Obviously I am a Yamaha fan, but the 400ex is very hard to beat for an all around bike. There are generally a few around with the new 450 out and the bigger 4 bangers some guys are trading up.

 

Your still missing the obvious point. The Banshee will chew you up and spit you out. I've rode my friends stock banshe and i have trouble holding on sometimes. It's an awesome machine but like you said ur still a newbie. Im not makin fun of you. But for now id say go with the 400EX.

 

I got my 97 shee for about $3000 it is great.

 

Yea banshees are very nice quads, great power.l

 

Mine is VERY fast, With a few mods like pipes/silencers, filter, yada yada yada, that thing will haul ^%, Mine can do at least in the high 90s maybe even 100.

 

If the shee checks out and is a good bike then I think that's a pretty good price. I think they always tend to sell a little high at least around here. Yes you can get gains with a pipe a shee has as many add ons on the market as any quad ever. I to think it isn't a good quad for a beginner even if you're older. There horsepower is awesome and top speed is way over 70 stock. I think maybe i'd try to get a warrior. Pretty good power and you can mod it to make it really fast. You can also find them cheap as dirt sometimes.

 

i think i would buy the shee over a 400ex if you get the shee take it easy at first till you get used to it and then let her rip.

 

Basically try one before you make any decisions. It can be a little TOO much for somepeople, so go for a ride, and realise thats how the thing rides everywhere WOT ripping your arms out like riding a bull.