Hi everyone!

I'm new to this forum and looking for a little help. I am looking to purchase my very first sport quad and I have absolutely no idea what to buy or where. I need advice on which quad is right for me, and financing versus buying used. I'd say I'm still a beginner, I've been riding a lot but always on the back and it's time for me to get my own. I am 22 about 5'6 and 140lbs. I'm from Oregon and would mostly ride down at the dunes, but I would also like to ride up at the mountains on trails every once and a while. Any advice is much appreciated!Thanks!

 

Dunes require power. I think the 400ex has a great power band for beginners. Good suspension and handling too. Personally I am a big fan of the z400 from Suzuki. They one upped the 400ex in a few important areas. The low end power may not be as beginner friendly, but once you get a few hours under your belt it should be fine. It does have more potential down the road.

New or used? You can find excellent examples of either for pretty cheap used. Atvs are generally easy to work on, and you stand a decent chance of having add ons that would be beneficial. Nerf bars, sand tires, and the like. If you have a budget that can handle a new machine plus a few hop ups there is something to be said for going that route too. A new machine in the 400 class should give you years of service in the dunes with good preventative maintenance.

 

The 400ex has a more manageable clutch as well, which is a plus for beginners. If you're not used to using a manual clutch, it can be a bit frustrating for a beginner. The more powerful 450 models like the YFZ450 and 450R are very touchy. I've never ridden a Z400 but I assume its not too bad either. The Kawasaki KFX400 and Arctic Cat 400 sport quads are all similar to the Z400 as well. For a little less money, a Yamaha Raptor 350 or Honda 300ex would be good choices as well but both have less power than the 400 class machines. They are a bit smaller and lighter and might feel more comfortable to a beginning rider though. The best way to find out what you like is try out a few different machines and decide which one you like the best. Reviews and specs can only get you so far, seat time is the only real way to know if its the right one for you.