Out of curiousity what kind of quad would you say is safer? and why

 

Broken quad - four flat tires and a blown engine. You can sit on it and make ATV noises all day long without getting a scratch on you.

If that's too tame, then I'd go with the 250 class utilities. Enough power to get you out of trouble but lighter in weight, lower top speed and more protection than sport bikes.

Jaybee

 

i was just refering to utility or sport

 

It really depends on were and what you are doing with it. So tells us what you want and we may be able to help you better. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

im just riding trails and im already purchasing either a 400ex or a z400 i was just curious though if your doing your average dirt trail or riding in fields etc. what would be the safest

 

My personal opinion is your on the right track. If you plan on climbing some rough hills with rocks and stuff then a 4X4 would probably be safer but I personally think people get to comfortable on a 4X4 since it is automatic and you don't really have to think about it you just gas it and go. If you have to think before you do it sometimes you make a better decision on your abilities. But this is just my opinion and everyone one has one so take it for what it is worth. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] Just ride be safe and have fun and remember your safety equipment. Nothing is fool proof and just walking out your front door can be dangerous so Be Safe.

 

Thanks thats just what i was looking for

 

If you ride within the machines and your own abilities, they are all relatively safe. Overall, I prefer the lighter weight, handling, and stopping performance of a true sport quad over the utilities. There are some forms of offroading where a 4x4 is a much better tool, and perhaps even safer.

 

As was pointed out the Ute are more dangerous in the hands of the novice because they give a false sense of security..... people think they are tractors because they have racks and farmers use them.... but the fact that they are 600-800 pounds makes them impossible to control when they get out of control..... no 150-250 pound human is going to have any effect once a 750 pound monster starts bucking and rolling......

On the flip side, speed is also dangerous....... and sport machines cover a lot of ground very quickly, and sometimes in tight areas.... they are equally dangerous when ridden beyond the riders ability...... however, generally a 350-400 pound machine is not going to pin you under it, or crush you to dust if they roll on you..... they are also IMO MUCH MUCH better for the novice to learn on because they learn to recognize the trail feedback that the big Utes hide in their suspension. .......

The key with either machine is that the rider and machine are matched properly...... some of the smaller Utes like the 350-400cc machines are lighter and safer for the novice, though still heavy they are smaller in size and easier to learn on...... On the sport side the best novice machine on the market might be the Honda 250ex...... It has mild power, a 2-way (auto/manual) clutch and a friendly ergonomic design.......it is highly reliable and requires minimal maintenance....... the Suzuki z250 is another nice starter machine.

 

well the sports are lighter...