Yeah, I really am thinking about it. I feel sad now about the way I have pressured my dad to do overtime just so I could get MY quad. I don't really know what to do now. After reading over this thread, I really feel guilty. My dad has worked hard, and I just don't know what it feels like to be in his position so I don't think I have the right to tell him to just "Do overtime and make a payment!" I really want the quad. My dad has a 1995 CBR 900RR that he said he was going to give to me when I turn 18. Do you think I should wait 2 whole years to get that instead of a quad?

 

I didn't mean to imply that the YFZ450 is anywhere near the handfull the Banshee could be. I haven't ridden a YFZ but from all the reports they are quite forgiving for their HP rating. My point with the Banshee story was just to show that I knew where he was coming from and that I didn't get my dream bike and it worked out better in the end. The bike I suggested for Mark (400EX) is hardly entry level though it is a very forgiving sport bike.

 

No need to feel guilty there, Mark. Most kids your age never think of anyone but themselves. You at least consider your Dad's situation. It is natural to want things. It is natural to want the best. Your Dad promised you that and I am sure it pains him not to be able to keep his promise. What I was saying was that the EX would make it much easier for him to fulfill his promise and you really wouldn't lose that much. The 400EX is a great bike that put too many smiles on my face to count.

As far as the street bike thing, do you have as much fun on a street bike as yo do a quad? I don't myself but I know people that love streetbikes and think quads are lame so it is all up to you and what you like.

 

Thanks Sir.

 

Mark

Mark, Mark, Mark, Mark, Mark ( I'm shaking my head) screw the bike stay with the quad. I have ridden street bikes my whole life, but I started on a mini bike when I was 9 and a YZ when I was 11 etc. You will die on a motorcycle or be maimed. My close friend and coworker who is an Electrical Engineer was a lot like you. Sheltered indoors never really experiencing quads or motorcycles. Then one day he decided it would be a good way to pull babes so I help him get set up on a GSXR600. He goes through Motorcycle safety school and has 3 wrecks in the first year. A broken collar bone, a few broken ribs, cuts, concussion, bruises etc. Sold that bike and now owns an R1 and has the rubber side down on this one for 20,000 miles. He is 35 not 18. So now he needs a quad so he buys a Raptor. He puts about 10 hours on it wrecks almost every time he rides it. Some wrecks are serious and some not. He is always trying to keep up with the experinced riders in the front. A couple of broken bones and the usual assorted injuries he sales his quad because he did not enjoy it. Too bad because he selected a real bad 1st quad to learn on

Now to my point Dave (my friend) is a lot like you. Smart guy, convinced his mental ability will be able to save him in a panic situation, but as his bumps, bruises and broken bones will attest nothing except learned experience will save your behind when things go bad, and they will go bad. Do yourself a favor get a smaller bike and ride the wheels off it. When it is nearly destroyed then you know you have earned the degree in Quadology to advance to the next level.

I have had every college math class and chemistry offered at the Univ of Arizona, and if I started at Diffy Q's( differential calculus) I would have flunked out. That is why you start with algebra, advance algebra, trigonometery, precalculus, calculus, I, II, III then you get to diffy q's.
It is exactly the same in bikes. You really need to start small and work your way up as your brain starts to hard wire in your reflexes you will improve and you might not have as many cool scars to show when you get older. A 400EX would keep you more then entertained for several years. Many, many adults who own them can't ride a 400ex to with in 75% of it's capability. Because the power is smoother and less abrupt you're allowed a few microseconds to process your options prior to hitting a tree/jump/berm/washout/cliff etc...

Good luck

 

to prevent rust from occuring on bare metals find a product called penatroll this will keep the rust from getting to the metal but you will really have to clean the meatal if you ever plan of painting the frame again

 

Thanks!

 

What about used YFZ450? Can you try ridin one any where to see how you feel on the bike or how you can handel it? I take it your not a total novice since you've rode a v-force a few times.

 

Mark Fiddle Faddle. you have no business gettin a YFZ. learn technique before you try and go fast. If you wanna be good get an underpowered quad and learn to maintain speed thru the corners and dont rely on the power. that way when you have the power you will be faster than those who try and skip steps[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

A few times! More like 3 years! I know everything there is to it about handeling that beast. I'm still learning to drive a manual on the Z. I was just practicing today for like 45 minutes. It was extreamly windy! I am getting the hang of it for like a week now. I think the shifting is already done, but the "learning how to control a beast like the YFZ450" has yet to come. I'll probably go find a friend who owns a YFZ450 and practice on that (Just kidding Curls, just kidding.) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]