I am about to purchase a new 2006 Artic Cat 250. It will be my first atv. I am a 35 yr old male weighing 180 lbs. This is the largest size I can afford for now ($3400.00). My only fear is that I am getting something too small. It will just be used for normal riding. I am being told that it will do everything the larger ones will do except mudding, and tops out at about 45 mph. I can live with that. I also like that it is smaller and will fit in the back of my truck, and maybe easier to manuver through the woods? I guess my biggest concern is riding with my friends and being the guy on the "little 4 wheeler". What are some opinions as far as what a 250 is capable of doing. Is there anything I should know before I purchase it in 3 weeks?

 

well u can do some mudding just not wicked deep stuff. id try some of it to see what u can do. on it being to sm. thats how big things were in the 80's and 90's so why is it too sm now? I own the ozark very simalar. and u will have fun. for the price its a great buy. u will be told here its to sm for ya, but its just fine.

 

if you think it is too small then it may be too small. if you have 3400 dollars to play with you can pick up a larger used atv. i am selling my 2004 650 b2 for 4500 well it is already sold. that gives you kind of an idea how big you can go you can get say a 2004 500 auto 4x4 for 3400 or say a 2006 400 for even less.

 

I have always bought used and never got riped off yet. Once they leave the show room they are second hand and lost $$$ right off the bat. For $3400 I would have you on a 04 400 Suzuki 4x4 in mint condition with low miles. That is leaps and bounds ahead of a 250 ATV. Is a 250 even a 4x4?

 

go with a Kymco MXU 250 or 300.
save money and they are the same machine as the A.C.

 

They are but the is no 4X4 version (Kymco or Cat), there by making them less of a trail machine.

 

One good thing about Arctic Cat 250 Utilities is they seemed to have the largest frames. Here is a side by side comparison with a 250 Suzuki Ozark. Click here The AC is longer,wider and taller, so I would imagine it would be a more comfortable 250.

 

Neither is as big as the older AC 250 with IRS was. Which was a major lose to the 250cc atv class.

 

Thanks for all the info so far. I have looked at several used atvs and all the ones I found where rode hard. I'm sure I could find a individual who has a good used one for the same price. I guess I just liked the peace of mind of a new one. Plus I never owned anything "new" before. I'm about 99% sure I am going with the 250, guess I was just wanting to feel more confindent with it hoping that others would tell me there good experiences with them. Also thinking of future "hand-me-down" to my kids to give me a excuse to move up to something larger in a year or so when I can afford it. Please keep the info coming. Thanks.

 

When I first got in to ATVs in 96 ,in out fishing group we had to carry all out camping stuff for miles over rough terrain. We had a 200cc 3 Wheeler ,a 200cc Honda 4 wheeler, a 185 Suzuki 4wheeler and our flag ship that pulled a trail was a 250 Yamaha Moto4. The all did fine and we packed there racks up high.

Power and speed never was a issue with them. When I had my old 89 350 4x4 Big bear, it could not keep up with a 250 2x4 on gravel roads.