So I'm new to the forums and I have a good bit of experience on quads but what would be the best quad for under $1800 for trails and a good top speed?

 

Something in a 300-400cc used will be right in your budget.

Just get whatever you can find in your budget and looks like it has been maintained properly. Test ride before you buy of course.

You can get a 300ex, 350 warrior, anything in the 400 class would be fine also. Sometimes in the 400 class depending on your area and condition of the quad, you can find them around $1800, sometimes less sometimes a bit more..

The 300 and 350's wont have as much top speed as a 400. Any 400 would be great ( I have owned several different brands) as long as its reliable I would buy it. If you want one of the quickest 400's look into an ltz400, dvx400, or kfx400 (they are all made by suzuki) except the plastics are different. They are reliable and very agile in the trails. A 400ex would also be a good pick, they are air cooled but the engines are very reliable.

 

400EX, I see them all the time on CL for that price or less. Mine was $1650 and is in fantastic shape. The models made from 99-04 will be the cheapest, but the ones from 05 on up will be in the 2k areas mostly since they have reverse and there isa higher demand for that creature comfort. At first, I hated not having reverse on mine but once you get the hang of it you can just spin them around on a dime in most instances. Reverse wont help you if you get stuck and bury yourself up to the skid-plate anyway.