Hi i am going to be buying a used 4wheeler here in the next week or so when i get my tax return back I have my eyes on a few quads for sale on Craigslist and Facebook. I can spend a max of $1500, which is firm because I still have to buy a trailer and hitch for Xterra, and have a couple hundred bucks left over to make any small fixes on a quad i purchase if need be. Here are the quads that i have been looking at, and i am hoping to get some feedback from you guys on what you think i should ride. Please explain why you are picking a certain quad for me, like its reliability, cost and how easy or hard it is to work on as well as how much more expensive its parts are compared to another quad, if possible.. Any help and advice is much appreciated! So here we go, the bikes that I'm interested in!

2001 Yamaha Warrior350 - 1400$(obo)...RUNS, needs rear brakes replaced.
2003 Yamaha Blaster - $1400(firm)..RUNS, AM pipe,filter,dynojetkit,newcarb
YNS Honda 250ex - $1400(obo)..RUNS GREAT
2001 Honda Recon 250, bored to 300 - $1400(obo)..RUNS, extra goodies
2000 Polaris 250 - $1000(firm i think) - RUNS
Yamaha moto4 350 - $1200(obo) - RUNS
2001 Honda 250ex $1450(obo) - RUNS GREAT
1986 Honda 250 Fourtrax - $975(obo) - RUNS GREAT
YNS Honda 400ex - $1450(obo) - RUNS GREAT
2009 Suzuki Itz250 - $1500(obo) - RUNS GREAT
2003 Yamaha Warrior350 - $1400(obo) - RUnS GREAT
2011 Yamaha Raptor 250 - $1600(FIRM ) - RUNS

That list is to give you an idea of what i am looking for and the price range it needs to be, I'm quite sure that some of these are overpriced, or im not aware of how much the aftermarket stuff that some have is worth. So please any feedback or recommendations is appreciated!

p.s WILL BE TRAIL RIDING/and a small bit of mudding but i don't plan on sinking it..I ALSO LIKE TO HAUL *** ON THOSE DIRT TRIALS, am not looking for a workhorse but WILL buy a utility quad if its awesome enough.

 

Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but for get up and go the Warrior might be the best bet. Honda Recon that is not modified is very difficult to kill but is no speed master. Of all the ones mentioned I'd personally go for the Honda 400ex. Pretty quick and super reliable. I'm not much of a sport quad guy though due to riding conditions here in New England.

 

The Yamaha Warrior is actually pretty sluggish. Moose is correct, of the quads you have listed, I would also choose the TRX400 EX, provided you already have some experience and are looking for a sport quad. Unless you are a small guy, I would not even consider the Blaster. The Suzuki and Honda EX 250s are good entry level machines because of the clutch. The Honda has what is called a sport clutch and the Suzuki has an auto clutch. I do not like the Polaris because of the brake setup. One lever/pedal controls both the front and back brakes simultaneously. I prefer separate controls. Make sure that you take the time to ride ALL the machines that you are interested in.

 

Casey,
I used to have an 07 ltz 250. These are a great quad never had any issues with it at all. Not a very fast quad about 43 mph tops is the best I hit. But if you're looking for something reliable and fast I'd go with the 400ex. I'm a suzuki fan, but the 400ex is a great reliable quad.

 

I had a Polaris TrailBlazer 250 and wouldn't recommend it. It was never fast enough for me. They can be modified to gain a lot of power but why bother?

 

From what i have been reading and from what i have read from your posts i think im going to lean towards either a..

2000-2003 Honda trx400ex - For its power it is cost efficient, Honda's are very reliable just like Yamaha's which is why the second bike I am leaning towards is a..

2000-2003 Yamaha Warrior 350 - more affordable than the Honda400ex, also a 4 stroke. and this quad has always featured electric start and reverse, the 400ex doesn't get reverse until 2005 i think and those are out of my price range.

when i get to the year 2004 for each quad the list price of both jump to just over 1600, both being worth the same at that year.. 1600 is too much for my wallet.. so im going to have to stick with 2000-2003, i dont want to dip back into the 90s, not happening haha..

 

any advice on these quads?

 

Honda 400ex sounds like the bike for you. Make sure it's not bent or hurt. If you want fast, thats it, I would think. After owning 1 Polaris, I'd never again....

 

Well I have to warn you....in that price range you WILL be adding money and making repairs so.....make sure you have some extra to make those repairs or it will just become an ornament.