For a long time i have wanted to get a 400ex, but recently have been looking at dirt bikes. They seem like more fun, usually cheaper, and more readily available. I'm a beginner rider and haven't had any experience on a dirt bike (some experience on quads). So would a dirt bike be easy to learn on and a better purchase? Also, can you modify bikes as much as you can with quads?
Thanks for any help

 

As to which is more fun, only you can answer that. Having spent a number of years riding both, I'd be hard pressed to decide which is more fun as they are so different from each other.Your best bet, since you're undecided would be to somehow figure out how to spend some time on both the bike you like and also the quad you like in the same environment in which you would eventually ride. As to price, bikes are generally less costly but generally don't hold their value like quads. The number and variety of modifications for dirt bikes, like those for quads, are directly related to the depth of your pockets. The relative ease of learning on either machine depends somewhat on the person as well as on the riding style he wishes to attain; in other words, casual moderate speed trail riding, or faster, more technical riding. In my case I believe I had more difficulty with quads in the latter. At the same time experience on bikes was a big help too.
By now you have no doubt decided that there is no cut & dried answers to your questions in most cases...it's all YOU!

 

For me it was the other way around. I found quads easier to ride than dirt bikes. From my own experience I have also found dirt bikes to hurt way more than quads. Crahses (drops) are way more common for me on a dirt bike. As far as which one is more fun....only you can answer that. Find someone to let you borrow theirs for a while and try them both.

 

I also do both. Here's some more considerations. You will go down more on bikes. They do require more skill to be proficient, especially with technical riding. Technical riding on a quad is also very challenging. Problem is, going down on a quad can be far more dangerous, since you now have a significantly heavier machine with the potential to crush you. Also, what are your current and potential friends riding? Birds of feather tend to ...
Riding with buddies is a lot safer and much more enjoyable. Another consideration is your accessability to riding areas. Bikes are or can be made street legal, making access a lot simpler than trailering equipment. And finally, I find quads more suitable for exploring and bikes for exhilaration, both of which I really enjoy. Aw shoot, go used and get both.

 

That’s exactly what I did (got both) but I went with new. I got my 400EX first and I’ve had it for a year while I saved up for a new YZ125. I just picked the new bike up a month ago. I have never ridden bikes before except bmx but I have ridden quads (never owned one before though). I got the quad first because that’s what most of my friends were riding. Only problem is most of them sold there’s not long after I got mine. As to what is more fun it really is just a personal preference and the kind of riding you want to do. Also local riding areas might play a big role in your decision. Some trail systems can be very difficult to navigate with a quad and are primarily for bikes. This is usually due to single track narrow trails.

They both have there goods and bads in the safety department. As stated before you will go down more on a bike but you are less likely to be injured were as you will not go down on a quad as often but are more likely to be injured. I have a friend who’s dad had one roll on him and now he is paralyzed from the waist down. I don’t have any stats so I cold be wrong but I think spinal cord injuries happen a lot more on quads than on bikes.

Personally when choosing between the two I don’t think you can make a bad choice. I hope this makes some sense. I have been up all night and it’s now 5:45am and I’m getting really tired.

 

Unless you go with a pure sport quad, just about any ATV could also serve as a work machine that will get more than just you from point A to B. Sport ATVs represent only a small percentage of total ATV sales during any recent year.