I am planning on getting my girlfriend an automatic quad and she is trying to decide between a Honda TRX250EX or a Can-AM DS 250. Which do you think is a better choice? Some differences are:

<u>Honda</u>
Weight: 360lbs
Trans: Honda SportClutch; 5-Speed foot shift automatic and reverse

<u>Can-AM </u>
Weight: 429lbs
Trans: CVT; 1 forward, reverse and neutral

 

Teach her to shift a real manual clutch, and get the new Raptor 250!

 

Well I know I'd go for the Honda. I've seen a few honda 250ex's around and the things seem pretty solid. Not saying Can-Am isn't just no experience with them. I also see the Honda is much lighter, I bet it has more get-up and go.

I rode with a guy on one of the 250ex's one time at a place we used to ride alot. The place has a lot of hills and some good technical terrain. The 250EX was unstoppable. I couldn't believe how the thing pulled itself up some of those hills with ease.

 

Go with the can am my friend has one and he loves it the are very reliable

 

Several folks in here with the Can-Am, who seem go be disapointed with the power. As I recall, it is a fairly heavy machine (???).

What I like about the Raptor is the ultra-light weight! 313 pounds vs the Honda which is ~50 pounds heavier, and who knows what for the Can-Am.

Little ladies will always appreciate a very light machine.......

 

The can-am has a lot more power due to the 4 valves and liquid cooling. It also has more suspension travel than the Honda. It is also better suited for larger riders due to the longer wheelbase. HOWEVER, the weight causes the Can-Am to be a bit slower than the Honda. The Can-Am is also only 40.5 inches wide and 43.5 inches tall. That's not the greatest combination for stability- although it's still better than having a 750lb IRS utility quad.

Your best bet is to get the Yamaha Raptor 250 and get a +2 or +3 swingarm and 2+1 a-arms to make its wheelbase 3 or 4 inches longer and a longer steering stem if your girlfriend feels a bit cramped on it. If you are in Canada, GO ACROSS THE BORDER TO BUY A QUAD. Our dollar is 104.69 USD now and YET WE STILL PAY 6529 FOR A 250EX VS 3999 THAT THE AMERICANS PAY- TALK ABOUT RIP-OFF.

Just try to get a raptor 250, it has a better displacement (CC) to weight ratio than a raptor 350- and because they have the same engine design, we can safely assume IMHO, that the power to weight ratio will also be better on the raptor 250 than the raptor 350. It shouldn't be too hard to take care of the cramped feeling- like i said, a longer steering stem and new handlebars should make the cockpit seem a bit bigger, and the longer wheelbase will make it more stable and more feeling like a bigger quad.

 

I would get the Honda. I have a Rally200 and am really happy with it. I think that the Can-Am would be good but I think that it is Korean made for Can-Am. If it has a Rotax motor I would have a hard time making this choice. I am not sure about who makes the Can-Am.

I reread your post and see that you want an automatic quad so the Can-Am is auto and the Honda isn't. I have two quads now and bought both of them because they were autos. This would be so my wife and kids could ride them easier. I wish now that I had gotten Honda Recons ES's instead and had them learn to shift. I have a Polaris 330 Trailboss with a bad transmission and a Bombardier Rally 200 that I really like. There aren't many choices for a fullsize auto quad without getting FWD. Yamaha, Polaris and Can-am are about it now and in 2004 when I got my two. Artic Cat may have one also.

 

I would say go with the honda. there known to last. isnt the 250ex cheaper too

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Hondarider27

I would say go with the honda. there known to last. isnt the 250ex cheaper too</end quote></div>

no way, not EVEN CLOSE. The honda about 600-800 more than the can-am. The honda is also $100 more than the raptor 250 (not se- but the se sucks anyways, only has new graphics and some skids and bumper- no nice dual compression adjustable piggybacks like on the 700 raptor)

Unless she is completely horrible at driving any standard then she should be able to learn to drive a clutched quad within 15-30 minutes.

Just let her try out your 660, but see if you can adjust the throttle screw so that incase she is throttle happy- you dont have any bad accidents

 

Dude, she tried to drive my mustang and it didn't work out too well.