We've had our 250 for 2 years now and so far not a bit of trouble. Well other than my wife flipping it down the hill[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]. She was allright and the quad came out with just scratches. rolled it back over and it fired right up. My daughter has been racing it at the sand drags for over a year and between them all I've done is maint. I did but razors on the front and rear, helped alot as handling goes.

 

Wow, thanks! This forum is awesome when you are looking for answers!! The 250ex sounds great! I haven't even heard any negatives! Thanks for all the great advice, and I wrote down all the mods that were mentioned. I don't want to speak to soon, but a dealer said they would give me a quad at wholesale (don't even know how much that is?) because I help out with the state ATV and dealer associations here. It is a bike that I have considered before, and was comparing it to the specs of the new Z 250, and the trailblazer. But with the awesome performance of my indestructilbe Rancher, I wouldn't mind sticking with the Honda!!!! Also, it has been around for so long, that is a little more comforting than the Z being new. It may be a little different with the smaller motor, the the smaller bike sounds good. And I will just have to be less lazy, and shift! Oh well! Now to just save up the money!

I'm still open for suggestions or comments if there are any more. Thanks again!

 

id say mojave or blaster! if ya rode bikes before you can ride theses, and the pics dont lie you like to jump[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

 

Yeah, I'll say,,,,,, nice pics!

Nice air?

 

Don't overlook the manual clutch bikes!!! The 300EX has WAY BETTER SUSPENSION than the 250, and the 400 has WAY BETTER SUSPENSION than the 300. If you can jump a 4X4 Rancher, you need to be looking at a 400EX!!!! But, the manuals are chain drive, and the mud will take its toll there.

The suspension on the 250 is pretty minimalist. Tight and short, much like a Rancher.

 

my friend has a descently modded 250 with 12 inch rear tires plus wheel spacers and he can do donuts on pavement. He has a big gun exhaust, air filter, and a jet kit and it produced a ton of power. He can probably beat my 300 in a race. Definately a good choice for you. If you do get stuck with it then you can jsut lift it out. The comment about using momentum is so true about 2X4's.

 

Another ride you might consider is the (I know I'm going to get yelled at on a Honda fourm for saying this, but..) Suzuki Z-250. It has all the amenities that the 250EX has (shaft drive, sporty, based on a utility) with a little more power. The only thing it doesn't have is the virtually maintenance free push rod motor. Also look at the Kawasaki Lakota. Granted it is a 300, has a chain drive and is about 100 lbs heavier, but it too is a nice machine.

I bought my 250EX for my kids and neither one of them had trouble going from a Polaris Trailblazer to it. Sean (my youngest @ 11 YOA) is about your size and weight and he has a blast on it. Samantha, is a little bigger and already wanting a manual clutch machine. I've since put wheel spacers and it helps make it nearly untippable. Now, if I could just find a longer swingarm for it......

 

So, are you guys saying the 250ex doesn't jump well?? I do love to jump. But if the Rancher does, than the 250ex surely will, won't it?? I thought any sport would have to be better? I would hope the 250 has better suspension than the Radio Flyer, I mean, Rancher...it is pretty stiff. I raced against three 250ex's in a hare scramble, and they get around in the woods so much easier!!!! (not saying because of suspension, just because they're sportier I think?

I am completely competent enough to use a clutch, since I am used to dirtbikes...but I don't really prefer a chain at all. And as for the 400ex, I won't buy something without reverse. How much better is the 300ex than the 250ex?? Other than it is not utility. If I don't get a 250ex that will bump me into sport classes and not light utility in races. I wouldn't stand a chance!

Again, I have considered the z and the trailblazer, but because of my price break, I will stick with Honda.

 

The 300 is a cut above the 250. Personally i dont understand a shaftdriven sport quad but ok. The 300 can be modded more then the 250 if that is a concern. The suspension is better and the size is pretty close. I bet you would feel more at home on a 300, esspecially if you want to jump alot. I saw a guy jump a 250, when he landed the thing rebounded so hard it bucked him off and this was in the sand. Maybe it was his own malfunction but i know i have never been bucked off my 400. So just make sure you think about the 300. If you are geting a used one i bet you can pick up a 300 for less then a 250 depending on the year.

Nice pics to. Why jump a 4x4?
Crazy.

 

Being that you are only 115 lbs the suspension on the 250EX might suit you, just remember that it does have limits. The first thing that my son Sean asked is "Were where are the adjusters (meaning preload) for the shocks?". I'm actually glad they don't have them, in a way. Samantha would have to set them up hard (for jumping and all of that good, high speed stuff) and Sean would have set them soft for low speed ride plushness. There would be no happy medium with them.

I bought the machine for it's bulletproof nature. Shaft drive, push rod motor (no chains at all on this machine) and Honda's vaunted reliability. Kids can be notoriously hard on a machine the goes without maintenance for several months (I don't get to see them that often, they don't live in the same area as I do). This is why I wanted the 250EX. One tough little machine.