I started out on a honda atc 110, had that for 3 yrs,then I moved up to a Honda 185 that I bought from my Dad, when he bought his 200x. Rode that for 2 years. Later I moved up to a Honda 250X Quad, which I rode until I tried my friends banshee.......after that, honda went up for sale! and sold that for a 1990 banshee,which I kept for 3 yrs., sold that and didn't ride for 9 years. (kids were small had to do the kids & sports thing...ta know.) Then March of this year my son who is 15 now wanted a quad and I knew if he was to get one ........ so was I!!, besides I don't want him riding alone. So, I bought him a 2003 blaster, and I bought a 2003 banshee! after a while my niece got hooked, and she bought a suzuki Z250 about 2 months ago. And My Dad who is 77 years young and walks with a cane.......just bought a brand new 2004 warrior last Saturday at Clawson Motorsports of Fresno!! He has been riding all his life, and he use to race the old BSA & Triumph motorcycles back in the 50's & 60's

If that wasn't enough I just when out and bought a 26 foot Wanderer toy hauler and I 'll be picking it up tomarrow!!

LAter
JLew[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Had several go carts a Yamaha Moto 4 100 and a Yamaha 200 3 wheeler. BACK IN THE DAY. Slim

 

Way back in 1985 I started on a 1983 honda 185s 3 wheeler.......that machine was solid, it could take some serious abuse!

For your case I would look for a used 400ex, its a good all around sport quad to learn on and it can take some punishment. I have seen some 1999-2000 models going for about $2000-2500, depending on condition of machine of course.

 

In '85, I was 11 and ended up with an '85 ATC250R. I begged and pleaded to get that bike, and it worked! It was a little much, but I was 5' 8" and 110, so I did alright. Next up was an '88 250R. After that was a '90 LT500R. Yeah, that was a fun quad. Since then, I've owned countless numbers of each, and numerous four-strokes, too. So now at 6' 6", 210 (skinny, I know), I am the owner of a Raptor. Less hassle and easier to ride than the two-strokes. It just sucks that I have to wait a while until I can ride again. For you, I would suggest the 400EX or Z/KFX400. A good used 400EX shouldn't be that hard to find at a good price. It doesn't have a reverse, though, unlike the Z/KFX. Both are great quads, but make your own decision, don't let us decide for you.

 

Back in 76 I got an Gt80. I then rode bikes for the next 16 years. Then I bought an new Timberwolf, that lasted less than a year until I got an Warrior. Run it a couple of years until I totaled it! Might near killed me hitting a tree with the left front tire, shoving it into the left rear tire! Kinda took the fire out of me! Well I fixed the warrior and sold it and got an Wolverine. I had it for a couple of years then I sold my race car and the guy that bought it was looking for a quad and asked me how much, well I priced it for what I had in it and he bought it too. So he bought it on a Sunday and on Monday I bought a new Sportsman500ho and thats where I'm at today. It's funny how getting older my wants in a quad have changed so much. I would still love to have a new mx bike but when I would crash, and I would crash, they would have to just cover me over with dirt and pronounce me right there.

 

I started out on an Indian 50....it had 5 hp engine....this would have been about 77-78. My first atv was actually a 3 wheeler...and it was an 84 Tecate 3. I would recommend starting riding on a bike for developing riding skills, then converting over too the easier too ride quad...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img].

 

I had a go-kart and a mini bike but the one that stands out in my memories is the brand spanking new 1975 MX 80 Yamaha. It was shiny and white, had those trail type knobbys and a number plate! I think my dad gave $325 for brand new. I know it's not a quad but thats what got me riding.
My first quad was a 1987 Big Bear I bought in 92.

 

I started to format a reply but noticed to didn't want to hear the word yamaha... and no, I wasn't going to say a YFZ.

 

Hey bud.....I had a MX 80 as well, I can't remember the year right now, but I remember it was $500 brand new. A YZ60 was sitting right beside it on the showroom floor and it was $700....I wanted it but got what dad would pay for...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]. Mine was white too, but I can't remember if it had a number plate. I remember the exhaust would always come loose from the cylinder head and I would have too re-attach it. I had an Enduro 80 as well....it was a Yamaha and was yellow.

 

Other than a few go carts and an old trail 70....I think my first quad was a honda 250x...but right around that time I remember an old 230quadsport too....Not sure which came first....

One thing I do remember at age 11....was my dad coming home from work half day...and catching me and a buddy with his brand new lawn mower engine in my go-cart.... I thought for sure we would have time to put it back on the mower before he got home. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Got my butt kicked for that one.