My brother has a Trail Blazer and a 250EX for his kids. With equal weight riders the 250EX will barely pull away from the TB. The ride on the EX is not nearly as nice and the seat is HARD. It feels really small to me and I am 5'8". On the trail they are both very capable machines. They easily tackled the worst Wayne Natl. Forest had to offer. I disagree with the person who thinks an EX would beat a piped TB. I would go with the Blazer and use the money to pipe it and maybe put aluminum rims on it to lighten it up some. You might even put a dessert seat from Ceet which is a couple of inches thicker. Then you would have a machine that would be comfortable fast and still cheap. My 2 cents. BK

 

At 6'0 and 14 years old, I don't think I'd go with the 250EX. I'm thinking he may outgrow it sooner than you'd like. It's WAY SMALL!! I looked at one for myslef, and loved the features, but I was cramped on it. My legs were killing me when I got off the machine. If Honda had put the 250 on the 300EX frame, I think they would see gobs more of them flying out the door. It's one heck of a machine.

Since he's an experienced rider, I'd consider another machine. Buying a good used 300EX may not be a bad idea. It's bigger and I think better suited for an experienced rider.

The Trail Blazer is a great quad, and no it's not the fastest, but it's bigger than the 250EX and it's a good trail machine. You mentioned hunting, the Blazer has plenty of accessories that he can add to help him out there.

Anyway, with the various types of riding your son plans to do, are you sure you want to get him a "sport" quad? You may really want to consider where and how he will be ridding. Oh yeah, and let him test ride a few, that way he can be sure that he's comfortable with the ride and handling.

 

Wow, I know for a fact how a stock Blaster runs compared to my TB. But you mean a 250ex is really that slow.... that's very dissapointing. I wonder what the difference in gearing is between the Blaster and the 250ex?

 

Tough call I cannot give you an honest evalution of either because i have never rode either.
I say let him test ride them both and let him decide because he is the one that will be riding it.
The Blazer is more suited to a larger rider the 250ex you get something that is a little smaller but with proven honda reliability not that polaris is not reliable it is just not as well known for it the Blaster I would say is out for someone 6 foot does he want to shift ? Does he want a 4 stroke ?
If it was me a four stroke makes a good selling point for my style of riding.
I am not a big 2 stroke fan for trail riding but like them in the pits.
Well this is taking long enough I cannot decide if the 250ex was a tad bigger it would be my choice........But it is not my choice

 

if your boy is 6foot tall at 14 at 16 he will be in the mid six range.
i would not recomend any of the mentioned ones
take his 3800.00 and get him a bigger used quad of his chosing and you will both be happier

00sp500
00blaster

 

I agree with some of the others, a good used quad may be a great choice. However, if you do want a new machine with warrentee, then of the three mentioned, I would opt for the Blazer. The only reason I say this is that I think the other two are too small. I am 6'6" and fit comfortably on my Blazer. I tried a Blaster and was cramped up.
As for performance, hard for me to say. My slightly modded Blazer is plenty of fun for me. But I have not rode with any of the other two to compare.

 

ALL OF THE BIKES YOU LISTED ARE ENTRY LEVEL MACHINES. IF I HAD MY CHOICE IT WOULD BE THE TRAILBLAZER. I HAD ONE FOR MY 25 YEAR OLD SISTER WHO IS 5' 5" 130 POUNDS AND EVEN AFTER I PUT A PIPE AND A ROLLER (NOT A CLUTCH KIT A WHOLE NEW CLUTCH) CLUTCH ON IT SHE SOLD IT TO A FRIEND A YEAR LATER AND BOUGHT A 400 SCRAMBLER. IF I WERE HIM I WOULD WORK ANOTHER MONTH AND PICK UP ONE OF THESE. THEY ARE NOT MUCH BIGGER PLUS THEY ARE STRONGER AND LIQUID COOLED. THE HEAD LIGHT ON THE TB AND THE 400 SCRAMBLER BOTH SUCK SO PLAN ON AND AFTER MARKET SET IF YOU RIDE ALOT AT NIGHT. I BOUGHT A 2001 400EX FOR MY GIRLFRIEND 5' 6" 120 POUNDS AND SHE LOVES IT AND SO DO I. SO I WOULD EITHER WAIT AND BUY A 400 SCRAMBLE (YOU CAN GET A REAR RACK FOR IT TOO FOR HUNTING) OR BUY A 300 EX NEW OR SLIGHTY USED. YOU CAN GET A SMALL ALUMINUM 6 PACK RACK FOR THE EX TO HOLD SOME SMALL STUFF. THE 400EX IS A GREAT BIKE FOR US BUT HE MIGHT WANT REVERSE WHICH COMES ON THE 300 AND NOT THE 400. I WOULD RATHER SEE HIM WAIT THAN SPEND 3800 ON A BIKE THAT A YEAR LATER HE IS NOT HAPPY WITH.

 

MY SON IS 13 AND HAS A TRAILBLAZER.I HAVE A NEW TRAIL BOSS. bOTH MACINES ARE NICE BUT I DECIDED ON THE TRAILBLAZER BECAUSE IT'S NOT BUILT FOR SPEED ONLY.IT'S ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND MACHINES AND YOUCAN'T BEAT THE $3100 PRICE TAG.

 

From looking at the quad, I would say the polaris might be better for long rides. But for handling, and if he wants to win on the track.....HONDA> REad the mags...they can't say enought about Honda's handling. And the 250R is still winning races 12 years later!!!!

 

May want to also add the Lakota to your list. Stock for stock it will outrun all the machines listed. The March '00 issue of Dirt Wheels had a very good wright up on the Lakota. Funny though, all the good points listed in that test were turned around when it went up against the Honda, go figure. About an 85% contradiction, oh well Dirt Wheels is notorious for that. They said it was a great hill climber and handled extremely well on the trails. They mentioned it had very good suspension and took large jumps very well. They said the opposite since a Honda was in the picture though. I really enjoy mine. The jet kit and pipe brought it to life as well. Ride them all, they are all great fun and will serve you well, of course with the proper maintenance. JMHO!