Sport Quad Comparison

you mentioned 2 requirements that are really gonna kill your choices.

That was "trail ready" and "reverse". As for pretty much ANY 450, they are motox race machines, remember they are 2wd and 99% of them do not have reverse. I can't make it around my trails without getting stuck, losing a chain or messing up something else on my yfz. A 450 is pretty much for track use only, and whoop some ass on the track it does. Race quads do not have very much clearance.

I live on 10 acres, i have a honda fourman 400 4x4 and i race motox with my yfx450. My fourman is a complete blast riding around my trails, it is 4x4 and i can take it through anything. It also has a much higher clearance. It's still a fast machine and it does have reverse like pretty much all utility machines.

That being said i love both my honda utility and my yamaha race quad is just a complete beast.

 

I've been giving the 700xx some serious consideration. For the trail riding I will be doing primarily, it seems like a good fit. Fact of the matter is, I'm quite stuck on the Reverse function. And, the IRS is still very intriguing.

Question: Why the bad reviews on the Kawi 450? It came out after the other 450s and has reverse. I would expect it to be at least competitive.

 

You've pretty much hit the nail on the head. I have no plans to race and I will likely be spending 80% of my ride time with the other 20% at the dunes. I'd love to have a sport quad and a utility quad. But that's not gonna happen for quite a while. In the meantime, I want something that will handle itself universally well. My old DVX400 did fine on most of the trails, but i can't help but wonder how I might like the IRS.

Honestly, if the 700xx can perform as well as the DVX and provide some improved clearance, I know I'll be happy.

 

OP, I have a 700xx and can tell you it is an awesome machine and you will enjoy it very much!

 

just wanted to put out there if you are looking for a quad i recommend the raptor 700 you cant beat it. you can go crazy with it or just put around. i have a 06 50th anniversary edition with some mods and it is unbelievable

 

I have an 07 Polaris Outlaw 525 IRS. It does everything listed above, except removable fenders. It has electric start. And it's for sale.

I had a TRX450R for 4 months. Hated not having reverse and e-start while trail riding.

I bought my 525 over the the 700XX because renowned KTM motor and 3.9G gas tank.

 

Kawasaki just dropped the ball I guess....
The motor is supposed to be great, but the suspension is harsh and the seat is even harsher, and then the steering is overly light and twitchy. A steering stabilizer and aftermarket A-arms help those out. Some revalving and tuning of the shocks helps the rest of the suspension, and an aftermarket seat with more foam fixes that issue.
The next issue the KFX has is the air intake.... stock is extremely restricted. They routed it around the upper shock mount but aside from removing the lid, throwing on a slip on exhaust and a EFI controller, to get any more power out of the engine you need to redo/reroute the entire intake tube. I've heard with the stock motor that simply fixing the intake tube will give you a noticeable power gain even with the restrictive exhaust and stock air filter still in place.

 

Well then... I guess that clears that up. I suppose the KFX is no longer in the running. Thanks for the thorough explanation.

At this point, I suppose its really between the Outlaw, Raptor, and 700xx.

 

700XX FTW

 

Based on the requirements and quads in the running, I'd have to agree.

 

yeah i would get a yfz over the rappy. if going with a straight axle bike.

 

Outlaws have a ktm engine which is cool but they are the bottom of the barrel for sport quads. They have major issues with overheating, that's why no one races them

 

Now the 700xx is over a 100 lbs heavier than the Raptor 700 so this will play ina aprt hows how you can throw it around. And If I was thinking of a another quad besides my Raptor with that weight in mind I would consider a 4x4 quad. and have the best of both worlds. Honda is only 2wd. And some of the 4x4 quads are just as nimble and some what faster as Can-Am. Also for the 700xx the maintenance is a PITA for the chain and Also the wheels on the 700xx is an odd ball size. No one makes an 11" Sand tire for it yet.
So this will make your tires more expensive as well since there is not a lot of them out there yet with an 11 inch wheel.
If ya can check out this last months Dirt Wheels issue online and it will talk about what trail quads that fit your needs. They have a lot of good info in there.

 

DITO!! Thats what I would get to get the best of everything right there.

 

I have a outlaw 525 irs and it is soooo fast I love it..compared to my craptor 350

 

Well the rappy 700r weighs 430lbs and the XX weighs 505lbs. The IRS is heavier than a straight axle due to the extra parts needed. But for all that you gain, it's worth it IMO. Tons of ground clearance! I can be lazy on the trails and just run over stuff that sra quads get stuck on. Plus the ride is more plush. I don't feel as sore from riding the XX all day compared to an SRA quad.
I also disagree on what you said about the maintenance being a pain. This thing is turn key and ride. The chain is super easy to adjust! One bolt gets loosened and the whole rear sprocket slides back and forth. Simple as that. Also valve train adjustments are very minimal and super easy as well. Takes all of about an hour to adjust them. I mean your getting the reliability of a Honda and that is second to none!
The can-am's renegade 800's are awesome machine's, but and it's a big butt! You could buy a Rappy 700r and a XX for what they cost!
All in all the 3 bikes you have listed are really great bikes! I have a XX and love the thing! I also really like the yfz450,ltr450,450r,rappy700r/se

 

Actually there are a bunch of guys over at polarisriders.com that race them. And one of the members developed an oil cooler adapter kit to fix any overheating problems. I've ridden mine in 100+ F w/ no problems.

Yep.

 

The outlaw is so damn fast you can hardly hold on..and it has such a mean intimidating stance..the a arms a already wide..and I can fit it in the tacoma perfectly!

 

! oh and not to mension it beat a raptor 700 on comp hill at pismo..and mis stock also

 

doesn't matter what it is, all 450 race quads are super fast