Howdy boys and girls.

I'll post this message at both comapnies forums, hopfully to get honest answer.

What ATV is more safety?

I'm 16 years old, was riding a QUEST500 for around a year, talked with dad and decided to replace the quest in sport atv.

Now, my options are pretty much DS or Predator, what ATV is more safety to your opion.

since my dad was like "We will buy an atv, tho i need to check what atv is the safer"
I told him it's mostly the driver,

tho since I'm pretty much amautre, first time I'll ride sport atv.

What atv between those two will you suggest?

Thanks!

- SAGI

 

You are right, it is mostly the rider. Also no atv is safe without the proper gear, especially a helmet.

But anyway, in my opinion, they are both wide stable machines that will do you well. I think the ds is way more forgiving once you start to jump. You can land really bad and it soaks up the landing better than about any other quad.

The other thing to consider is weight. The DS is about 100 pound heavier than the Predator and if you aren't a big guy that can be a handful for an unskilled rider.

Justin

 

98% is up to the rider. The remaining 2%, I would have to nod to the DS because of its stability. It is wide and long. The predator does have the edge on weight though and that is important. If this is your first sport quad, maybe the predator's slightly less powerful engine might be a better choice. Regardless, rolling down a hill with a 400+ pound lump of pointy metal and plastic is dangerous regaurdless of the name on the sticker. ALWAYS wear safety gear. Gear-that should be your main safety topic.

 

I'll agree with the 98% to 2% split, but I'd give the nod to the Predator here. It has virtually ZERO bump steer and is very easy to handle (not that the DS isn't). It's also lower and slightly more narrow than the DS so it fits in the woods better.

 

Yes the DS is larger/heavier but if you looking at 04 models it is not going to be as much as you might think.

Numbers according to manufacturers:
Predator - 412lbs
DS650 (Standard) - 470lbs

So roughly 60 pounds heavier. Being your only 16 (not sure how big you are) you may be more at home on the Predator. Go sit on both then decide.

 

The Predator is probably the safer of the two. The predator doesnt get the respect it deserves for its handling,and unique steering geometry. Their both great quads!




Bigger.

 

I can't believe I'm saying this but I would have to say the Preditor for an amature rider because its more forgiving when it lands on you. The DS really hurts real bad when it decides it wants to be on top for a change. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

marrtoo

 

well first how big are u?(height, weight), so you've never driven a sport atv before? is there any reason why you have not considered a 400ex? but between the two if you don't have any experience or you are small i'd go with the pred, but if your have experience on sport atvs and your a bigger kid then go for the ds, and ds suspension is much more forgiving then most out htere, cleared one jump missed the downside totally, so i dropped probably about 15' bottomed out hard and the ds was almost perfect, only a bent footpeg, me on the other hand had some missing upper lip(front the face smashing off the bars, thank god i had my helmet on or i'd have no front teeth) and torn leg muscle

 

I think I would put the helmet on my head instead of my leg. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

marrtoo

 

probably won't go wrong with either one, the predator has a different seat to peg feeling, seems if you get on the brakes hard it would let you slide to far forward.