The only quad I have experience riding is an old Honda Recon. I have had very little experience with a manual clutch bike. I'm 5' 11" and 160 LBS. What sport quad might be too much? Too small? What will have enough power and also be great for a newbie?

 

What part of the country you in? What are your specific riding conditions?

From your other post you said you have a $5,000 limit, and would be shring it with the wife....

The 400 class is a great place to start! Both the Honda 400EX and Suzuki Z400 are great machines! Both handle great and have good suspension. Descent power, but it is very controlable. A beginner can learn easily on one, yet an experienced rider won't be bored to death on one either. I like the EX more for tight trails, and the Z more for open country. EX got reverse in 05, so look for that year or later. Z has had reverse from day 1.

You should be able to find a very good used machine in your price range. Also, would be worth searching for a leftover new 400EX that some dealer is willing to bargain on.

As for the clutch, I can teach a kid to ride a full manual clutch like a pro in about an hour. A little training, and you and your wife should not have any problem at all.

 

I am in Vancouver, Washington. It's wet here most of the time and there are a lot of trails to ride. I will be doing a lot of riding in Eastern Oregon, very dry and lots of trails. We will be making a few trips to the Oregon Dunes.

I'll look into those quads. It seems that a sport quad is the way to go.

I appreciate all the help

 

If you have had no trouble getting around on your 2wd Recon, you will not have any trouble with a sport quad. The only thing you will give up will be some ground clearance and racks....and some weight.

However, I know the northwest is wet, so are slippery muddy trails an issue for you??? If so, then 4wd might be a good idea?

We use to make a trip to Oregon Dunes each summer, but not lately since gas prices went way up. Pure fun!

 

If you're 5' 11" you are big enough for any of the sport quads, and probably too big for a Raptor 250, Honda 250 EX, and Suzuki Z 250. All of the 400s and 450s are good quads, but the 450s obviously have more performance. With a $5000 limit you may be limited on some of them. Can Am, however, is having a really good sale right now on their DS 450. They have a $1000 rebate on left over brand new 2008 DS 450s, and when combined with dealer discounts you can buy a new DS 450 for $5000.

As for the manual clutch, don't sweat it. My 12 year old kid figured it out in an hour with his Raptor 250.

DV

 

I would reccomend a polaris predator 500, they say its a bit heavier than the other sport quads, but that doesnt sound like a problem for you. They handle great, have a great chain guard for rocks, and its a polaris so you know its quality trail riding stuff. I just got one at the beginning of this year and I was very pleased with it. I did go down a tooth in the front sprocket tho for putting around on trails. The fox shox are amazing on that bike.

 

I was kind of like you when I started riding about a year and a half ago as a late bloomer to the sport. My only prior experience was on a ute or two. But once I got hooked on riding I knew I wanted a sport quad. I chose a 400ex for several reasons. It is a good solid quad. They're virtually bulletproof. They're easy to learn on. They have enough power to be fun, without being intimidating. They also do a respectable job on the dunes (I actually do a majority of my riding on the Oregon Dunes).

 

For clarification, the 450 "thumper" engines are a very different design than the more old school engines found in the 400's. They need to be ridden at high RPM's and they don't like to be lugged down. This means that they are not the ideal tight trail quad (the 400's and the Raptor 700 on the other hand are the primo trail quads)! Also, they need more frequent maintenance, like oil changes and valve adjustments. Some reading on the issue:

http://www.belray.com/scripts/future...6-e27066d0d02a

 

What does everyone think of the Raptor 350? I can get a new 2008 for under $5000 at local dealers.

 

To be avoided! It is nothing more than the old Warrior 350 warmed over. The design is old and tired. I was riding a Warrior a couple decades ago, and it was the worst quad I have ever owned! The engine is absolutley ancient (but reliable!), and the quad handles heavy and sluggish.

A friend has the new Raptor 350, and I rode it having high hopes that it would be vastly improved over the old Warrior. I didn't notice much difference....

Find a 400EX if you want at rock solid machine!