All

I have been riding a Honda XR for the last couple of years and dirt bikes all of my life. I have never owned a quad or ridden one very much. My wife and kids have quads. Due to some nagging injuries, I am thinking of moving over to the dark side and buying a 4 wheeler.

I am looking for something as bullet proof as my XR. I always ride with the wife and kids so I don't need a 7000cc King Raptor EX Z. I ride predominately trails through the woods and some open areas that have sand. Not into mudding and getting stuck and all that. Lake Murray OK is one of our favorite spots.

I have narrowed my search down to buying a used Honda Rancher 420 4x4 (without electronic shift), a 2005 or later Honda TRX 400 EX (with reverse) or a Suzuki LTZ 400.

I like the 400 EX because the motor is based on the XR 400 motor and I know that it is bullet proof. I like the Rancher because of the 4 wheel drive, if needed, and the extra carrying capacity of the racks. The Suzuki LTZ 400 has a good reputation as being as dependable as the EX and could be modified more since it is a more modern design.

I found a used Suzuki LTZ400 (limited edition black bodywork, red frame) for $3000 with roughly 20 hours of use.

I found a couple of Rancher 420 4X4 without the electronic shift that I could probably get for $3500.

I am still looking for a good 400 ex - I found a number of pre-2005 without reverse and a couple of post 2005 with reverse but those two were beat to hell and stunted (cracked body work, grab handle ground flat from doing stunt wheelies on concrete - idiots).


So what do you guys recommend?? I do all of my own maintenance, so I also want something that is easy to work on if that is necessary....

Thanks
Stacy

 

You can't go wrong with any of the choices that you have mentioned. You do have to be careful in finding a 400EX that hasn't been beaten hard. I would definately have to have reverse as I am not interested in having to push anything that has a motor on it. 4X4 is what I have graduated into and i personally would'nt go back to the sport quads due to the versatility and smooth ride that I have now. I believe that it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I also enjoy riding in the winter as long as its not so cold that you freeze to death, but having 4X4 sure is nice. I think it may be an age issue with me being partial to 4X4 being able to putt around in almost any conditions. It's too often that I see the guys riding 4X2's having to be pulled out or wrestling their quads over logs, rocks, and mud. I wouldn't trade my 700 Griz with EFI and EPS for any other quad.