ok, i've never owned a 4wheeler, and i need to know something about safety. i've always thought this was how it is, but i would like some other opinions: at the same speeds, wouldn't a utility 4wheeler be more likely to flip on a turn than a sport? i'm talkin same riders, everything same, except for the 4wheeler. what do yall think?

 

Sport bikes are way safer than utes! Wider, lower center of gravity, and WAY LIGHTER! I only chose a ute when I absolutely can't get there on a sport bike.

 

ok, thx... well, let me tell you what i'm lookin at: a banshee or a foreman. on the trails i'll ride on, i won't be going very much faster (if at all faster) than the utilities i could get. i was just wondering which one would have better handling.

 

Out of the two, I would say the foreman. Banshees arent really the best trail machine. The 2 stroke powerband can be a little tricky in those situations. Banshees like to be revved. The torque of the 4 stroke Honda would better suit your tigher slower trails

 

yea, i'm not worried about the powerband or torque, i've got that covered. i just want to know that if both machines are at high speeds, which one will handle better.

 

That is a no brainer, the Banshee is going to handle better at high speed. The Foreman is a work machine and not built for speed so it handles great at slow speeds and is not the Foreman a fulltime 4x4? If I am thinking correctly this morning. Seems to me you are leaning towards the Banshee and just need a few people to tell you to go that way. The Banshee is a 2 stroke and needs more maintence then the Foreman which should last you along time before any major manintence if you use it the way it is designed.AlaskaBoy.

 

I just went through this. I just bought a 03 Polaris 600 sportsman in November of 03. This too was my first ATV. I wanted a sport quad at first then decided to go to a utility. Let me tell you the utility is a lot scarier in tight, steep up hills. It is extremely hard to control a 600-720 lb quad with my 190lbs of body weight. But, one of the good points are I have yet to get this monster stuck. It is also faster than I thought. I have had the 60mph speedo barried on many occasions on the road. However, if you do a lot of technical trails and not a lot of mud get the sport quad. I am trying to sell my new atv just because I did not do enough research on which one to buy. Think about it and go look and ride before you purchase. I am finding out the hard way that these things depreciate a lot right out of the door. I miss shifting, wheelies, jumps and just the quickness of sport quads. But on the other hand, on a long bumpy trail I wouldnt trade my suspension for anything. Utilities are extremely comfortable on long flat ground compared to sport quads. The banshee will have a few problems on some trails. They are fast as hell and a lot of fun you just have to really know where you will be riding most of the time. If you will spend anytime in the mud you might want to think about something other than the banshee.

 

yea, i will go with a sport. now i am just trying to find out which kind i want. i am debating whether to go with a raptor, pred, ds650, yfz450, or trx450r. some of these quads may seem like a no brainer on which one is better, but i am considering everything. i have heard that the raptor is top heavy and the ds650 is just a heavy quad. the pred might not be as big as i want it. and the yfz and trx are expensive. i am considering power, handling, price and just the quad itself.

 

I am considering z400 vs Raptor. I am 6"2 and am thinking the Raptor would better suit me. It is a little top heavy but nothing body weigth cant take care of. These 2 have reverse which is necessary for trail riding. For the money its hard to beat the z400 though.

 

Your question is about saftey and you said that you can handle the power. Just confused how those go together but anywhay. I assume you have riden a banshee at least. If so I assume you like it, get it. If you haven't try to find a piped one to ride first at least. Because a banshee takes alota ballz to ride and alot of people cant handle it, or get scared of it. If you dont like it I would still get a sport but would suggest a 4-stroke there an easyer safer ride. Believe me a banshee's power is NOTHING like a 4-stroke, respect it or you'll get hurt.