I will be purchasing a One-New ATV for my kids (Son 13 and Daughter 11). This where the problem lies. There both about 5'4' and 110 lbs. To get a sport ,so they can go faster than me or a utility so they can ride with me? Safety is defently a Utility and fun would be a sport. My hands are tied---Sport or Utility!! Once, I figure what to get--then I will look for size and make!!

Opinion are defently wanted..

OOPs--I have a 05 Polaris 600

 

Well, what's more important to you? Safely watching your children ride and gain respect for the sport, or watching in horror as they are Life flighted out of the woods after whacking a tree at 45 mph?

 

Just because an ATV has larger fenders and a couple of racks, doesn't mean that it isn't fun. If you ride utility, get them a utility bike. Let's face it, most "utility" ATV's of today are sportier than many of the "sport" bikes of a decade ago.

Jaybee

 

Honda 250EX! It is just a Recon (utility) in sport plastic. Better yet, it is 50 lbs. lighter than the Recon (a huge factor for a kid who only weights 110 lbs.). It will do anything the Recon will. And, it is a few inches wider than the Recon, so it is more stable. This may be a little big for them to start with so they will have to take it easy, but it is a bike they can grow into.

I don't know why there is this preception that utilities are "safer" than sports. Look at them. Utilities are bigger, heavier, and narrower. You crash a utility, what do you get on top of you......some hard steel racks. On a sport bike......some soft plastic fenders.

 

The wolverine is the best sport/utility quad on the market. Not sure if they can handle them but thats what i would go with if they wanted that combination.

 

Hav they ever ridden an ATV b4? If they hav then you could probabaly get them a 300ex or somthing like it. When i was about there size i had already been riding for about 2 yers and then got my banshee. Now i am 14 yers old 5'9 150 pounds and ride my z400. If they hav ridden an ATV several times u might want to look into a 300ex if they know how to use a clutch.

 

I agree with reconranger. 250ex is a great little machine. I also agree with what he says about the misconception that a utility is safer. Sport quads are more stable and more easy to manuver, they are also lighter and have less things on them to impale yourself on.

 

Hey RedneckRon. If your major concern is safety and you are even considering a 250, then you should look at the Trailblazer. First it has single hand braking like your sportsman. Which is quite possibly the safest braking out there. It has an automatic clutch so the kids will not be fumbling with gears and a clutch while they are riding so they can focus on the trail. It has a wide track width for stability. It has a long legged suspension so it will not bottom out on all but the biggest bumps. It has foot boards like your Sportsman instead of foot pegs that can cause your child to loose footing in the rough. It has enough power to go up anything you care to point it at, yet it is virtually impossible to wheely. It is a well balanced quad that is as comfortable in the bumps as in the air. It will go just about any where your Sportsman will go except the deep mud, snow or crawing over felled trees. I think in short it has many of the benefits of both the utility and the sports quad.
I hope this helps you
BryceGTX

 

Get a 250ex...they're a little lighter then the Z250...tame.. plenty of power for a kid, I'm sure theres a limiter screw on the throttle.

 

Well dad, check the local laws first if you intend to take them to public riding areas... Age versus CC may be a factor. If you are looking for a smallish ute... have you looked at the mini Grizzly?