im looking at getting a quad, i want a 250r or a yfz450. whats a better machine, whats faster, whats more reliable, i also heard that you can make the 250r relly fast with minor mods, and also it has amazing handeling. so whats a better choice?

 

While I love the old R, I would not purchase one as my main ride. As a "project" garage queen fine, but not for every day....they are just to old. To many things can go wrong with a 20 year old quad.

Now, if Honda still offered a crate engine (they don't) and you could find a new aftermarket frame and build up a completely new quad, then I would be all over it, but I don't think that is going to happen....

So, I would go with the YFZ. It will give you years of trouble free riding if you keep up on the maintenance!

 

I would agree completely with reconranger. While they would be tons of fun as a project you will be upset more often than not that you won't be able to ride because of the various small things that will give you trouble with any 20 year old motor vehicle.

 

My buddy has an 89 that is still his primary ride. It has however, been immaculately maintained. Towed him home now and then, becasue it really goes through the fuel fast!

 

Haha!! The short time my bro had the 'shee I had to tow him a few times. Amazing how after a few towes he could somehow sense when the fuel was getting low.
It's nice not worrying about that. Last weekend I went to a atv park called Big Red Off Road park. We rode from around 1:30 to 7:30 and never touched a gas can. Try that on the 250R or 'shee.

 

If I were doing a project bike, I'd rather have the 250R.
Rebuilt new from the ground up, it should be trouble free for a long time.
Parts should be out there too.


But if I just wanted to ride, I'd get the newest YFZ I could afford.
One that would not become a project after one season.

 

The 250R is old school cool, the YFZ is fresh and comes stock with much better shocks. Either will have great handling, the YFZ has frame geometry fairly similar to the old R(more so than Hondas 450R) Personally, if i could only ae one I would go with the thumper though.

 

In motocross racing the 250 2 stroke race with the 450 4 strokes and its a coin toss who will win.