Hey all...

Been thinking for a while about gettng an ATV - and the time seems right to go ahead and take the plunge.
I have looked at just about everything out there - and just wanted to get some more input.

-
I have some trails around my home...so I have a place that I could ride everyday if I wanted to...but will prolly ride a lot a first...then i'm sure it will drop off to about 3 or 4 times a month. The trails are pretty decent...some good technical stuff, some muddy/rutted-out spots, and a few spots to get fast. I also have a few co-workers that go to a local park and ride...I'll prolly do that 2 or 3 times a year.
I borrowed a friends 1994 Bayou 250 - and it managed OK...but just didn't have the power that I would like to have. I also rode a Honda 450 Rincon 4x4...it had nice power delivery, but was too heavy.
-
What I'm looking for is a decent 2wd...that will be easy to toss around...and has the ability to move when I want to move. I don't want to ride wheelie's all over...but want something with enough power to 'float' the front-end over bumps & moguls by getting on the throttle in 2nd & 3rd gear.

Also, Reverse is a must.
-
I like the looks of the Arctic Cat 400 DVX, as well as the Suzuki 400...but also looked at the Honda 300ex. Not sure if the extra 100c.c. is worth the $$$ difference - Looks like about $1200-1500 diff. in the deals I can get.
The Honda also gets points cuz I can get it in a color scheme that will match my CBR 929... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
-
Last thing...for the record, I'm about 5'9" and about 185...

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Welcome to the fourms:
I would look at the Praire... You find you will use it more often longer [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] It is more coin for the Praire but it's more of an ATV. I recommend to go and test ride one away from a parking lot if possible. There are alot of other ATVs to look at as well. Look for what you want 2 / 4 wheel drive, auto vs gears, solid axle vs irs etc... Find what you like and buy it. People think a 700cc is too big for a beginer quad I beg to differ you might need a little more self control that's all to keep away from the extra power where you shouldn't be using that power.

 

There are so many to choose from. My Recon was great for (as you wrote) floating the front end. So I guess I'm going to recommend the similar (to the Recon) 250ex or Z250. They are both semi-autos. Next step towards a sport quad would be something like a 300ex or Warrior. Next step on the utility side would be a Rancher, Wolverine, Bruin or even an Eiger. It really depends on the total amount you want to spend.

 

First of all, the Rincon is a 650, not a 450. So I'm not sure if you drove the 650 Rincon or the 450 Foreman. There are so many good ones. You say you want 2wd, yet you say you will be riding some mud. So I would suggest a 4x4 switchable to 2wd. That rules out the sport bikes. I don't know if you want the speed of the 650's and 700's, but there's the Prairie, Sportsman, Rincon, Grizzly to choose from. From smaller displacements, there are even more choices. Sounds like you want to stay above the 300 cc quads. Perhaps a 500 Polaris Sportsman or 500 Honda Rubicon would be a good place to start. Get some input in this range. One thing the people here are good at, is telling you what you want!! I mean that. The more you tell them the better they can narrow it down for you, especially if you're new to ATVing. Most people will give you unbiased information. You''ll hear lots about reliability and performance. So keep asking questions and you'll find the quad that's right for you. You'll get lots of help here. Good luck

 

Go with the 400,z kfx dvx, they will be way better than a 300ex. I had a 300ex and out rode it real fast. If you get a 400 you will have a good quad for a long time to come.

 

The Z and clones is the best all around bike out there.

The 100cc difference between it and the 300EX is light years - it isn't just the size it is the build. The Z motor is a DOHC 5 valve machine - a far cry from that Honda.

Get the red DVX and it will match your 929, all smiles then [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

i agree with thomez...but you might want to look into a wolverine to, thats a pretty good quad for what you are looking for...

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]jumpman welcome to the site . i have spent the last couple of months saerching for another bike so me and the wife can both ride. i have owned about 15 diferent atv's in the last many years and at least one from every brand except articat. we were looking for something with utility use as well as sport. i think we have found the ideal bike for that mix. and i would sugest you research the bombarier outlander in 400cc or 330cc awsome bikes great warenty 3years smooth ride ,great handeling, and power to spare , the looks are diferent than any other quad . please dont buy without at least a test drive . i am centeral mo rolla and there are several dealers in and aroud the metro area. i realy wouldn't sugest this if i didn't think it would soot your needs . the 400 outlander is the 2003 atv of the year and is light years ahead of most of the comp.

 

For an all around machine the 360 Prairie is pretty dang good too!!!!

 

thanks for all the input guys...

ended-up geting the 2k4 Honda Rancher 350es.

After looking at the $$$ difference between the 300es, 400es & others...I think that I got the best all around bike for the money. It has plenty of pep fo rme right now, an dwill be a great bike fo rthe wife if I step up to something bigger & she would like to ride.

In the process I rode a few different models:

the Polaris Sportsman 500...Was too heavy, and did not have any kind of 'snap' when I wanted it. It had the benefit of on-demand 4wd...but also had the 'drive-belt' to worry about...All-in-all, good bike. But not for me - seems better suited to a hunter-type.

the Kawasaki 250 Bayou...Way fun to ride, easy to toss around, like the 'auto-clutch'. Did not have the overall performance I was looking for...The thing did go anywhere I pointed it though. Was just a bit small for my tastes...may have been good for the wife though.

the Honda 250 Recon...same as above.

the Honda 450 Foreman-ES...Damned near the same as the Polaris Sportsman. I did like the electric shift better than full-on auto. But never seemed to find myself using 1st gear. Again, like the Polaris..was too heavy for my taste.

the Yamaha YFZ450...Scary Fast. I rode this on the street in ice/snow...and the thing was incredibly fun. I was not impressed with vibration dampening (it had WAY too buch 'buzz' in the bars & footpegs)...and I did not like the idea of a chain/sproket combo for trail riding. All-in-all, I would consider buying the YFZ450 in the future - IF I keep riding ATV's.


now -
the Honda Rancher 350-ES...Better than average all-around performance. Will handle small jumps, will drift around corners in the dirt/snow, fun as hell to do donuts on and will get the front-end off the ground in 2nd gear if you toss your weight back & hit the throttle right. Would love to find a way to make it look sportier though...Any help?


Jumpman