Predator

[Woody_YZF]

I was at a Polaris dealership today and they had about six Predators sitting out. Has the demand died? What's the deal? I would also like to hear from those owners how they are still liking the quads now that they have had them a while.

[quadrider32]

This weekend I saw a predator up at carls cottage. It was the first time I saw one in real life and they seemed pretty quiet.

[Desert Rat]

I was at the local motorcycle dealer last night (Kawasaki, Yamaha, Polaris) and got to see the two new YFZ 450's he has. One of each color. That white one with the candy apple red frame is sharp. They been there for over a week and he has not sold one. He is really suprised about that. He figured they would go in a day. I asked him about his other sports quads and he said he sold a V-Force 700 and a Predator both this week. He said they are selling the Yamaha for $6,899 plus tax and I know I paid him $5,600 for the Predator plus tax. That could be part of the story. He told me the Predator has been his best selling sports quad this year and he also has Raptors, KXF400s and Banshees.

As for my feeling about my Predator. Couldn't be happier. It took me a little time to get the jetting dialed in after I added the pipe, K&N and opened the airbox, with a Rath Racing airbox kit. I ended up adding 6 of the 1" airbox vents in addition to the kit. The airbox is real restrictive. I may go to a direct K&N and prefilter in the future. I'm sure I will be able to bump the jetting up and get a little more out of it. My 295R and 440EX (both run well) will get the Predator out of the hole, but once you get going the Predator catches and passes them out about 50 yards. It doesn't out run them by much though. I put offset rims with Dunetrakers, 8 paddle haulers and softened up the suspension on it a little and it is great in the sand, especially when you run it opened up all the time. The sand is where I do most of my riding but I do run through the desert on fire roads and sand washes. The wide stance and top end power output make for a great dune machine. I'll probably put some radiator scoops and a higher reving CDI on it in the near future. Other than that I've done the normal cosmetic add on's and that is all I'm going to do to this beast. I think it is a great machine and I've been on them all except the new YZF 450. Off coarse, I'm not very objective. I could spend the day on any quad and not have any gripes.

[Woody_YZF]

Good report, glad to hear on the Predator. That's not the case with the YFZ up here. You have to get on a list to get one. The dealer I usually buy from has gotten 6 of them and has them all sold.

[quadrider32]

Do you prefer ATVs still in the crate or out on the showroom. I got my 250EX from the showrrom but i would prefer Crate because you know it is brand spankin new and you know no ones sat on them yet.

[MotoMan]

Wow that isn't the case with the YFZ out this way either.

My dealer got 4 in last week and they were gone in less then 3 days. He has 18 of them on order and 15 are already spoken for!

I was thinking of putting in my request now for a 05.

[Woody_YZF]

Another dealer here has had 19 come and go already.

[Woody_393]

Ya, and that was back when you got yours (over 2 weeks ago).

To be honest, if I was going to ride dunes only, I think I would get the predator over the YFZ. Based solely on price. If price wasn't a problem, ... well, I'm not going there.

[Desert Rat]

Smart man!!! I ride the sand a lot. I put offset rims and sand tire all the way around on my Predator and softened the suspension a little. It is plush in the sand. Side hills like no tomorrow with the wide stance. I've increased the horsepower from the low 40's to the low 50's with the airbox, pipe and jetting mods the same as you can do to the YZF. It goes anywhere I have tried to take it. A hotter mapped CDI and a 13 tooth sprocket (one smaller) are the only other mods I'm going to make. I'm told the new Vortex CDI has about 10 different power curves in it you can select for the Predator. Bumps the rev limit up pretty good on some of them. I'ts a little pricey (about $400), so I am going to hold off a while to see what else becomes available. The White Brother CDI was $100 for the 440ex. It just has one fixed hotter power map and about 1,000 higher rev limit. That's all I'm really looking for. I ride the 440ex when I want a smaller setup. Some day it may turn into a YZF though, but my wife says I'm in no hurry if you know what I mean. I also want to see what Honda does in a couple month. Lots of good rumors floating around. Life is finally good again for us sports ATVers. The manufacturers put us on the bottom shelf for over 10 years.

[Woody_YZF]

I've also heard the Predator has a softer suspension, which would be better for the dunes.