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Posted by: reconranger
There are two issues here. One is whether the machine will support the weight, and the other is whether it will be fast enough for your taste.
The plaque on my Z list the maximum weight at 243 pounds. So, if you head for the restroom right now, you can loose 2 pounds real fast! Actually, in riding gear, you will no doubt be quite a bit over the limit for the machine. There are lots of aftermarket suspension components available, if you need them.
As for being fast enough? This motor has HUGE hop-up potiential. Just some simple mods like venting the airbox lid, a more free flowing air filter, and aftermarket exhaust, will net you big power gains.
On the other hand, the 450's are nice too! Some taller guys report feeling cramped on the 450's, however.
Posted by: reconranger
This motor likes to rev. It makes its power in the middle to top of the powerband. I prefer the 400EX for slow technical riding, and the Z400 for more open trails and fire roads. And, the 450R for the wide open desert.
Posted by: reconranger
My Z, EX, and R, all have a max weight of 243 pounds. Must be an industry standard???
All you can do is go down to the dealer and sit on all of them, and see what the ergonomics are like. Take a look at the Raptor 700 as well (but avoid the old Raptor 660).
I don't think you are so big that you need the larger machines like the DS and Kawi 700. These things are needlessly heavy tanks, and I would only consider one as a last resort.
Posted by: reconranger
One huge issue to think about...........
You live in Vegas, so you will be riding desert and dunes, right???? The Honda 450R is the KING OF THE DESERT! Multi time Baja winner! It just won the Baja 500, and the 450X dirt bike (same engine) won the OVERALL, beating everything out there including 500 horsepower trophy trucks. This is a great little motor, that makes 120 horsepower per liter!
With a few simple mods, you too can have the all time greatest desert racer! Mine is superb for high speed desert riding. It corners like it is on rails. Yet, it isn't a bad trail bike, except that the engine likes to rev so you have to do some clutch work to go slow.
That's my advice, as a fellow desert rider! It's the right tool for the job! (I have a 4X4 as well for riding the mountains in the summer when the desert is to hot.)
http://race.off-road.com/race/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=330982
You absolutely have to ride Rasor Road/Afton Canyon sometime. It is on the I-15, two exits after Baker, CA, coming west from Vegas. It has everything: Super fun sandy trails, very fast sandy flats, dunes, trails in the hills, water riding in Afton Canyon. Has to be one of my all time favorite places!
Posted by: 4wheelerfred
Quote
Originally posted by: drn1234
Just sitting on them the 450 seemed to fit a little better. I feel if I could throw that one around easier. The 700 seemed to be a bit bulkier and more of along for the ride feel to it. If both are truley the same price definately the 700 just for the horsepower and ground clearance.
the YFZ450 is faster then the 700R stock.... put some better suspention on the Z400 and your good to go. it has plenty of power. the weight rating has nothing to do with power it has to do with suspention!
my kingquad has a max weight of 350 pounds but it only has a sohc 280cc engin in it.
look at the predator, its a great quad too. you can get a predator500 TLE wich has better tires, suspention , axel and some other goodies!
good luck!
Fred
Posted by: ss97
Don't worry about the sticker. Most of the max weight is limited to tires and suspension.
I'm an easy 300lbs and I've been riding a z400 for a year and a half now with no issues. And I ride as hard as my friends who are 200 or less. Sure I'm not hitting MX type doubles, but I hit all the same back-yard jumps everyone else does. And I don't exactly get dropped in drag races like I'm underpowered.
My KFX is totally stock too. I do plan on getting an new custom rear spring from MCR suspension that is actually made for my weight, and I do plan on jetting and exhaust. But I've not had any complaints in stock form.
The suspension on the z400 can get dialed in very stiff, fully adjustable fronts makes a big difference when soaking up landings. I run mine two-clicks off max on rebound and 3-click off max on dampening. It's too harsh maxed out it bounces even my weight off the machine. The z400 suspension is set up to be hitting huge MX style triples and table-tops and still live to tell about it. If you are in the woods or hitting smaller 4-foot (in height) type landings the suspension will suck it up no problem. It's tough to find better suspension on anything outside the 450s or maybe a Polaris Predator or DS 650.
If you wanna crawl through the woods you could drop the tooth on the front sprocket.
Of course the Raptor 700 seems to be the new odds on favorite to be the best all around machine for the rec rider. So I guess you can't go wrong there either. They do seem a bit pricey though.
Posted by: ajd187
I'm about your size and looking into these same machines.
To me the YFZ feels very small. On the other hand the Raptor 700 seems like a good fit as does the Honda 450. The ergos of those two are very close.
The 450s come in at about 350 lbs and the raptor comes in about 395 or so. I think the 400s are about 390. That's such a small weight difference that it probably doesn't matter.
Posted by: DS650powe
z400's are weak, if you have the money upgrade to a 450 if u want something light, or there is the possibilty of pred,rap,ds.
Posted by: atvmike92
The suzuki z400 I heard tops out at around 70 stock. And the honda 400 goes around 65
mph. So the z should have more power than the honda. And if the stock power isnt enough
dropping the front sprocket teeth will help out w/ this. And for a front sprocket its a
$10-$20 mod. That will give it a little less top speed but more power.
Posted by: atvmike92
Right now if you were to get the suzuki ltr450, they don't have that many mods for it right now. So I'd go with the z400. Also, you can bore the 400 to a 440 or maybe even higher. And
some people say that the 450 suzuki is slower than the rest of the 450s.
But if you only want a few mods that give it a little more power, and a bigger weight limit,
you might want to go for the ltr450. The mods I've seen for the ltr right now is an
exhaust system, bumpers (all of those type of parts, racks, etc.), air filters, and stuff like
that. But you might find some more stuff if you search online for a little bit. Hope
this helps.
Posted by: atvmike92
If you're doing a lot of desert riding than I would get the 450.
Posted by: drn1234
I am looking at buying a z400 but want to know if this is enough machine for me. I am 6 ft 245lbs
Do you think think this is enough machine for me? Do you think I should upgrade to a 450 or bigger. I don't want to buy my first ATV and fewl that it does not have enough umf. I am a bit of a speed freak so I am looking for get up and go.
I am a newbie to all this so any comments or cautions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Posted by: drn1234
I appreciate all your responses. Now I am not sure what to look into. I am now leaning towards the 450 because I am a big guy and the 400 max weight scared me. Does anyone know what the max weight is on the 450ltr? Does the 450 have as many hop up options as the 400 for power? It seems like you can get big horsepower bumps with small mods on the 400 but not many people mention this on the 450.
By cramped what do you mean? I thought the 450 was slightly bigger.
Thanks for the help.
Posted by: drn1234
Thanks for the info. I went down and sat on a Yamaha 700 and yfz450. Very nice. but then again I have nothing to compare them to yet.
The dealer must have extra stock because both bikes were the same price. $6899 for the standard 450 and 700 and $7199 for the limited edition of both. That was his pitch why buy a 450 when you get a 700 for the same price.
Just sitting on them the 450 seemed to fit a little better. I feel if I could throw that one around easier. The 700 seemed to be a bit bulkier and more of along for the ride feel to it. If both are truley the same price definately the 700 just for the horsepower and ground clearance.
I am going to check out the suzuki offerings tomorrow and see what I like the best.
We are going to be be buying about 6 of them at one shot so I should get a great deal. My buddy if selling his and his wife's harley's so they can each get a atv plus his three kids and I am jumping in the mix.
Thanks for the help.
Posted by: drn1234
Sorry I have not responded lately it has been nuts at work.
I will be doing alot of local Vegas desert riding but also alot of road trips too. More mountain stuff on the road trips. I am torn between the 450R and the Raptor 700. I have a few more months before I go plop down the money. I have a group of people buying them all at once. (approximately 6 bikes at one) We want to buy all at once with cash no financing to get a hell of a deal. So we are waiting on my buddies sportster to sell then we are all set to go.
Can't wait.
Thanks for all the information.
Dave
