My son is looking to get his first quad hes fourteen 5'8"and 170lbs he likes the 350 raptor and the 250honda ex i would like some opinions on beginner quads please thank you for any replies

 

06+ 250ex's ive heard good things about, but i'm not a fan of the gear drive.
They don't require the clutch to shift, but the 300 would also a pretty nice quad to learn on.

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At that size/age I'd advise against the 250ex. If he's not already he will out grow it very quickly. They are great little quads but, small and not much room for growth. I'd jump straight to the Raptor. It's a great bigger quad and will remain fun for years.

If leaning toward a Honda the 300ex would be nice learner but, I'd still just jump straight to the 400ex simply because you have room to grow with it.

 

Its his first squad, and a 400 is one beast to tame.

One must be aware about predicting the line, once all that torque kicks in. I am 165 pounds, past 30 years old, and it is one scary atv. How can I explain?

Things that I can compare the 400 to is like a boosted car, that when all that power kicks in and the engine is on that sweet spot you better have clear road, cause there will be no brake that will stop as its going with all that momentum, and trust me in a flick of a second you travel a few hundred feet.

Not discouraging you from the 400, but be aware its one powerful atv, nothing compared to a 250.

 

At that age and size he can physically handle a 400. What needs to be factored in is his mental maturity(how likely is he to ride over his head/push the limits before he has the skill to do so, etc.) and where you plan on using the machine. Many public ride areas may not allow that combo until he hits 16 for liability reasons.

I had a 230 Quadsport at 14, very similar in size and power to the 250EX. I was bored with the power after about 6 months. The 300EX and 350 Raptor are good choices as well, and not a whole lot faster than the 250's stock.

 

Haha my dad took my account lol im his son and im almos 5'9" and close to 180 i had a kx 85 that would run 60-65 and ove ridden utility atvs since my foot could reach the shifter i got my balance and stuff and i dont want to outgrow it so im pushing something in the 300cc range and if a 400 than all stock im too big for a 250 and ik this becauze i was at a dealership and sat on one

 

Im not destructive and i dont like going really fast or climbing hills i trail ride and ride on gravel roads mostly

 

I am not sure because i heard raptors are fron heavy

 

400ex is out as its a waste, he will be cruising the trails.

 

With someone that age and size, the 250ex will be outgrown very rapidly, and it's rear suspension/shaft drive will be very limiting...plus drum brakes suck.

the 300ex has great brakes, decent suspension, and on the tight trails will hold it's own with the 450's as far as handling and balance. It's down on power by comparison to the 350, which is an older design (came from the Warrior) but unless you're going to ride in the dunes, the 300ex will be enough power to get him going without being too much (like a 400ex would be)

best bet would be to get a clean used 300ex (they're out there for sure) and let him learn to ride on it. If it isn't powerful enough he can always sell it without too much loss and buy bigger