Finally have about 2 tanks of gas through it so i will add my 2 cents LOL. First off i have been riding off and on for about 17yrs, here are some of rides i have been on so this is what i have to compare it too.
Sport quads..Yamaha Blaster, Yamaha Warrior and Honda 400ex
Utility quads..Honda 300, Honda Rancher 420, Yamaha Grizzly 660 and currently have a 700 Rincon with my 700xx.
I usually ride in Southern OH, Hatfield Mc Coy, Evatrs KY and Coal Creek TN.
I have had the XX for about a month now, by the way i bought it at Abernathys in TN for $5500 out the door just had to pay sales tax in OH when i regesterd it, but what a deal, i think they are even cheaper now. I highly reccomend them no BS ,just upfront out the door pricing, worth the 8hr drive to save $1500. $7200 was the cheapest i could find up here in OH.
I have only had time to ride this in southern OH since i have gotten it. I have about 2 tanks of gas through it. The trails down there are mostly very tight twisty trails through the woods with a lot of whoops to TRY and slow you down LOL. Not really any major hillclimbs, but the trails can be fairly rough not many places to use third gear wide open and survive on this quad. bout 80-90 miles of trails.
Yesterday we went any it was about as sloppy as i have ever been in. About 2-6 inches of slop covering the whole trail system. I used all my tear offs in the first hour then was cleaning my goggles about every 10min just to see( get the pic...lol)
I was riding with 450rs and 400exs.First off this quad has unbelievable power and torque. The throttle is so responsive (almost too responsive) it can be a little tricky on technical trails. I agree first gear is a little short, but i think necessary for technical trails. I have ridden 450rs and it can get tiring working the clutch and throttle all day. I used 2nd most of the day. It has a great range for trail riding. Nice for hills and can also seem to wind it out when needed. The best wheelie machine hands down. Had a 400ex which i thought was easy to bring up, but this thing is a joke, just punch it in the first 3 gears and up she comes.
As far as handling i thought it was great . Just slow down on the sharp turns. When i first rode it i thought the front shocks where a little soft, but now that i have gotten used to it i wouldnt change them. They soak up the bumps ,rocks and whoops better than any quad i have had. The rear shocks can buck you if you dont hit the bumps just right, but like i said after you get used to it i wouldnt change a thing. I have been riding independent suspension for about 5 yrs now and i wont go back.
I agree you kinda have to drive through a corner as opposed to sliding through it, but once i got used to it, it never really slowed me down just a different technique.
Also the traction on this thing is great, it will just hook up and take off out of a corner another great attribute of independent suspension. In that muck i rode in yesterday it just did not lose grip. The 450s and 400s had to control the torque to keep from spinning. After about 4 hrs of nonstop riding they could not believe how fast i was going and wanted to try my new quad. So i swithced them and none of them wanted to give it back and i wanted mine back.
They could not believe how smooth it was through the trail or how it just soaked up the bumps. They also loved the ground clearance how you dont have to pick and choose your path. They also moaned how sore their arms and lower back where from getting beat around. I didnt have any of that.
On the way home they where talking about getting XX's now. I was hoping to keep my quad a secret .... all well...LOL.
Took me about an hour of power washing to get it clean. The air filter is a pain in the a** to remove by the way.
I will let you know how it does in mountains of KY an TN when i make it down there. Im sure it will be a lot more challenging, but thats what really makes it fun.
Hope this helps, just my opinion.
Sport quads..Yamaha Blaster, Yamaha Warrior and Honda 400ex
Utility quads..Honda 300, Honda Rancher 420, Yamaha Grizzly 660 and currently have a 700 Rincon with my 700xx.
I usually ride in Southern OH, Hatfield Mc Coy, Evatrs KY and Coal Creek TN.
I have had the XX for about a month now, by the way i bought it at Abernathys in TN for $5500 out the door just had to pay sales tax in OH when i regesterd it, but what a deal, i think they are even cheaper now. I highly reccomend them no BS ,just upfront out the door pricing, worth the 8hr drive to save $1500. $7200 was the cheapest i could find up here in OH.
I have only had time to ride this in southern OH since i have gotten it. I have about 2 tanks of gas through it. The trails down there are mostly very tight twisty trails through the woods with a lot of whoops to TRY and slow you down LOL. Not really any major hillclimbs, but the trails can be fairly rough not many places to use third gear wide open and survive on this quad. bout 80-90 miles of trails.
Yesterday we went any it was about as sloppy as i have ever been in. About 2-6 inches of slop covering the whole trail system. I used all my tear offs in the first hour then was cleaning my goggles about every 10min just to see( get the pic...lol)
I was riding with 450rs and 400exs.First off this quad has unbelievable power and torque. The throttle is so responsive (almost too responsive) it can be a little tricky on technical trails. I agree first gear is a little short, but i think necessary for technical trails. I have ridden 450rs and it can get tiring working the clutch and throttle all day. I used 2nd most of the day. It has a great range for trail riding. Nice for hills and can also seem to wind it out when needed. The best wheelie machine hands down. Had a 400ex which i thought was easy to bring up, but this thing is a joke, just punch it in the first 3 gears and up she comes.
As far as handling i thought it was great . Just slow down on the sharp turns. When i first rode it i thought the front shocks where a little soft, but now that i have gotten used to it i wouldnt change them. They soak up the bumps ,rocks and whoops better than any quad i have had. The rear shocks can buck you if you dont hit the bumps just right, but like i said after you get used to it i wouldnt change a thing. I have been riding independent suspension for about 5 yrs now and i wont go back.
I agree you kinda have to drive through a corner as opposed to sliding through it, but once i got used to it, it never really slowed me down just a different technique.
Also the traction on this thing is great, it will just hook up and take off out of a corner another great attribute of independent suspension. In that muck i rode in yesterday it just did not lose grip. The 450s and 400s had to control the torque to keep from spinning. After about 4 hrs of nonstop riding they could not believe how fast i was going and wanted to try my new quad. So i swithced them and none of them wanted to give it back and i wanted mine back.
They could not believe how smooth it was through the trail or how it just soaked up the bumps. They also loved the ground clearance how you dont have to pick and choose your path. They also moaned how sore their arms and lower back where from getting beat around. I didnt have any of that.
On the way home they where talking about getting XX's now. I was hoping to keep my quad a secret .... all well...LOL.
Took me about an hour of power washing to get it clean. The air filter is a pain in the a** to remove by the way.
I will let you know how it does in mountains of KY an TN when i make it down there. Im sure it will be a lot more challenging, but thats what really makes it fun.
Hope this helps, just my opinion.