I am going to sell my snomobile due to the lack of snow here in MN. I am looking at getting a 4wheeler but don't want to regret my decision shortly after. I Hunt, Ice fish and look to ride all year around. I do like the YFZ 450 because of the speed, able to jump etc. just like my sled. My dad has a Grizz if I wanted to go mudding or something and so does my roommate. Used Raptors and YFZ's are going for pretty cheap on craigslist vs. a grizz. I just see a sport quad as something cheap to take on the ditches and trails around the house and possibly some dune riding in the future who knows maybe some harescrambles. What do you think?

Sounds like a Raptor 700 will be best for you:thumbup
Add a PCIII, slip-on (w/quiet core+sparky), a set of YFZ front shocks and you have a great trail, MX, snow+ice toy

I have a grizzly and a yfz450 .

the griz is good all around fun and actually kind of sporty in a land rover kind of way. fun for hauling the kids on sleds goes through the deeper snow and is easy to drive . its fun in the mud, but it is my work horse.

the 450 is fun in a ferrari kind of way. worthless for work but fast and all the good suspension , brakes , power to weight. etc.
it has real ability for jumping and trail riding- mud, and a little snow . more thrilling and hair raising . on a weekend trip it is loaded next to my dirt bike in the trailer.

Don't get me wrong I like playing around in the snow in the mud but we just haven't been getting the snow the past few years hence selling the sled. So I wanted something comparable to ride something fast and sporty like my Pro-X. I used to work at a Yamaha dealership so I could borrow whatever I wanted. I had taken sportsmans and grizzlies and raptor's and I loved the difflock of the grizz and everythign about it. I do love is being able to stand that Raptor up and ride a wheelie for a while and the pure speed of a sport quad vs a utility is something else too. Thanks guys for your input I think a YFZ is something I am looking into I do love the reverse with a Raptor comes in handy sometimes. I know I can tow my tip up Ice house with a sport quad so that isn't an issue either. Any other help would be great thanks again.

I would look at the Raptor as a fast trail ridign quad, and the YFZ as the racer. Chances are the Raptor would be at least a little less maintenance than the YFZ, obviously better torque with that mongo engine, and top speeds should be similar. Unless you're planning on going MX racing quite often, I think I'd go with the Raptor.

I ride a modified '88 Honda 250R in the woods and dunes (I love it), and use a Grizzly 450 to plow snow until it gets deep enough that I need to pull out the tractor.

the 450's are quick, but if you are mostly hunting and stuff like really to be used for work, then i would go with the grizzly. they arent exactly slow, but they just arent quick as a 450. it really just depends on what you are mostly using it for.