Last year I bought my first ATV - a Kawasaki BF750. Love it, and having lots of fun. Would like to purchase a used sport quad now, mainly so my wife can go riding with us (she can ride the Brute or the sport quad). I'm obviously relatively inexperienced on ATVs, but also would like something with enough power (after coming off a Kawi V-twin!) to have some fun with. Would be mostly trail riding I guess. How about a used Banshee? Raptor 660? Any pros and cons to these or other quads, and stuff I should be on the lookout for since buying used? Thanks much!

 

I would recommend looking at the reviews on this site and my number one recommendation for the use you describe would be the Suz/Kaw Z400, number 2 would be the Honda 400ex. Read the review about the z400 and I am sure you will gain some insight.

Wife trail riding and Banshee just does not seem to be a good recipe, nor Rap 660 for that matter. Don't get me wrong they are both great bikes for their intended use. Which in my opinion is either sand dunes or all out boys testosterone high speed who is going to make the first high speed mistake ride.

My 2 cents.

 

I agree with Doug about the banshee. It would not be a good "wife bike" Do either of you have experience with a manual clutch? You could stay with an automatic and get a v-force. I've seen nice used ones for around 3 grand.

If you both want a manual clutch the raptor 660, z400, or 400ex would be good choices. (keep in mind that the 400ex did not have a reverse until 05). The 400s will not be much (if any) quicker than your brute force. I would not get a manual clutch for my wife unless I let her test drive one first. That's a good way to lose your brute force.



Things to be on the lookout for when buying a used quad:

oil leaks
cracks in the engine cases ..........especially around the output shaft/sprocket area
bent suspension components
blown shocks
shifting problems
evidence of a wreck
irregular tire wear

I always check the fluid levels and air filter. You just never know when someone might have decided to remove the filter and leave it out.

Other obvious things would be:

does it smoke
does it cut out or miss
does it make any strange noises





Any of these things can be costly.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys! No, not much experience with a manual clutch. Rode some cousins' dirt bikes and 3-wheelers growing up (dad never would get me one though, great grades and all!) though with no problem. Is there a place on this site with reviews, or are you just talking about looking through old threads and gleaning everyone's "reviews" about them? I looked and couldn't find a section specifically with reviews for each type of machine. One other quad I saw advertised locally is an '04 Predator 500. Is that also too "race oriented" for what I am probably looking for? Thanks again for your help! Oh, and also for the words of caution about losing my Brute to my wife! If I really thought she'd get into it, I might even think about slapping down the coin for one just like it for her. . . . or maybe a Prairie 700, as I think the solid rear axle would be a blast for a little change of pace from the IRS Brute.

 

Preditor is more inline with the Yamaha YFZ450 and other more race style bikes. I would not be overly fearful of learning the manual trans/clutch for either you or your wife it comes pretty easy to most people. And with out that as an option it real narrows your search for sport bikes. The only two I can think of off the top of my head in the sport class with auto clutch are Honda 250ex and Suzuki z250, both great bikes but really best suited for mellower trail riding by less aggressive personalities.

Here is where you find the rewiews:

https://atvconnection.com/Features/ATVReviews/

 

I'm not worried at all about the manual shifting. So are you saying I should probably stay away from the "race style" bikes for trail riding and just having fun (I have no intentions of racing)? Thanks for the link - I'll check out those reviews.

 

I personally would want reverse and electric start on a trail quad. That eliminates a few of the racier models. None of the 450s have reverse and only 05 and up predators and 400exs have reverse. The DS 650 is also minus a reverse gear. All raptors have reverse both 350s, 660s, and 700s. The z400s also have reverse.



You may not need one if you ride in the dessert or dunes but a tight trail makes reverse gear nice.

 

I agree, reverse is very nice to have! I called on a 660 Raptor today that someone local was advertising, but it sold yesterday. I'm in no hurry, so I'll keep looking. So is that Z400 a Suzuki that is also sold by Kawasaki, or vice versa? Thanks!

 

Suzuki builds it, and they just put different colors and graphics on it for kawi. It's also the same as the Arctic Cat DVX 400, except for different fenders(and maybe shocks)

 

I would say get another Kawie V-Twin, and go with the VForce. Normally I wouldn't suggest it as a "wife bike" but if she's ridden the Brute, the V will be small to her. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]