big block
I don't mind spending the coin but is the YFZ really worth the extra $1700 compared to the 400EX?

Abso-luckin-flutely! You'll spend two or three times that much getting a EX to run with a stock YFZ. Personally i'd wait till the new honda comes out just to see, but I have a feeling it's not going to be able to beat the YFZ.

[big block]

After looking at the KFX400, that is a nice machine also. What kind of power could you expect from a Kawa or Honda 400 with a pipe, filter, the basic bolt ons?

[HoNdAdude48]

hey big block, what kind of drag racing do you do? what kind of car do u have? post some pics man!

but if all you really want is power, i would go with a raptor, but if your doin trails go with the 400.:D ;)

[KASCHAK]

good choice is a 400 if your going from a bayou

[big block]

Hondadude, I race a 1969 Chevelle. 522" BBC all motor full interior 3500lbs, 10.5"tire. Just completed the car recently so as of now I have a best of 9.76@138 with a 1.36 60'. Should be able to get it down to 9.4-9.5's when it's all sorted out. How do you attach a picture?:confused:

[HoNdAdude48]

bud i dont know how to attach a pic, sounds like a nice car, we got a 65 vette, 101mm precision turbo on a 375ci sbc, makes 1900-2100 horsepower, we run 10.5's too, car should run 7.30's in the quarter and it has run a 4.90 in the 1/8. we built the car to run outlaw 10-5 races, and like nmca super street, but nmca is goin under so we are primarily racing outlaw ten-5.

hey instant message me some pics, my screen name is StOwEnSHAT26

we just got back from that big 10-5 race in alabama, the winning payout was $20,000!:eek2: we didnt race, the car recently got the gaurd rail and we just went for fun