Hi all, great forum. I've been lurking for a few weeks trying to learn all I can about buying a few quads.

My wife and I just recently decided to buy a few for us and our kids. Our budget of $12,000 seems to dictate that for what we're interested in we won't be buying new. Here's what we're looking for:

For me: a big watercooled with FI. I'd prefer a very powerful engine. It will be used for trail riding at low and high altitudes and in hot weather (Las Vegas). Will have, from timeto time, a kid or two on back with me.

For my wife: Also watercooled with FI for trail riding at high and low altitudes. Also likely to have a child on back from time to time.

For kids ages 12, 10, 8, 6 & 4: Not sure what to get here - Hoping to get two quads for the kids to share. I saw an 03' Bombardier 90 go for $850 on Ebay the other day but I don't know if the 90 would be too small for the older two kids. Would like one of the two kids quads to be trail worthy.

I've looked into Honda's, Can-ams, Artic Cat, Polaris, and Yamaha. My understanding is that the Rincons, excluding the newest model are not watercooled so If I'm correct the Rincon is ruled out because on our budget I'm obviously not buying a new Rincon.

My perception is that there are a number of low mile/low hour quality machines out there for sale. (apparently not many in Vegas so I may have to have something shipped) I've done and am doing a lot of research but any additional guidance from the pros here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

I ride the desert southwest, both very low (below sea level) and very high altitude >10,000 ft. While EFI would be nice, there are many tricks by which you can increase the airflow to your engine to compensate for altitude changes.....kind of an on-the-fly rejet. It's all very easy and simple. So, EFI isn't an absolute must for high altitude riding by any means, and that may help you stay within budget......

Another consideration is that utilities are a pretty lame ride in the desert. They are big, heavy, and clumsy, and that makes them dangerous in a rollover! Sure, you can go deliberately looking for terrifying terrain, but that stuff is easily avoided. And, even in the mountains, I find 4wd unnecessary 95% of the time (although higher ground clearance is a huge help). Unless there is snow, or the rocks get to big, or the steam crossings get to deep, a ute will just be a hinderance. (For example, last weekend we did a ride in the eastern Sierra. Rocky, nasty, high altitude stuff. All the adults were on big utes, and my boys on their light little 2wd 250EX's were doing something like "trials" riding, and making all the adults look pretty silly on their needlessly huge machines.)

So, don't overlook the 400cc and up sport quads, and maybe a 250EX or Recon for the older kids.

 

Good info Recon. Thank you. That said I've pretty much decided on the quad for me. I'm most impressed with the Polaris 800. Just rode one the other day and it has an amazing ride. As good or better than my brothers 2007 Can-am Outlander and the used prices seem to be quite a bit better than the used Outlanders.

Now I just have to find the other three!! Still interested in any suggestions. Thanks again Recon.

 

Just don't roll it!

 

i wouldnt reccomend you putting your kids on the back. i work in healthcare and too many injuries and death has occured like this. on of my buds little girls was killed on the back of an atv (i wasnt there, didnt even know he was going riding or i would have DEFINITELY told him some things). it flipped over and instantly broke her neck. very sad. another neighborhood girl was like 12 and on a ute bike with 2 other girls, went up a hill, she didnt get off in time, the bike crushed her. these are sad stories that hit close to home. it tears families up and hurts the sport b/c honestly they all could be prevented.

you are better off getting a quad for each kid and teaching them to ride correctly and building their skills. say you spend a little more on getting them but it may potential save their lives and medical expenses. not trying to be gloomy here but i dont want to see anymore get hurt b/c of improper riding and preventable measures. always go with the lightest bike possible, imo. even for yourself.

 

Keep in mind that the Polaris will weigh 700+ pounds. The Japanese manufacturers have held the weight on their big bore utes to 600 pounds, but not so the North American manufacturers, where the sky is the limit. They put on huge powerful engines and cushy suspension.......so it helps you forget just what a heavy monster the machine is.......

A high end sport quad now weighs 350 pounds. I just can't see hitting the trail on something that weighs twice that much!

 

While big bore/high hp engines are nice, you are going to blow a lot of your budget right off the bat on one machine. EFI has only been incorporated the past 3 years or so, and almost exclusively on the premier models at that. There are a few cheap and easy ways to solve jetting issues for carb fed motors while on the trail, and you will probably need to do these things for the kids' atvs anyway. I definately wouldn't be set on injected machines for the wife and yourself. The thing is, if you ride with your kids all the time, you will never need all that open class power anyway. Riding with your kids on the back can get hairy too. I put around the house with mine, but not on the trails. If you have to do this, invest in those hard rack bags with the "seat" built in and bolt them to the racks/frame. You have 4 kids that could be on their own machines. If you feel the 12y/o could handle a beginner adult quad, then a 250EX or Recon would dfefinately be trailable. For that matter, so are pretty much all of the 90cc and up youth quads. Buy used name brands over the new Chinese imports though. There ARE some pretty nice minis from E-ton, Unison, Dinli, etc. that might work well for you. I know both E-ton and Unison sell a 150cc ish machine as well as the 50/70/90 range which may also work well for your older children. My suggestion would be to look for a 500cc and up machine for yourself, 400-500cc for the wife, at least one atv 100 to 250cc, and an 80/90 or two. Any chance you could talk some of the kids into dirtbikes? While I am not a bike person, you can get trailworthy kids dirtbikes all day long for a grand or less. You could outfit the older 4 kids with bikes AND safety gear
for under 5K, and have 7 left to blow on the parental stuff. Plus bikes are easier to store and transport.

 

I second the opinion of putting the kids on dirtbikes instead. They will are just as easy to ride and they are better for kids. They learn better skills and kids will be able to trail ride anything.

Another thing to consider when buying for your kids is that they will outgrow whatever you buy them. You'll be selling whatever you get them to upgrade in a yaer (two if you're lucky) so don't spend a lot of money on it.

 

You are misinformed about the Rincon. All years are watercooled. I am not aware of any quad by any manufacturer of 500 cc and above that are not water cooled.
Suzuki just came out with a 450 King Quad that has IRS and EFI. Price should not be that bad. Also, Honda has a new 420cc Rancher that will probably show up in a month or 2. It has EFI but not IRS.
Just my opinion, don't get the Polaris 800.
Not an opinion- a lot of dealers won't even take them in on trade. Ask around and see for yourself.

 

Thanks Foreman,

I mispoke on the watercooled Hondas. I meant to say that only the newer ones have fuel injection. Is that right?

I've heard a lot of people say the Hondas are geared too high - that they don't have a very good low range. Is this accurate? Thanks.