Hey everybody.
I'm looking to buy quads for my son (10) and myself. I am a huge Seadoo/Bombardier guy. I also am 6'3" 265#'s. I like the DS650s alot. The size and power seem to be right for someone my size. Also my son is a big/fast growing boy. I'm considering the Honda or the Suzuki 250 for him. I like the Kymco 250 but for about $500 difference here I can get the Honda. Any input there would be appreciated...
Question: If a guy my size races a someone the same size on a DS650, a Predator 500 , a 660 Raptor and KFX 700 what happens riding stock bikes??
And what mods made to the DS, without affecting reliability, can be made?
Thanks in advance for the input!
Mark

 

The DS650 wins.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Suspension mods, such as upgrading to Ohlins, Elka, or TCS shocks will not adversly affect reliability. An aftermarket exhaust should not affect reliability either, and I'm sure there are lots of other mods that can be listed. Welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks DesertViper.
But will a DS REALLY beat the rest of the field I layed out, providing the riders are of similar quality?
Mark

 

yes...yes...and mmmmmmmmmm YES!!!!!lol...they are a blast to ride. if u are into torque monsters....

 

I have a few buddies that bought their kids Kymco and they seem to be okay bikes. The problem is there really is not a lot of information on these bikes. I would spend the extra $500 and get the honda. You can't go wrong with honda. You will most likely same time and money with the honda.

 

Also since you live in california, check out (LAcyclesports.com), they have the best OTD prices on the Honda on the west coast. The OTD prices for the people that live in california is less the MSRP. I am getting my wife a TRX300 (2004) for $3799 OTD this weekend.

 

Yes TBird, it really will. With equal size riders on board, and equal rider skill, the DS should win. You need to choose your race area appropriately, so you can launch in second gear. Rev the engine until it bounces off the rev limiter, and then dump the clutch in second gear. Short shift the motor to avoid hitting the rev limiter at the end of each gear, and you should win.

I have beat stock Raptors when my DS was stock, and piped Predators and YFZs with my DS after I added an aftermarket exhaust and rejetted. And the YFZ that I beat 4 out of 4 times had just beaten a KFX 700. Rider skill makes a difference, rider weight makes a difference, tires make a difference, and luck comes into play sometimes, but the DS is just as fast as the others.

 

Thanks DesertViper I appreciate it. My buddyand his son have raptors and they're all into the Jap stuff. Don't get me wrong, I have alot of respect from the three headed dragon. But I know a Rotax motor setup will hall ***.
Any other feedback will be appreciated. Thank you all.
Mark dba Tbird2

 

The DS is a beast, in every way. You can mod it real easy and cheap with simple bolt ons. Ride it stock, and only mod it if you really think you want more power. Its a heavy quad, but with the power it has....it just doesnt matter. You wont find a better built quad to take your abuse.

As far as your 10 year old......what level do you want him to get to? Ride just for fun now and then? Or get him into serious riding? I got my kids automatic quads at first. My oldest is 9, he was riding my wifes 250 trailblazer. I thought about it....a kid learing on an auto is teaching him only half of it all. I just picked up a 2003 Yamaha Blaster for him. This quad is manual in every way possible. This will teach him every part of riding. Kick start and a full manual clutch. After a few trips out I let him ride my DS in 1st gear by himself. He can get on anything and start it and ride it now. I chose the Blaster because of the manual features, and because of the soft suspension and all disc brakes. Yes its a 2 stroke, but go ride one.....very cool powerband. The blaster has TONS of aftermarket parts so he can ride it for YEARS to come as he wants more power. It is serioulsy fast....in my sandy back yard it will pull the front tires in 3rd! The blaster also has a throttle limiter on it if he needs it. The 250 4 strokes just dont grow with the rider. The suzuki 250....I would never go that route. My fully STOCK (at the time) polaris 250 trailblazer beat my friends new suzuki 250 in repeated drag races on asphalt easy.

 

I agree the blaster is a great bike. But remember in California not all bike are equal. Many two stokes are red sticker, red sticker can really suck at certain times of the year. At least a four stroke can get a green sticker and ride 365.