yea planning on getting my first quad, driven before but never owned

figure id ask u guys which suggestions

what im looking for:

something decent for starters, like something that isa pretty good base that im not limited too much by the machine

bout something that i can definitly build on to it

like im hoping to buy the quad in the 2-3k range and be half decent mostly mechanically

im definitly liking like late 80's early 90's kinda look like not tooo tooo new...i like the whole idea of old skool racer

and ill start putting money into it and build it up

like hoping to make this a hobby

cheaper is better but im not sure what to look into

one friend kept reccomending a suzuki lt250

haha but he also told me to get a kawasaki tecate (man those look sweet!)



so yea opinions?!?!

 

If you get an old 2-stroke, you may be working on it more than you will be riding!

Find a used Honda 400EX or Suzuki Z400. Both are solid, great handling machines. The EX is indestructible.

 

*agrees*

The 400EX is what i recommend to all my friends who want to get into riding. They're bullet-proof and fairly quick. Introduced in 1999, you can find one for real cheap and they'll still do 65mph and (-i've heard-) pull them in fifth with the right body language. Those things are a value as they handle VERY well also, almost on par w/ the new race machines, and for the money, you can't beat the deal. (my $0.02)

 

400EX would be perfect for your price range.

The older 2-stroke quad racers are going to be a lot of work because of there age.
You don't want to spend most of your time wrenching on it.

400ex would be my choice for a starter ATV

 

ook so every one recomends the 400ex which is good, im glad its undisputed

i guess only question from your experience....how are these quads for building up

cause realisticly id defeinitly like to dump money into it, make her something thats defeintly envyed intown

like i want it to be a machine that ill have in a couple years and i wont be upset

now granted i may want something alot better, who doesnt wanna move up in life...but dispite that feeling...like still be a solid quad

and i dunno bout quads, but cars some years are better then others older or newer like some are just better....same case with this atv?

thanks!!

 

definatly a 400ex or z400...


but it your gunna dump a lot of $$ into it eventually, get the z400


first year they came out was 2003, so they will be a lil pricer compaired to a 1999 or 2000 400ex...but definatly worth it..
both are pretty compairable quads, but the z400 is a newer design and is just better overall


buy an z, put a big bore kit, hot cam,full exhaust and some other goodies and it will hang with just about any other sport quad out there ( once you start modding, you cant stop....BELIEVE ME LOL)


both bikes can take a beating, but in my eyes the z400 is just abetter bike and they

 

If you want to be really old school get a trike. I have a Tecate and love it. But, it is much harder to get parts for than the Tri-Z 250 or 250R. If you want a quad that's old, cheap and has tons of aftermarket parts get a Banshee. Then there's the Quadzilla, but I don't know how easy it is to get parts. Sorry, I have no recommendations on 4 strokes as none of them from the 80-90's are worthwhile IMO.

 

get a 400ex because it has great handling for the trails but can beat a lot of quads out there. don't get me wrong the z 400 is a great quad but is more for the racer kind. your a new rider and probably don't haave much experience so go with something used it is also low maintenance. i love that in a quad. check the oil and air filter once in a while. it is also very fun to work on. my friend put a k&n air filter and he got a little more power into it. i recommend doing that and also puting a new exhaust. my choice is a fatboy exhaust that not only looks and sounds great but will give alittle boost baby!!!

welcome to the forums!!!

 

You didn't say what type of ridding you were going to do. If your just going to putt around I would try a Kymco 250 Mongoose it is a real Auto put in drive and go. Yea I know what some are going to say, I heard the same things from the CZ, Bulltaco, Husky, Maico crowd when Yamaha YZ's and Suzuki TM's first came out. Only Husky still remains and is hard to find a dealer. If the japs keep the prices up and the new mfgs. give a good machine at a much lower price it may not be long before names of the best ATV's will be Hyosung, Kymco, SYM and the names Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda will only be remembered by young of today. Just like Maico, CZ, Bulltaco, are only remembered by old farts like myself.

Hate to say this after being old school myself but look around and see how many 2 strokes are in the mfgs line up for 2007. The 2 strokes are dead "long live the king". Parts will start to go up in price cause parts mfg. will not make parts if the can not make profit. When was the last time you saw a brake lever for a CZ?

Go look at some of the news stand for ATV mags that came out in last couple of weeks, there are a couple that have articles about the writer's racing the Mongoose 300 at the last 2006 GNCC race they were impressed by it. It had enough power to beat a lot of the 400cc machines. I gave $3000 for mine new I'm 6' and weigh 200lbs and it pull my weight. I have had the thing since Sept 2006. I can go out there right now and the temp is 25 degrees and it will start right up I have never had a problem with it. Only mods are K&N filter and 30mm spacers ft. and 45mm on the rear. Everyone in the family rides it my 25 yo daughter, 21 yo son and my 49 yo wife and I am 54 and still race only not 2. wheels

 

well most of it will be monkeying around in sand pits and stuff, other then that most of the riders here take trips to the dunes, id like to join them