Sport Quad Comparison

My 525 feels faster/torquer than my old 450R. I know 525 top speed is definitely better. I also like the fact that the 525 power is more controllable on slow trails. I used to always stall my 450R on slow rock climbs. Then again, 450R power band is not intended for going slow.

 

The outlaw gives you the best of everything..I have not ridden it on dirt yet tho

 

I'm gonna play devils advocate and disagree with you here. The outlaw doesn't give you the best of anything. They have a ktm motor which is awesome but they don't have the essential parts surrounding that motor to amount to anything. I race, and i'm at the track 2 times a week racing against another 50 quads an no one runs the polaris because they are not race machines, they overheat and they have a lot of bugs that still need to work out. They simply cannot handle to abuse of racing. The outlaw has very little aftermarket support as well, which is something to thik about when buying a sport atv as you will most likely want to upgrade it. You say it has the best of everything but you haven't even ridden it on dirt?

Don't get me wrong here, i am a polaris guy. But my committment to polaris stops when the mud hits and the snow clears. They make great utvs and snowmobiles but as far as sport atvs are concerned they are just not even close to the level of honda, yamaha, suzuki, kawasaki, can-am and ktm

 

Agreed. The folks I know that race these things do GNCC type stuff, where the IRS helps.

 

Is the op looking for just a race quad? Or a all around quad?are you gunna race it?

 

I just looked it up, it says that it weights 505lbs (wet). One review said that the fluids, gas, battery, etc. would likely total to around 50lbs, but they said that was an approximate. However, that does close the gap considerable.

With a ground clearance of 4.4" on the Raptor compared to 10.5+" on both the Outlaw and 700xx, I feel pretty certain that the Raptor will fall to the weighside in my analysis.

So, the Outlaw,

• slightly smaller (maybe more agile) 385lbs
• more aggresive stance (1:0.98 vs. 1:0.95 Width:Height)

Honda:

• Bigger (~450lbs vs. 385lbs)
• More powerful (700 vs 525cc)
• Possibly more reliable
• Better Aftermarket Support

 

The 700xx is surprisingly fast actually, so if thats an issue dont even consider it. A friends stock 700xx with paddles vs my dads piped and jetted honda 450R is about dead even. The xx even jumps the 450 on the line slightly.
Also, the weight of the 700xx doesnt really translate when you're riding. I've ridden the 450s since 04, and i've gotta say, if I rode trails more or didnt care to jump as much as I do, a 700xx would be in my garage. I didnt really feel all that much weight with the 700. Still felt surprisingly nimble, just a little lean in the corners from the IRS.

 

I 2nd the 700xx, I'm a owner and a moderator on the club700xx board. Best, most fun quad I have ever owned.

 

just for fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqZ7pkSPnvg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rfbEDgxfJY

 

My buddy has a 700r. It has comparable ground clearance to just about every other sport quad out there. 4.5" vs 10" yea your gonna have to pick your lines a little bit more to try to avoid the bigger rocks/stumps but if you buy skid plates it doesn't really matter if you do hit a big rock. The skids will take a beating, but that's what they're for. My swingarm skid on my 400ex took so many big hits after one harescramble that it got bent up so the chain and brake were both dragging. I just took a mallet to it and bent it back down, it worked fine.

So basically, I wouldn't disregard the 700 just because of ground clearance. Because with the skids and a little bit of skill in picking lines through a trail or forest you'll be fine.

 

I hear ya. And after having a 250x and a DVX400, I'm very comfortable picking lines. It really is rarely an issue. HOWEVER, if I can find an atv that compromises very little and provides better clearance, why not?

 

Kawasaki KFX 450R
my cousin has this one and its a blast to ride if you dont mind getting your legs dirty since they practically dont have fenders its trail friendly

 

I went riding with some buddies two weeks ago at Wolfpen Gap in Arkansas. We had a group of 6 riders. Hauling a$$ through the trails the dust was soo bad that there were no lines to pick and lots and lots of 4-6" rocks randomly on the trail. Sometimes they were bigger. Not once all day did I have to pick a line or dodge anything. I could just haul butt. I had SRA quads before and I'll never go back.

Landing a little jump like this off-camber is painful in a sra with the landing ripping the bars out of your hands, with IRS, it's like buttah.



Note the rocks, these were the small ones, but you can see the larger ones in the background.