Guys......Im having a hard time making a choice......the age old question, Dirtbike or Quad...

Its kind of funny.....I have a friend who just bought a 1995 XR200....So I rode that, First time on a dirtbike, And I have mixed feelings about it...I liked it, but at the same time, I dunno, its just not a quad...

So, Last night, its like 11pm (I live on 400 Acres), So I I crank my truck, turn the lights on highbeam, and point it out towards a field...he brings over his dads 1999 YZ400F.....OMFG.....1st gear...Was running about 23mph (Gps confirmed) by the time I got it to 3rd gear, I got on the gas a little, keep in mind this is only the second time I have rode a dirtbike, front wheel Lifted about 16 inches off of the ground, scarred me to death.....never rode a wheelie on a bike before...But oh my god, it was only at half throttle.....

My question? Dirtbike, or atv? If I was to buy a dirtbike, Im seriously looking at the YZ250F (or WR250F), and for an ATV, Im raptor all the way.....But I just dont want to buy a raptor, and constantly get smoked by a XR200....(a xr is a 4stroke)

If any of you all out there have experience on a dirtbike as well as a Quad, and suggestion/advice would be appreciated...

 

I've had bikes and quads. I have more fun on a quad. Just a personal preference though. Incidentally, my Raptor outrun's my buddy's CR250. If it's speed you want, a Raptor will not disapoint. Of course neither will a 250 dirtbike.

 

Dirtbikes are great, they sure fly.. Thats what I use to ride.. The thing with bikes is some day you WILL dump it no matter how good you are, thats the facts.. Its not IF you'll dump it, its WHEN... but thats my opinion.. a quad is easier in some sense cuz for the most part you do not have to worry about sticks going in the rim, mud, slippery rocks, etc... on a quad you just go, dont have to have a line all picked out... But heck, I want both

 

Dirt Bike or quad?Definately go with the raptor.I have a YZ250 two stroke right now and that thing is just to much to handle.Plus when you crash like i did three weeks ago you you usually crash HARD.Plus with a quad you can go to the dunes and have a much easier time riding around.If you like jumping you should also like the raptor.It is easier for me to land with four wheels instead of two.So definately go with the raptor.I am going to here in a few months.Anyway i hope this helps you out.

 

It is really a matter of personal preference.. Someone said "you dont have to have a line picked out on a quad" thats BS, If you drive\ ride any sort of machine you have to pick a good line, pick a bad one and you will either be slower than everyone else, get stuck, or worse yet crash and burn. As for the wipeout aspect, Well I feel that it is alot nicer to wipe out on a dirtbike, More times than not you see the accident coming, and\or you bail to the inside of the wipout, simply skidding the bike on its side. On an ATV you do not have that option, If you are going to crash, You will probably have a 3-400lbs machine kicking your butt all the way through the wipe-out. Just my experience/opinion, I like both types of machines fairly equally and I just wanted to show some of the other aspects of them both.

 

I've been in the same delima. The bottom line is I've had fun every time I go ride a quad (regarless of the brand), where a dirtbike I've been known to come back pissed - too muddy - too sandy - too rocky - etc...

If you're worried about a XR200 beating a Raptor - don't. If you're worried about a YZ250 beating a Raptor - DO! I don't want to offend anybody, but some keep saying a 250 2-stroke dirtbike will beat a Raptor - and it simply will not (given a rider that's not afraid to pin the throttle). I have a 250 2-stroke quad (250R) that will beat a Raptor and it weighs a lot more than a 250 2-stoke dirtbike. I would think the power-to-weight ratio of the new YZ250F and Raptor would be comparable. If I ever get another dirtbike, it will probably be the Suzuki DRZ400 w/ electric start. Even then I don't anticipate the bike getting as much time as the quads.

Good luck...

 

Man this sure is a funny topic. I was in the same delima about 1 week ago. I have a 99 banshee mildly modded. I go to tracks and ride sometimes and see guys on 125's and 250's jumping with ease. Don't get me wrong a banshee is fast and can jump ok, but a dirtbike will fly. A ditbike is also alot more forgiving than a quad, if you crash you can bail off of bike and lay it over, but on a quad it is going to flip and it's harder to stear clear. As far as speed a quad is going to be faster than a 125 but will have a hard time catching a 250. I raced a YZ400 in a 300 yard drag about 2 months ago, he jumped me from the start by about 3 bike lengths but as soon as I hit 3rd gear I was dead even with him.

What I did instead of having to choose was buy a YZ125 and keep my banshee. If you like riding trails or dunes then I would get a quad. If you like riding tracks and catching some major air, then get a bike.

99 banshee, FMF Fatty's, Power Core 2's, K&N filter with precharger, modded airbox, blue shockwears, Yellow maier racing fenders

99 YZ125, CR hi-bend renthals
On order:
2001 N-style V-2 Rough Riders Graphics/Seat Cover
Scott MX grips
Uni Filter

 

Not trying go be argumentive, but if your Raptor outruns your buddy's CR250, something is VERY wrong.

Raptor - about 36hp @ about 400lbs
CR250 - about 42hp @ about 220lbs

 

I love my banshee and 400ex.... I made a decision to buy a drz400. I just picked it up...I will not sell the quads. But if you leave out the mud...I fear this bike is gonna see much more use than the quad. It will easily go anywhere that I ride my quad.
Once the ground dries up in NY, I will do some comparison tests. I know for a fact that the drz will eat the 400ex alive.(it's a stock 400ex)....How the banshee does is another story...but it seems like it may be close. The ground is so hard right now that the banshee just sits there spinning. (as does the bike)
I will be honest in the compare though. That's if I can find a banshee rider around here that can put it through the gears Otherwise it will end up being a time test.
I'm not the best mx rider out there...But I know I will smoke the banshee with the bike on a tight track. The straits are the only place I think I will have to worry. Claimed top speed for the bike is around 90...Not sure on my banshee. It's not stock. I'm thinking about getting the snow blower out and cleaning a drag strip in my field

I'm not sure I can make the decision for you on which to purchase...two different worlds. If you can have both..then go for it. I had to wait till I payed off the banshee until I bought the bike. I grew up on 2 wheels...So It is an exciting time for me to be able to start riding a bike again. The YZ looks like a nice package though.

 

Gabe we fully agree on something.Anyone who thinks any ATV will beat an MX bike is grossly misinformed.