I'm about 6'5" 250lbs and would like to buy a sport Quad. I'm having a hard time deciding on which one would be best for me because of my size. I've riden the 400ex and it felt a little small, but I realy like the Quad. Also looked at the DS 650 but it looks too big for woods riding. Any advise would be helpful.

 

I'm wondering the same, around here its all wood trails and forest access roads. The woods are sloppy this time of the year. The 300ex and 400ex do all right, in the mud. I'm worried the DS will sink out of sight. I,m considering a rapter just for reverse, if you can believe that. It would be nice to here from a DS owner that has been in the mud +6".

2001 traxter, warn2000, 27" mud bugs

 

a STOCK DS is terrible in mud, buy the quad that fits the trails not the rider.

 

Would it be any worse than any other sport quad in stock condition? It does have more ground clearance than the competators. I almost never get to see mud around here, but isn't it draging chassis parts[i.e. axle,sprocket,brake,etc..] that usually hang you up in the mud?

 

There some trails that I avoid,don't like slowing down to make it fit.I enjoy riding the DS on trails,the suspension is really the best thing the DS has going for it.
Not the best in mud.But just this weekend was forced to navagate through aproximately 1/8 mile "mud feild" and the DS made it without getting stuck.New tires did help.

 

mtour-The raptor will not protect you from mud. If the tires run over it,you will wear it. I don't know about the DS. I love my new raptor.

 

how does the DS handle in the snow.
does it need different tires for winter riding.
if so which ones

 

Yes, you will need new rear tires for the snow. I use 22" Realators. Much better then stock tires The DS does not handle that well either. I was out riding with a guy yesterday, he was a Raptor, me on my DS. Both machines are completly stock, except my rear tires. The trail we were on is cross-country snowmobile trail-We don't know what a "groomer" is either. The light little Raptor would walk away from me. The DS is so wide my front tires would hit the soft "shoulder" and whip me sideways, scrubing off any speed I had. Not a whole lot of fun at 50+ MPH. (amazing i did not crash) The Raptor fit perfectly on the trail,right between the sno-go tracks. But when we got a road or some hard pack, I eaisly had 5 mph on him the mid-range and top end. Enough rambling-the DS is fun in the snow, but a heavy handfull in the really soft stuff.