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Posted by: GE4x4
My brother had a Z and liked it but wanted more power, traded for a 04 Pred and could not be happier. The Pred is only a 1" wider and we have nothing but tight trails and the Pred does awesome. With what you get on the Pred stock plus the extra 100cc is well worth the few $ more. Also as far as reliability both have been great.
Posted by: maddog56
The DS would be my choice if its more open terrain. For trail riding I'd go with the z400. The pred is a great bike, but I think the z is more nimble and the ds is more fun in wide open spaces.
Posted by: maddog56
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Originally posted by: Z400guy96
Go with the Z400 its light and kills almost anything stock.. I killed a 400 ex and it was piped im all stock i tied with a predator and teher kinda heavy and are to low no ground clearance. if ur looking for trail riding fg with the Z if ur looking for the track go with the predator it gets up there fast and i find it fun to come out of burms on it and u dont worry about it coming up in a wheelie I highly reccomend the Z400
The Z is slower than these two bikes, and the Z is easily the better choice for the track.
Posted by: reconranger
The Z is the best all-around machine there is! Handles well and has good power (engine hops up real well). Proving to be just as reliable as the venerable old Honda 400EX.
I have put in a lot of miles on a buddies DS. The DS is a larger machine. Needlessly heavy in my opinion and kind of big for tight trails. If he is a big guy, then maybe. Nobody I know who has one, has kept one for long..........
Never ridden a Predetor, but I am not the least bit fond of any of the other offereings from Polaris, so I would be highly skeptical about this one. As I recall, aren't they kind of heavy???
Posted by: Ozark38
LOL!..............The Predator will beat a Z, quite easily..........
Posted by: ridinsmooth
im going with the ds my self but why is doubting the predator i mean it has the ability to face these quads and win but it will take some mods for it
Posted by: RAJ
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Originally posted by: speeeedy
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Originally posted by: Z400guy96
Go with the Z400 its light and kills almost anything stock.. I killed a 400 ex and it was piped im all stock i tied with a predator and teher kinda heavy and are to low no ground clearance. if ur looking for trail riding fg with the Z if ur looking for the track go with the predator it gets up there fast and i find it fun to come out of burms on it and u dont worry about it coming up in a wheelie I highly reccomend the Z400
you tied a pred he must of been 2 years old or 300lbs.lol
LMAO!!!!
Posted by: RAJ
Quote.......Ive seen a modded pred barely outrun a stock z 400.
If you come down and see us, they will be a stock Pred and a stock Z, And I will show you 1st hand that a Z will be smoked! Be there done that.
LMAO.......laughing my ass off!
Posted by: RAJ
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Originally posted by: ridinsmooth
im going with the ds my self but why is doubting the predator i mean it has the ability to face these quads and win but it will take some mods for it
LMAO!!!!
Posted by: ostrich
Never count out a ds in the woods, I loved mine untill I got my yfz, the yam. is just a lot less work for an old guy. My riding bud has a predaturd and it is a very nice all around quad, he keeps me on my toes at all times! Never rode a z400, don't know anything about them. Good luck making a decision.
Posted by: speeeedy
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Originally posted by: Z400guy96
Go with the Z400 its light and kills almost anything stock.. I killed a 400 ex and it was piped im all stock i tied with a predator and teher kinda heavy and are to low no ground clearance. if ur looking for trail riding fg with the Z if ur looking for the track go with the predator it gets up there fast and i find it fun to come out of burms on it and u dont worry about it coming up in a wheelie I highly reccomend the Z400
you tied a pred he must of been 2 years old or 300lbs.lol
Posted by: speeeedy
preds beat zs every day all day. i love the non believers.
Posted by: 2004TroyLeePredator
Well i ride with all the quads listed on a regular basis, so i have first hand experience. I'll tell you all right now, the pred kills hands down. We all have just basic mods, pipe, filter, jetting, and none of them can take my pred. As far as saying that the pred is too low and heavy and all this other garbage, not true. Pred can be thrown around like nuthin, i've never had a problem with ground clearance. The worst machine out of all of us who ride is the DS, just too big n bulky. Only people i think should be riding them is like 400 lbs plus people. The Z is a good beginner quad, the rappy is not bad for trails, but doesnt handle nearly as well as the pred and thats about all for my rant.
Posted by: Racer154
I would probably go with the predator.
Posted by: mucky
I like the Z400 for riding. I dont care for the ds or the pred. have him try all 3 and see what feels comfortable to him. thats what I did and
I couldnt be happier
Posted by: predatorrr
i own a pred and love it and love the warranty 5yrs but i have to admit its got good power and is a better rideing quad for all day runs it is the z its a great bike but if hes a big guy he may want to check out the ds 650 put the alba kit on and they work great eather way they r all great bquads to own
Posted by: blastersrgay
dsaddicted u need to do research!all models of the predator come with braided steel brake cables and great suspension and tires.o and the kawi and suzuki r the same bike.and djm137 get a preddy i ride my dads and am getting one in a few months. its faster than the z, idk about the ds's speed but ive seen a preddy whoop a ds but it may have been the rider.and get the standard model preddy cuz it doea better in the wide open fields.
Posted by: Steveo10
For trail ridin, go with the Pred. I like that quad. If you are ridin in more opener place's go with the big bore.
Posted by: Steveo10
I was tryin to follow my friends banshee through the woods and i was havin some problems. It was a very narrow trail, with the shee just barely makin it through a couple trees every now and then. Then came me on a DS. The wide axles don't help out much.
Posted by: Steveo10
DS is the fastest stock quad out there on the market rite now. (not including quadzilla)
Posted by: drgnerth
I say go with the Predator.
Posted by: predatordude2
Top of the list is reverse. If it don't, get one with it or wait for next year model. I have a 05 tld and the reverse make riding awesome. I did make the right choice when I got mine. Once the shocks get adjusted it is one hell of a ride. JMO
Posted by: DesertViper
djm137,
Our local desert race series for ATVs uses the motorcycle desert race courses, so all of our ATV race courses are on motorcycle width race courses. They are very tight, technical, and rough courses that will beat you to a pulp by the time you finish the race. We have about 40 ATVs that are in the points series this year, with a Cannondale, a few 250Rs, a few modified 400 EX's (440 EXs), two DS 650s, two Z-400s, and a whole slew of 450cc race quads. With two races left to go in the points series, a 440 EX is 1st in points, a DS650 is second, a Z-400 is third, and another DS650 (myself) is in fourth. I have not seen one single Predators in this race series, so I cannot say how they would do, but the DS650s and Z-400s are both doing very well, considering how out numbered they are by the 450cc machines. And considering how tight and technical the courses are, the DS 650s are not letting their size get in their way too badly either.
Have your friend ride each machine, and it will be very apparent which one he should get. They are very different from each other, and he will know right away which one is best suited for him.
Posted by: chewyy
z400.
Posted by: dooski7c
Wide open spaces...ok..enough said...DS650. Not a whole lot to argue about really. Stock w/ stainless steel braided lines. Ohtsu tires, which may be a lil on the soft, but I like them. Predators are a nice machine, don't get me wrong, but not the most durable. I've seen three broken frames in 9 months from friends of mine.
If you were riding tight trails, and tight trail only. I'd say Z400. But for any other application, I'd go with the DS. The new ones (04-up) are a bit narrower, 1.25" shorter on the swingarm, and 40lbs lighter than previous years. Very nimble bike....for it's size! If you get bored w/ the power...which i doubt you will. Spend the three hundred dollars for a ron woods rev eliminator box and you'll wake up a sleeping beast!
Last comment...the ROTAX engines are bulletproof compared to the other machines. Even though the motors in the other machines are good as well, I just feel a bit more comfortable knowing I've got a rotax in my bike.
And i don't wanna hear anyone sayin a pred will smoke a ds stock to stock, because it just won't happen. Not w/ equal drivers in equal conditions.
And if rumors end up confirmed, the new 800 outlander will be the fastest production atv, beating out the ds650 by a good 6-8mph.
Posted by: 660Rryder
Ive seen a modded pred barely outrun a stock z 400. By the way looked that pred was all over that road. I was scared being near him at high speeds. Get the rappy ( again i wish i had those smilies.) I like mine just fine. Never had the chance to ride a ds. but the only thing i have ever lost to on a quater was yfzrydermaces yfz. And it wasn't by over six foot. The Z is good too.What does LMAO mean?
Posted by: 660Rryder
Thanks for telling me that i was gettin frusterated. On a 300 ft strip the race also depends on the ryder. Not calling u a liar. But we will see, won't we.
Posted by: djm137
My buddy is looking to buy one of these three bikes and was wondering which would be the best? They are all within a couple hundred dollars of each other so money isn't really an issue. He will mainly be riding a lot of wide open fields, trails, hillclimbs, and jumps. I also would like to know which is the best from a reliability standpoint? Thanks for the replies in advance.
Posted by: DSADDICTED
I personally own an 05'DS and you wouldnt be able to pry it out of my cold dead hands. The bike is,"in my opinion", just a better quality machine than either of the other two. Amazingly enough, these are the exact same three machines that I looked at when buying. Alot of people like all three of these quads for their own reasons but I can almost guarantee that anyone who rides a DS will love it. The Troy Lee would be a second choice because they come from the showroom with all kinds of extras that you wont have to go out and spend money for later (steel cables, tires suspension ect) and believe me you will go out and spend money LOL!!!!!!!! If your looking for a less expensive bike in the long run the kawi may be the way to go, I hear that they are dependable like no other and that parts are easy to find and affordable. FYI if you do go with a DS "you will not be dissappointed!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Hoopie
I own the 05 predator LE and I have no regrets at all. It doesnt do anything bad at all. Matter of fact it is great on everything. I jump mine, climb huge dunes and trail ride with it. I know the yzf 450 has more power on top but that is stock yzf 450 compared to stock Pred ltd or standard. The LE comes with the PP exhaust which gives it a couple of extra hp so it is much closer. Then drop in the k&N and a few extra disks and it moves. And you have to love the Reverse!
Posted by: Z400guy96
Go with the Z400 its light and kills almost anything stock.. I killed a 400 ex and it was piped im all stock i tied with a predator and teher kinda heavy and are to low no ground clearance. if ur looking for trail riding fg with the Z if ur looking for the track go with the predator it gets up there fast and i find it fun to come out of burms on it and u dont worry about it coming up in a wheelie I highly reccomend the Z400
Posted by: iwantads650
hello ieverybody just joined the forum today.... and to answer the question... for the kind of ridding you said he does.. the ds will be the best choice.. i never liked the ds. (until i rode a friends) now i am going crazy trying to find a way to get one....
Posted by: endover
The polaris is the best all around bike and it will beat most stock quads i have raced 660, ds, and z400 and beat all of them and i have a stock TLE predator it is a great track bike and has the best turning of all of these bikes it also is a good jumping bike. It may be a few pounds heavier than the z400 but it makes up for that in power.
Posted by: steroidboy
i have both the z and the new 2005 tle predator...i have spent 5,000 dollars on my z...and my stock predator smoked it..but now my predator isnt stock i have HMF full system exhaust ..ac propeg nerf bars...bumber..skidplates...and a few other things..but anyways the predator is the bike for anyone..the ds is just a bike for the baja 1000 race..and u will have to spend a lot on the z just to keep up with the predator..if u want to contact me..my aol name Big Juiced
Posted by: fasterthanyou22
Im not tryin to make you look bad or the ds look bad, but where i live the ds is worthless.It would be a never ending money pit because i ride where conditions are hard packed ruts.The ds's a-arms and the rest of the chassis isnt made for the trails i ride in let alone really anyones trails.It is a fast stock bike but since the pipe is close to aftermarket already, it is kind of worthless to get a new pipe.A great combo for it though is pipe jetting and a k&n airfilter.Im not sayin that the ds is a crappy bike, but it just isnt durable enough for my riding conditions.The predator, z400, and the 660 are in that area.Also about comparing the predator to z400, what is the point?You are comparing and open class quad to a 400cc.This is like comparing a corvette to a neon.Im giving the z400 my vote because it is a 400cc quad and it still stays at least a bike length away from the predator in a flat out race.Why dont you compare the ds 650 predator and the 660?That would be a way better matchup.although it would come down to the ds 650 and the 660, it would still be better.Comparing 3 completely different class bikes....come on guys, you have to have more sense than that.
