I'm in the market for a quad for my 11yr old. He's been riding a Badger, 90cc dirtbike, and occassionaly my Blaster and handles all of these quite well. He's outgrown the two smaller bikes (my 9yr old rides them now) and I've narrowed my quest down to either the Warrior or a Honda 300ex. I don't want the auto-clutch of the trx250. I really like the electrice start and reverse features and both quads have a bullet-proof rating from what I've read.
The only obvious difference is the cc difference and 30 lb extra weight of the Warrior. What quad do you think stands out? Naturally, I'll be riding it too sometimes
Thanks,
matt

 

i think the warrior would be easier for him, it's a tad more forgiving than the 300ex and i feel is a little more predictible. i rode with some people who have 300ex's and they were having problems left and right( blowing shocks from just riding in sand pits) the warrior is a good stepping stone to a 400cc quad if he ever wanted to get on( in probably 3-4 years).IMO

 

Does the Warrior have a similiar ride (suspension wise) to a Blaster? Right now I have my shocks set one-up from the softest and it makes for a very all-day comfortable ride.

 

My warrior rides smoother than the blasters i've rode before. I think a 300ex might be a better quad for a smaller person though. Warriors are tanks compared to most sport quads, and could be difficult for a smaller rider to handle when he gets into a tight spot.

 

thne again, like most riders, some will adapt to their quad instead of adapting the quad to them. In this case, if he is younger(11 as you said) he is most likely going to want something more in a few years and with a warrior being so bulletproof you can do pretty much anything to them. and yes, looking at my quad you would never guess what kind of hell it has been through.. but with a good cleaning it looks almost like new. my warrior( with raptor suspension cause i like MX) it rides like a DREAM! even the stock warrior suspension rode incredebly nice. but i find mine to be a tad softer and it soaks up the bumps a little better than the stock suspension.

 

But the same thing can be said for the 300EX. They have to be one of the most reliable quads ever built, along with the Warrior. I have owned both and have liked both, but for different reasons. I liked the Warrior for myself, but would not reconmend it for my son. He fits the 300 very well. (he's 12 @5'-1", 115lbs) And I felt like it is alittle small for me. The 300 handles alot better. (especally with the 400 a-arms and shocks) The warrior does have some more power. The 300 fits a smaller person better while the Warrior fits the bigger people better. Both have gobs of aftermarket stuff to fix them up however you want. I put my youngest son on a Blaster because it "fits him". I would not put him on a 300 because he just didn't fit it, and I sure wouldn't put him on a Warrior because of that. I ride both of my sons quads and "adapt" to them for the time, BUT I don't believe you should exspect a kid to have to adapt to a quad that doesn't fit them. Thats how all this stupid age restrictions came about in the first place!!!!!
Get whatever he feels confortable on and can handle.

 

^^^^ for his son i would suggest the 300ex.. although i would suggest if you do buy a warrior to by one in the next few years for yourself as a soon to be hand down because the warrior is done.. threy are going to be harder to come by...

 

They don't make the Warrior anymore, but the Raptor 350 is still being made and it is the same basic machine. Also, the warrior/ Raptor350 was made from 1987 till now a days. Even if they stopped making them now, they would still be easy to find. 300's are almost as common. They started out as 250x's in the late 80's and progressed to the 300EX in the early 90's. Same machine as whats sold today. Both are rock solid, reliable, performers!

 

I would say warrior they are real good for trail riding.

 

Why don't you get your son a blaster.It can be easily upgraded as he grows.My son is also 11yrs old he started on an eton 90, then I bought him a blaster.You can get a good used blaster for about 1000 to 1500$ put another 1000 into it and it is easily beating and handling better than warriors,300exs and even stock 400exs.