450 quads???

[Mule]

So who here rides a new 450 quad?

I'm getting one next week and am having a hell of a time trying to figure out which one to get.
I've ridden a 450R and that's it.
I'm leaning toward a YFZ or the KTM powered Polaris. But, I've been a Kawi and Honda guy my whole life..... Plus, the friend with the 450R says stay away from Polaris. I figure with the KTM engine, that takes a lot of the bad out of it.

I'm wanting to do trail riding with the family, so trail friendly suspension is needed. But, when I go ride with the old crew, I need to be able to keep up with them. The one guys has the 450R and a full race 250R (He's desert raced it for 4 years - been on the outdoor ch). It's trail riding with a race flair. I'm all about low end, wicked power and torque.

Anyone got an opinion based on what they ride????

[vb]

ive got a predator 500 that i like really well. the new outlaws with the fr and rr independent and the ktm engine looks like a good way to go. im not sure why yer buddy says to stay away from polaris?my gal has a sportsman and at times i do wish that i had a utility model also. the 12 yr old has a 250 high rev race polaris and he has a hoot with it.i upgraded lots of components and shoxs on the predator . it goes real fast and jumps well!thats all i got

[Chris Halvorson]

I have a 06' YFZ 450GYTR and a 07' Raptor 700SE.

The raptor is great for trail riding. Very comfortable and the suspension soaks up most of the terrain. It is heavier, has fuel injection and reverse. I have a few mods (full SS HMF Exhaust, HMF fueling map, K&N intake). This bike moves pretty good and handles turns and jumps very well. Now for the 450.

I bought the YFZ 450 for my wife from a man off this board. He told me I would like this bike better than my Raptor....he was right.....somewhat. Her bike has a few mods (pipe and jet) and this quad will match or beat my Raptor. I have raced a few 450's with my Raptor...and it was a dead on race. You have to ride the YFZ fast and harder than the Raptor...so trail riding is a little more harsh on the 450, but the 450 is more nimble and a lot better in the air (which it was designed for). The turning on the 450 is amazing...nuff said.

If I go out riding by myself...it just depends where I am going....on which quad I take. If it is a long, steep rocky trail...Raptor all the way. The 450 will dig to China on some trails. I can't count how many times my friends (and myself) get stuck on the 450's on steep inclines that have to be ridden in a slower fashion. I also can't count how many times I pulled next to the stuck 450, stopped, said "that sucks" and then took off. The Raptor has an amazing amount of torque that will get you up most trails with easy. The Raptor is also a little more easy on the fuel...this normally wouldn't matter unless you run out and have to walk.

If you would like to test a YFZ 450 out...PM me an we can take the wife's out so you can compare what quad is best for you. I am taking a quad down to Texas to a friend of mine so he can make the same educated decision.

[camo kid]

well I ride the new 450r suzuki and I love it... it is kinda wide sometimes on the trails but ok. I have a a couple of raptors in the family and they work well but seem kinda big to me. One family friend that rides with us has the kawi 450 and it seems really nice, good power and reverse and just flayt out cool.

I havent seen the new polaris in person but it seems damn nice from what I have seen in the mags....I do know a few with the yamaha 450s and they do rip as well... I would say that they are all nice just kinda a money thing it seems to me. I bought mine and figured it was wide already and was what fit the bill for me, mostly track ridin and sand dunein.

[XtremeXJ]

I have the 08 700FI Grizzly and bought a 350 IFS Grizzly for the wife. I wish I would have gone with the 450 Grizzly though. That would have given me a HI/LO/N/R tranny rather then just the F/N/R tranny. I am a Yamaha fan so I may be a little bias towards them. I test road the Artic Cat, Honda, Kawasaki and the Polaris quads all before I bought the Yamahas that I have. Just from my personal opinion Yamaha is the way to go. Plus right now you can get a 2 year warranty with your purchase. But if you get a chance to ride the 700FI Grizzly with Power Steering you may not want to get anything else. HAHAHA...

[XtremeXJ]

My Wifes / Kids
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/9/7/7/0/07grizzly350is4x4_blue_3_10cdada3.jpg
Mine Soon to be my Wifes
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/9/7/7/0/08_grizzlyfi700eps_blue_3_3fea2f86.jpg
SOON TO BE MINE - I HOPE :hail:
http://www.colorado4x4.org/gallery/files/9/7/7/0/SpecialEdition.jpg

[sonofmayhem]

My 500 Predators are the best bikes I've riden. I love them! They haul ass and the suspension is AMAZING for stock. And its Long Travel.

[XtremeXJ]

My 500 Predators are the best bikes I've riden. I love them! They haul ass and the suspension is AMAZING for stock. And its Long Travel.

I was waiting for you to post - - - :flipoff2: :D

[Mule]

My brother has a Raptor 400 w/ a long travel front, it seems to do pretty well.
I liked them too, but I have to be able to kick my bro's butt on the trail. Brotherly competition. We use to ride Tecate 2 stoke 3 wheelers together.

I went out and looked at the YFZ & Raptor first. I almost bought the YFZ on the spot, but wanted to look more. I then went over and looked at the Polaris Outlaw 450 and IFS 500 and the 450R.

I'm going with the 450R for three reasons. One, I looked to see how many of what type and age of quads are being sold used. The Honda's were the oldest and had the highest resale value. Two, I talked to some people that either desert race or are around the woods racing. They say the Honda breaks less than the other bikes and most of the winner boards are Honda riders. I ride really hard and am partial to that idea. And the last. I found an electric start 06 450R at a dealership for $5900. I already ordered an FMF header pipe and muffler for it...... I'm probably going to kick myself for not doing a Polaris or Raptor, but the speed freak in me wants out. I'll end up doing a long travel kit too, but that's later. The reverse thing sucks too, I had decided I wanted something with reverse, but that fell through.

I was actually leaning toward the 500 IFS Polaris (until we walked through their warehouse).
I forgot, I looked at the IFS KTM 550 Polaris Outlaw too, bas ass, but high dollar. I think the IFS will do well, I'm just a bit uneasy about it till they have been out for more than a year.

On a side note, I'm getting my wife/kid a new 07, 200 Polaris w/ shaft drive, auto tranny and reverse. I can't remember which one it is, but I'm getting it for $2850 I couldn't pass it up, they dropped the price on them because the 08s are coming in soon and they have too many of the 07s left.

I didn't really consider any of the 4x4s, I would screw it up too fast trying to rock crawl it...... I ride my Dad's 700 Polaris 4x4 in KS all the time and have a blast on it. Once I settle down, I'm probably going to want one. Low range on a 4x4 quad is just a trip, I can't believe the hills I have gone up on that thing.


Thanks for all the input.
Hope you all get to go out tomorrow and play in the snow. I'm taking the old 86 fourtrax 200sx out and pulling the kids around on a tube.....

[Chris Halvorson]

Can't go wrong with the Honda....especially the 450R. I have a friend in TX that is looking at a new 07 YFZ 450 at ....., CO for 5999.00 OTD, so I think he is going to jump on that. He is also considering the Polaris 500. I told him about the day Sonofmayhem and I went out...and I liked his bike.

[XtremeXJ]

My Brother-in-law has the 450 and it is a great quad, Sonofmayhem and I have talked about this and a sport quad would kill me, so I will stick with the 4x4s - sorry I thought you were looking for the trail 4x4 or 2x4 quads not the sport quads

[sonofmayhem]

Xtremeyj - :flipoff2: :D

Chris - That was fun. If i coulda i woulda gotten the 700r. EFI is Sweet!

The reverse is awesome on the predator, but they started it in 05 so get a later model if you go Polaris.

[quadracer812]

I would go more towards a honda or yamaha. I have very built yamaha yfz450 that is built for motocross, thousands in dollars in suspension later, it does not handle as well as a honda. power is great. I can't tell you about stock suspension becouse I did not I never rode it with it stock. the suzuki is nice becouse of the fuel injection and is 50 inches wide:hail: . I would never own a polaris in my life so stay away from that crap:flipoff2: kawasaki has had some good race results but I have known anyone with one. also the new KTM is out, but my next bike will be a honda

[Chris Halvorson]

Xtremeyj - :flipoff2: :D

Chris - That was fun. If i coulda i woulda gotten the 700r. EFI is Sweet!

The reverse is awesome on the predator, but they started it in 05 so get a later model if you go Polaris.

Well hell, if you want one, I might get a 450 next year...sell it to you at a reasonable price.:D

[sonofmayhem]

I would never own a polaris in my life so stay away from that crap:flipoff2:

Why the hell not? because you can't handle it?

I took both out today and had a blast. I love the Yamahas, Hondas, Polaris. I have never really liked Suzuki or Kawi, but i would buy the new kawi 450...

Chris, i may take you up on that, if i can get my Predator paid off by then:rolleyes:

[MtnRunner]

Glad you are liking it Chris. I sure miss it.

I have a 06' YFZ 450GYTR and a 07' Raptor 700SE.

The raptor is great for trail riding. Very comfortable and the suspension soaks up most of the terrain. It is heavier, has fuel injection and reverse. I have a few mods (full SS HMF Exhaust, HMF fueling map, K&N intake). This bike moves pretty good and handles turns and jumps very well. Now for the 450.

I bought the YFZ 450 for my wife from a man off this board. He told me I would like this bike better than my Raptor....he was right.....somewhat. Her bike has a few mods (pipe and jet) and this quad will match or beat my Raptor. I have raced a few 450's with my Raptor...and it was a dead on race. You have to ride the YFZ fast and harder than the Raptor...so trail riding is a little more harsh on the 450, but the 450 is more nimble and a lot better in the air (which it was designed for). The turning on the 450 is amazing...nuff said.

If I go out riding by myself...it just depends where I am going....on which quad I take. If it is a long, steep rocky trail...Raptor all the way. The 450 will dig to China on some trails. I can't count how many times my friends (and myself) get stuck on the 450's on steep inclines that have to be ridden in a slower fashion. I also can't count how many times I pulled next to the stuck 450, stopped, said "that sucks" and then took off. The Raptor has an amazing amount of torque that will get you up most trails with easy. The Raptor is also a little more easy on the fuel...this normally wouldn't matter unless you run out and have to walk.

If you would like to test a YFZ 450 out...PM me an we can take the wife's out so you can compare what quad is best for you. I am taking a quad down to Texas to a friend of mine so he can make the same educated decision.

[Chris Halvorson]

I thought you might chime in...it has been a good quad thus far.

[quadracer812]

Why the hell not? because you can't handle it?

:

ya, becouse they hadle like like crap:flipoff2:

[Mule]

I learned to ride on a Honda 3-wheeler (Big Red and a 185s) then graduated to an 86 Kawi Tecate (had the KX250 engine). Over the years I have ridden a few quads, but always liked the 3 wheels better for some reason. I'm settling down some now that I'm an old fart (41) and am teaching the kids to ride. But, Dad still has to have the kick a$$ ride......

I liked the Yamaha, but have been told by a racer friend that they beat the crap out of you. He has desert raced for about 5 years now, has a 250r w/ about $20k into it. I don't think there is a single stock part left on it, can you say Chrome molly.... He also desert races a 2wd truck......

Anyway, the 4x4s are cool, I wouldn't knock them. They are a blast, I take my Dad's canyon riding in KS. If that's what you ride, keep an eye out for me in a few years I'll be on one too.

I was talking to some friends that rented some quads in some mtn town last summer. They were all Hondas, the guy that had the business said he wouldn't touch a Polaris because when they got wrecked you couldn't put them back together. They always got destroyed. But, the Hondas take more abuse and can be repaired. I'm not going to diss Polaris over what someone else said though. On a side note, I didn't get that little 200 Polaris I talked about up top. I'm going to wait a bit and pay off the 450R first. Then get the crew some new rides once they are better riders.

We ought to get some people together off the board this summer and do some riding.


asta

[sonofmayhem]

ya, becouse they hadle like like crap:flipoff2:

Well i love the STOCK Fox shox and LT:flipoff2: Yeah well at least i can backup without getting off the bike:flipoff2:

Look into the Kawi. Reverse, efi, and looks pretty cool.... IF i don't pickup a Razr next year Im gonna get the kawi 450r.

[XtremeXJ]

I learned to ride on a Honda 3-wheeler (Big Red and a 185s) then graduated to an 86 Kawi Tecate (had the KX250 engine). Over the years I have ridden a few quads, but always liked the 3 wheels better for some reason. I'm settling down some now that I'm an old fart (41) and am teaching the kids to ride. But, Dad still has to have the kick a$$ ride......

I liked the Yamaha, but have been told by a racer friend that they beat the crap out of you. He has desert raced for about 5 years now, has a 250r w/ about $20k into it. I don't think there is a single stock part left on it, can you say Chrome molly.... He also desert races a 2wd truck......

Anyway, the 4x4s are cool, I wouldn't knock them. They are a blast, I take my Dad's canyon riding in KS. If that's what you ride, keep an eye out for me in a few years I'll be on one too.

I was talking to some friends that rented some quads in some mtn town last summer. They were all Hondas, the guy that had the business said he wouldn't touch a Polaris because when they got wrecked you couldn't put them back together. They always got destroyed. But, the Hondas take more abuse and can be repaired. I'm not going to diss Polaris over what someone else said though. On a side note, I didn't get that little 200 Polaris I talked about up top. I'm going to wait a bit and pay off the 450R first. Then get the crew some new rides once they are better riders.

We ought to get some people together off the board this summer and do some riding.


asta

Mule - I agree that we should get the others on the board together and have a trail ride this summer.

Word to the Wise - Us "GUYS" just went riding a couple weeks ago and the TESTOSTRONE (spelling?) costed one person over $1000.00.

But still I agree that we should get together and have a summer ride.

[XtremeXJ]

Well i love the STOCK Fox shox and LT:flipoff2: Yeah well at least i can backup without getting off the bike:flipoff2:

Look into the Kawi. Reverse, efi, and looks pretty cool.... IF i don't pickup a Razr next year Im gonna get the kawi 450r.

Come on you should get the KTM 450 or 550. AND I beg to differ, my brother-in-law can back up his 450 - I sits on the quad and uses his feet to push on the front tires to go backwards.

[sonofmayhem]

Yeah well I might, but uhhh..... I can back up in comfort and snow and up hill:flipoff2:

[XtremeXJ]

Yeah well I might, but uhhh..... I can back up in comfort and snow and up hill:flipoff2:


:D thats funny :D

[quadracer812]

Well i love the STOCK Fox shox and LT:flipoff2: Yeah well at least i can backup without getting off the bike:flipoff2:

.

:wtf: back-up? are you kidding me?, yamaha built the yfz to race, that is why it is based on the yzf/wr motor, and reverse adds weight something else to break in the tranny,

yamah,honda,suzuki, and ktm, not for the lazy I guess:flipoff2:

[XtremeXJ]

Yeah well I might, but uhhh..... I can back up in comfort and snow and up hill:flipoff2:


Is that so you can get back on the trail after you ran off the trail because they are hard to control???? :flipoff2: Just kidding - I really don't have an opinion on Polaris just what I have heard. And I didn't like the way the Sportsman Handled.

[quadracer812]

mule,
if you want to try a yamaha, you are more than welcome to come up greeley and ride mine. I have a track at my house. it is not a stock quad, but you can get a feal for it

[Mule]

mule,
if you want to try a yamaha, you are more than welcome to come up greeley and ride mine. I have a track at my house. it is not a stock quad, but you can get a feal for it

Thanks for the offer, but, I have my 450ER (yeah, electric start - I'm catching crap for it already) sitting in the garage. I just finished putting on an FMF Q2 muffler and Bomb header.

I may get to go ice race it this weekend. A friend up by Carter Lake owns access on the end of a reservoir and he races there in the winter. They get a bunch of guys together and play..... The Testosterone really gets to high levels around him. He also has a track in his back yard - if you call 30 acres a back yard. If you have ever heard of Mean Streak Racing, that's him.

Anyway, I just remembered to tell you guys something.:D
Harbor Freight has a hydraulic table on sale till Dec 23rd that lifts up to 500#. It's not billed as an ATV lift, but it works AWESOME. I have my quad on it right now and it's perfectly stable AND lifts up to about 36" high. I think I paid $89 for it. The stock number is 94822 They were like $140 before the sale..... You can drill holes in the table and drop "J" hooks down through your foot peg and bolt it down to the table.
They also have a portable tire bead breaker that is designed for small trailer tires, so it will work for ATVs too (I think). I think I paid $39 for it. :beer:

Asta

[quadracer812]

so is it a honda?

[Mule]

Yup......
All bright red w/ a black eye.... I don't understand why the front cowl and tank are black, but oh well no biggie. I'm changing the front cowl out to a carbon fiber w/ an air scoop - once I get caught up from buying the skid plates and front bumper. I got PRM stuff.

[GrayT]

I love my 450R, but I keep going back and forth between wanting to keep it or not.

I guess if someone were to offer me the right amount of cash, I would sell it. It just kind of sits in my garage now with the current weather, but damn it's a blast during the summer!

[sonofmayhem]

Christ they are a blast in snow too! I did notice yesterday that a yfz450 had trouble with a hill climb in PMI, He slowed down to avoid a rock and didn't have the low end to fix it. My Predator did though:D