I just sold my 400 EX So I need help on what bike to get for the dunes. I have been riding for about 20 years...started on a Honda 70.. I plan on using it for dunes /desert. No mountains I have a Rubicon for that. I was thinking the new trx 450 just because I like Honda, and thats all I've had. Then I started looking at the Yamaha 450, and the Gas Gas 450. Im not a pro rider but I have had plenty of experience. Im about 6 foot 3 and 170 lbs.

 

The yam 450 might be a bit small in size. I am 6'2" and I like the V-force (of coarse I have one, thats why I respond with this answer). It fits larger or taller riders very well. Since you have been riding many years (like me, about 30 yrs) you may not crash much anymore and I don't miss having to shift. It is allways in the right gear! It has a great reverse too.

 

I have a few suggestions.

if you want a 4 stroke,
trx450r
yfz450
there both pretty much the same except the honda has a kick start option so if you like roll it and mess up the battery so the electric start wont work. then you can just kick start it. (but you can get a kick start for the yfz)

if you want a 2stroke,
banshee (my favorite)
trx250r

in my eye's those are the best quads for the dunes. (I don't know that much about 4strokes though)

 

kick start isnt an option with the trx its all you get..

I was waiting for the trx to come and it came kick start, so i bought a DS650 great bike a little heavy but has the power and suspension to carry it, no reverse though which is a shame for a bike that is a little bigger than most.

see if you can test ride one it might be to your liking or it might not.

It was the only quad to finish the paris dakar rally this year which proves its desert ability and reliability

the yam and honda are both fine machines, But here in the uk bombardier give out a two year warranty for free and yamaha three months

 

oooooh

ok

sorry for the false info !!!

thanx for correcting me.

 

Depending a little on the type of riding you do, a Raptor makes a good dune quad, rides extremely well, good power, and fits someone your size well. They don't slide and jump like the world class 450s so that part is a judgement call (although widening it does wonders). But for me, I do like the Rappy to hop on, push the button, go fast, not get too beat up. Especially when the sand is choppy.

 

seems there might be a few more new 450's on the way suzuki is rumored to have one on the way.

 

Id also suggest the raptor it fits big small and tall it has tons of power and can do anything you want its fun to ride wheelies plus it looks mean. sounds mean and is mean.. with the work i have done to my raptor its just amazing crap the pipe and jet kit alone did wonders its a great all around bike dont fall into the things people say bout it being tipsy. its only 2 inches taller than the yfz and a inch narrower its not a big deal and plus for the sand where u gonna tip over/? your not. I wouldnt suggest the yfz or trx mainly cause your fairly tall and those are smaller quads and you would prob get uncomfortable after a while the v-force isnt a sand machine its a machine for sure but its up there with the tractors a real sport quad doesnt come with the option for A> auto tranny B> a snow plow C> a BRUSH trimmer dealie thingy. also if you are one that would want the fastest quad at the dunes. its the banshee cheep to soup up and very fast. also my friend just got a new suzuki lt 500 wow that thing is nice hes 6 ft and 280 lbs and that thing can keep up with the shees and it only cost him 3000 thats my 2 cents

 

DS would be great for the Dunes / Desert.

A buddy just got one (got sick of going on a trip and sitting at the trailer because his Zilla was busted!)

He is about 170 and about 6' and he loves his new DS. I think he got about 4 trips worth of riding in in one day! Very comfortable ride. He let another buddy and Buddy's Wife ride it and sounds like they are now leaning towards a DS. Buddy only weighs about 150# and is about 5'10". I only ride the dunes. More and more in my circle people are going to the DS's.

 

Lets be completely honest, this isn't the honda or yamaha or DS forum. Any of the newer 4 strokes are going to perform well ( the v twin is a tractor). The new 450 s are sweet rides, but not the most comfortable things to ride for long periods of time. The raptor and DS are bigger, slower reving, but once they get the RPMs up, they will fly. A rappy and ds are around 6k, the 450s, closer to 7k. put a grand into the rappy and you get major improvement(I asssume ds is the same) to make it 7k.