Hello,

Let me start out by saying I'm a dirtbike guy and know almost nothing about quads. I race harescrambles with my 15 year old son. My 13 year old has absolutely no interest whatsoever in riding a bike, but has said that he'd like a quad. He doesn't want to race. He just wants to bomb around the campground and ride fire roads. Nothing too fast. So I'm now looking for a quad for him so I can keep the whole family participating in riding/racing. However, I know nothing about quad models. This is where you guys come in to help.

I'm looking for a used (up to 5 years old) 2WD, air-cooled, semi-automatic quad. My 13 year old is a big boy. He's 5'8" and weighs close to 160 lbs but has no riding experience.

What can you guys recommend that might suit his needs?

Thanks for your help!!

 

I got my Yamaha Raptor 250 when I was 12, it was perfect size for me. Good power, but easy to use and maintain. It does have a manual clutch and 5-speed, but It is pretty easy to master. i think this is a great quad for any kid and I highly recommend it.

 

Thanks for the help. The semi-auto trans is a must though. My wife may use it occasionally too and there's no way she'll operate a manual.

 

If you're wanting a sport style quad, the Honda 250ex or the Suzuki LTZ 250 would be your choices.

 

If you are limited to an auto clutch than this is the best suggestion. Manual and I would look for either a 300EX or the 250Raptor.

 

If speed isn't the goal, I suggest a Utility style that is large enough for you, but stable enough for your son. The Kawasaki Bayou 300 (KLF-300) is a workhorse and has been around for years. 4 speed foot shift with reverse and no clutch. Top speed is about 35 but the utilty type allows portage of luggage, tools, etc for campsite work projects. I have 5 ATVs from a 90cc up to a Brute Force 750, and most of the time I jump on the Bayou for running around the campground.... Regards, Jim

 

If you are looking for only an auto-clutch, than i would suggest the honda 250. it has a sportclutch. that means the quad cannot be stalled in or out of gear, and the clutch is not required to pull for gear changes. but for more advanced riding, clutching in between gears can carry more revs. The motor is bulletproof and suspension action is decent. It is not a rocket, but it aint slow either. very reliable.

 

Kymco Mongoose. Bulletproof. Forward/reverse/CVT (no shifting). My wife loves ours.

 

I would recommend the honda 250ex because he has no riding experience and plus he doesn't have to worry about the clutch. Honda is a good brand, its reliable too.
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2005 yamaha raptor 80 (belongs to cousin soon)
2005 yamaha raptor 660r(father)
chinese bike
2008 yamaha raptor 250se(hopefully soon)