Alright heres what I've been lookinh at...a bayou from kawi..220 or 300 not sure yet as too the one I want... I'm new at ATV's and not too comfortable just yet I've ridden some trail bikes and my boyfriends warrior... the warrior is fun but a little too much for me (Not to mention... the clutch is to big!-I have small hands.) So... a manual is out... so far I've only been able to ride the bayou and a bear tracker from yamaha...I mostly want trail riding. I might jump it every now and then! but I don't want a 4X4! Can someone give me some suggestions?

 

Honda Recon

 

Kate,
It is with the most supreme effort that I refrain from responding to your topic title ,but have you considered the Honda 300ex? As a four stroke it would be more tractable than any 2 stroke and it gives you a reverse plus five speeds. I can't advise you on the amount of reach needed for clutch work but possibly an after market clutch and/or brake lever would have a different shape that would fit better. A big plus with this bike is that your b/f wouldn't be leaving you in his roost as the 300ex is very competitive with his Warrior and once you learn your way around, he may have to invest in some tear offs to keep his goggles clean from your dust.
And lest you think I'm predjudiced towards the Honda, I ride a slightly altered Warrior also

 

I agree you should consider the honda 300ex. Its a nice start. I have one and my girlfriend likes it. She is very small but has no problems. Don't know your size but she is really petite. Like size 0 to 2. You schould go to a local dealer and try one. The clutch is very easy to pull and the breaks also. No matter what bike you get you will have the brakes on the handle bar. Most cases the front works better cause the back break locks up. So the clutch shouldn't be to big of a reason to not get a bike. Just my opinion do what fits you best for your the one riding it.

 

I've driven both the Bayou 220 and 300 and found them GUTLESS! You'll outgrown either one quickly unless you like riding on the flats, since neither has enough power to climb hills of any size and they both lack suspension.

 

Kate...I agree with the posts regarding the 300EX. My first quad was a '93 Warrior. I had a lot of fun on it riding around on trails and I loved the fact that when we went down the road I would leave my hubby far behind on his 250X. However, when it came to playing around on the machines I realized very quickly that the Warrior was just too heavy for me. I couldn't get the front end up off the ground and I couldn't throw the back end around at all. After three months on the Warrior, I was spoiled with the electric start, so I figured that my only choice was to get a 300EX. I've never regretted it. 7 years later and I've never even thought of owning another machine...not even the 400EX. My EX suits me just fine. I always have fun on it (except the 2 times that I didn't think before reacting and ended up with the machine on top of me). It jumps when I want it to, wheelies when I want it to, has enough speed to keep me happy and is easy to operate. And believe me, when you're riding with a group of guys, nothin' feels better than to leave some of them behind you!

Monica
1997 300EX

 

honda recon if your sure you dont want a manual 250X/300EX if you dont care

 

Another female opinion??
Go with the 300EX. I know you said A manual was out of the question...but maybe you should reconsider. The clutch is easy to use!!!! I love my 300EX and can't say what anything that ATVgirl hasn't already said.

 

I would go with the 300ex My cousin rides mine and he's 4ft 9" 105lbs and he can kick. He has no prob with the clutch. I switched from automatic to clutch It took me about two days too get it right.

 

If you don't want a manual clutch, "HONDA RECON" for sure! It will run circles around the 220 + 300 Bayou, GUARANTEED!!! Jeff, 00 Rancher ES 4x2, 97 Recon.