I originally posted this at the "HONDA" forum and then the "UTILITY", to be fair and get a lot of opinions I would like to hear from you sport guys too! Please help if you don't mind!

Like the title said I am a rookie BUT I feel too many people ask what they should get w/o providing enough info. Here's my info so that you experienced atv guys can lend me a huge helping hand if you don't mind. I sold my one and only "toy" ('97 seadoo waverunner, bought new) after riding it a ton, to buy my wife's wedding ring. My friends still are shocked (8-9 yrs later) that I didn't buy an atv because obviously you can use them 12 months a yr vs 3 (in St. Louis) and I've wanted one all of my life....well the time has come. I have $3400 saved and by the end of the year I will have enough.

First, places I would ride...my buddy has 100 acres of woods, hills, fields, and a creek about 25 minutes away and those familiar with this area know that about 35-45 min away is St. Joe park (2,000 acres for off road use owned by the state, $2 a day to ride). My brother in law (1 hr away) has hundreds of acres outside his front door in an area that is not developed either...lots of great creeks, trails... Also, my subdivision has a little area of fields and woods and won't be fully developed for another 2 yrs, so at least after a day's work, I could jump on it for a quick ride around (even to the pool, another guy takes his golf cart) and blow off some steam. Obviously, I don't have the absolute best riding areas like some of you but I wanted to paint a picture for you of where I would ride....mostly trails, but speed is still important to me.

I am 6'5", 255 lbs so having a bike that will fit me is very important. I know I am a rookie but with my size I def would want a sport bike at 400 or above or a utility at 500 or above. That brings me to the milliion dollar ? of where to start there. I prefer a sport (really considering the 450r and can't wait to see what '06 brings) but will it be too much for a rookie? My personal belief is that after a few times out I'd probably be fine. The benefit to a utility is riding with my 6 yr old daughter or 3 yr old son. (he has the polaris 700 battery operated quad and absolutely loves it!...anyone know where to get those rubber belts that go over the plastic tires to keep it from wearing bigger holes in them?) I will be the first generation atv rider in the family and def want them to have 50cc and 80cc quads in just a few yrs (he's only 3). I guess if I had a utility I would probably have a plow (for that once or twice a yr big snow) and it would be good to ride with a buddy that wants a utility as well for hunting but a sport just looks like so much fun. I rode my bro in laws 300 AC the other day and it was way to slow, heavy, and didn't handle well at all) I saw a guy's 450r the other day and absolutely loved the way it looks. I subscribe to 2 atv mags, read almost everything here I can and am now relying on your advice. I am posting my story here because I am partial to Honda's. On the utility side I would prefer it to be EFI, but it doesn't have to be (I know Honda doesn't have one yet, also like the Suz KingQuad) and with IRS (I wouldn't be towing anything) and 500cc or so, I really don't want anything less and I don't need any of the new heavy 800's. On the sport side...I really like what I read and hear about the 450r, and would also consider a 400, although not my first choice. Is the 450r too much for the trails, fields, creeks....etc?

I have advantages and disadvantages to owning a sport or a utility for my first quad. Sorry guys this is sooo long....I have waited a LONG time to post this and I can't wait to get started in the ATV world (even at 31!) and raise both of my kids to ride!

Any help or advice would be GREATLY appreciated and if I left anything out PLEASE ASK!

 

Hmmm, Your a big man and a big man needs a big quad.... Have you looked at the DS650??? I don't think you would be very comfortable on a 400 or a 450 sport quad... Have you went to any dealers and sat on any??? That might be a good start.

 

You might look at the Raptor as well...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

thanks! No, I really haven't gone to any dealers to sit on any of them or at least I haven't gone in a few months. I have sat on a 450r once and it wasn't too bad...it was at a dealer so I didn't really get a true riding feel. I just looked at the specs on the DS650 and it really doesn't seem any bigger frame wise unless I'm wrong...maybe I am off there more than I think.

This is a tough decision! I posted this under "HONDA" as well and I have a nice guy saying that the Rincon will do everything I want. I just don't want to get bored with it...I'm not saying that I would....I just don't know. If I never need to go extremely fast and jump 12 feet than maybe he's right (???) I don't know that with my height and weight mixed in with a utilities weight whether the handling would just get boring.

I have read guys responses on the 450r that say they love it because they are taller (around 6'3"). I really don't think that anything in the sport dept will be absolutely perfect but hey I'm only 31 and I can move pretty good. 255 lbs for my height really isn't that bad. thanks for your response!

 

oo buddy, that ds650 is for the BIG of the big. This bike is almost made for big people. The raptor is big too, and has reverse so for your situation the raptor might be alittle better of a choice because I know that I need to use reverse sometimes in the trails and sometimes its a must have thing. A 400 probably isn't too small but its possible that you would get alittle cramped. I know, because I'm 14 and only 5'6 lol and my z feels almost perfect for me compared to the raptor, where I feel too spread out on the bike and I worry about having the reflexes to control it.....Im not saying its hard to control though, except that it is alittle tippy but with your weight and size you will toss that thing around like a rag doll lol

 

If you want to shift, go with the DS650, repsect it's power and you'll be ok.

I would personally avoid a Raptor700 right now. Just like in Autos, it's often wise to let these new models get a couple years under their belts so the bugs can be worked out. This is not a knock on Yamaha, I know they spent the dough to make that quad the new BAJA Champ, and it very well could be the new king of the open class. At least with a new car you'll get your warranty work done 90% of the time. ATVs are always a question with warranty coverage since the company can claim misusage with the slightest evidence.

If shifting is not important, and to some newbie riders it's often too much to do while just learning the finer points of riding. I would look at a Kawasaki KFX700. They are big enough for a guy 6'5", and they are pretty easy to ride with the auto tranny. But they have enough power to keep you entertained as you get better.

Also maybe a Polaris Scrambler500. The "Polaris feel" is one you just have to be born to love, (strange single brake lever, floor boards etc...) , but those who do like them are very loyal. They are a very reliable and solid machine with great suspension. And in a bonus with this ride, you can get them in selectable 4x4 too, making them one of the most, if not THE most sporty 4x4 rides out there.

If Utility is the way you want to go, look at the new Suzuki King Quad.

I agree with the other post and think you might indeed feel cramped sitting on any of the 400cc or 450cc sport machines. Maybe not right away but after a 45 minute ride it might start to get to you. As an older guy too (33) I appreciate the benefit of being able to stretch out a bit on those long slow rides with friends and family. I'm only 5'7" and have enough room to sit back and stretch a bit while in the saddle. I can't do that on my wife's Warrior, the thing is so cramped even for me that after a long ride I get up and can hardly stand for a good 10 seconds. My KFX on the other hand has the room to move around more. At 6'5" you would need a bigger ride to do that.

Either way shop around and sit on a few machines to get a feel for the ergonomics. Something is likely to trigger that "comfortable" feeling with a certain quad.

Good luck!

 

ss97, thank you for your response! I am going to take a look at those sport models you discussed...coming in I was about 50/50 sport vs utility and now I am about 70% towards a ute and 30% on the sport...a lot of it has to do with what I am hearing based on my height on those smaller machines......(and I thought Honda's 450r was on the "bigger" side of sport frames!) I will def look at the ds650 and the 700 you mentioned! Thank you again!

 

Yep, I have a KFX700 and it is very nice.... I think either one would be good..
Make sure you let us all no witch one you pick....
I ride down at St. Joe state park as well.... Might see ya down there this fall......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

En Forcer, thanks! What do you think of St. Joe, I have yet to ride there, but I know that when I buy my quad that will be one of the places I ride. I hear people complain that it isn't the same as it used to be and that it is getting smaller acreage wise and the sand dunes are nil to none. Do you see any utility quads down there having fun at all? What do you like the most there and what do you dislike the most at St. Joe?

 

stocks, St. Joe is a blast!!! As for sand??? Oh there's plenty of it... The terrain does change from time to time, but that is just the characteristics of sand... They did close down Elvens hill about 10 years ago.... But there is still plenty of sand and woods trails.... You will not be disappointed....