I am looking for a good starter bike for my wife. She needs something that is not to scary, and something that will start easily, preferably with electric start. She has ridden a little, but I need to get her hooked.
Any suggestions on makes and models. I have no loyalties to brand, so anything will do, just as long as she will want to go with me, and have fun, and most importantly, want to go back.
Full Version: For the Wife
A good starter quad for a woman is a Honda 300ex. It has the electric starter and good reliability. It has the power to get any where in the dune you want to go with out going big on power. You can pick one up for just around 3,000.
Here are my thoughts. It is always a difficult choice to make, especially when the criteria is that "she will want to come back" ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
. If she does not know how to work a clutch, then after one day at the dunes on even the simplest of clutch quads (say a Z400 w/reverse), she may be frustrated if you get on hills. If she is good with a clutch or is a fast learner then you have many good solid first choices: Honda 300EX, Yamaha Warrior (all used to save money). If new is your budget, the Suzuki Z400 w/reverse is a great machine and will grow with her to any level (this is what my wife has).
Now for a complete novice, who doesn't want to shift and still have reverse, then get a Polaris sport quad (with paddles of course). She can then learn to ride and have a fully automatic tranny (like a car) and they perform pretty decent as well.
. If she does not know how to work a clutch, then after one day at the dunes on even the simplest of clutch quads (say a Z400 w/reverse), she may be frustrated if you get on hills. If she is good with a clutch or is a fast learner then you have many good solid first choices: Honda 300EX, Yamaha Warrior (all used to save money). If new is your budget, the Suzuki Z400 w/reverse is a great machine and will grow with her to any level (this is what my wife has).Now for a complete novice, who doesn't want to shift and still have reverse, then get a Polaris sport quad (with paddles of course). She can then learn to ride and have a fully automatic tranny (like a car) and they perform pretty decent as well.
I bought my daughter a Kawasaki Lakota Sport 300 and have been very happy with it. It is semi automatic (you shift but there is no clutch) - electric start (with backup recoil) and has reverse. I looked at the Honda 250EX what is the same in respect to electric start, semi - automatice and reverse. Kawasaki was a little more MSRP but it got a good deal and was about the same as a Honda 250ex would have been. It has more cc's 209cc vrs 299cc, more suspension travel front and rear, a recoil as backup. It does weight more a bit but that can be taken as a good or bad, I perfer she keeps it on the ground. A couple of ATV on-line sites had positie reviews and one even did a 5 step fixup that was basically tires, pipe, jetting... Lastly I know it's just a preference but I like the looks of it far more that the Honda. Here is a like to one or the reviews - web page
i was in the same boat about a year and a half ago. The only differance is that my wife had never ridden anything before. So it was either a Warrior or a 400ex ( z400 wasn't around). It all revalved around what I was going to buy. You don't want to buy something that she will out grow to fast, plus if you can go places she won't be able to go I'd hate to be you when you get back to camp. I bought a raptor for myself and then I bought a 400ex for the old lady. I've talked with some people that told me that it was way to big for her. Which was true for about a month now she will climb anything I will and go just a fast as she dares. Save yourself some form of a Asschewing and get her something that she will beable to keep up if she wants to. Right now she might not wish to do the things you do, but she will!!!! TRUST ME!!!!!!!!!!
Right now I'm looking into buying myself a quad. I have gone a few times and love it, but I didn't do much driving until recently. For me I am trying to choose between the Honda 400EX and the Suzuki Z400. They are pretty similar too. The Z has 398 cc's, the EX has 397. They are both 4 stroke, single cylinder, 5 speed, 4 valve engines. However the Z has liquid cooling, instead of the EX's air cooling system and the Z also has reverse. The Z weighs about 5 lbs. less and has brake lights, which the EX does not. The prices I have found so far are pretty close as well. Hope this helps.
OK...THANKS FOR THE TIPS AND ADVICE, BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OLDER USED BIKES? I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND SPEN $5,000 ON A BIKE THAT SHE MIGHT HATE AFTER ONE RIDE. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE THAT, AND TALK ABOUT WASTING MONEY!
If you want buy used I would recomend a Yamaha Warrior. My wife has had one for 12 years and she is happy with the quad. The just seem to run and run. They are no barn burners but they do OK with paddles and the reverse is easy to use. If you get one the shocks and rear spring are adjustable to her weight and riding skills.
[ 12-31-2002, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Oldman ]
[ 12-31-2002, 11:36 AM: Message edited by: Oldman ]
Hey oldman, have you ever heard Taco's feelings on Warriors?? ![[Grenade]](graemlins/grenade.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Hey, Taco's experience is not typical. My dad owns a Warrior, perfect bike for him. It requires very little maintinance, goes everywhere including up all hills... was quiet with the stock exaust... and I love riding it!
Vor
Vor
Shane-O
No I have not heard him speak of the Warrior. I guess he has had some bad luck with one.
No I have not heard him speak of the Warrior. I guess he has had some bad luck with one.
I have a 1998 Yamaha Breeze for sale.Auto with reverse.Electric start.perfect starter quad.125 cc
Contact me at n2cows@lightspeed.net
Contact me at n2cows@lightspeed.net
quote:Here's a suggestion..Rent one for the weekend. I know..$$$$ but it will be cheaper in the long run knowing, before you invest in a new machine, that she likes it. Or see if you can borrow one from a good friend. Make it easier on yourself knowing she has tested her riding abilities and knowing she can handle one with ease. At least this way you can assess the situation without making an ass of yourself and spending money and having it be wasted..good luck..
Originally posted by jusdrmn':
OK...THANKS FOR THE TIPS AND ADVICE, BUT WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OLDER USED BIKES? I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND SPEN $5,000 ON A BIKE THAT SHE MIGHT HATE AFTER ONE RIDE. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE THAT, AND TALK ABOUT WASTING MONEY!
There are starting to be a lot of used 400ex hondas on the market. If you look around you can find them for $3,000 to $3,500 with very little use. I would buy a z400 or kxf400 if I was looking for a new quad for my wife because of the more current engine technology and a reverse, but you can't beat a good used 400ex for the price they are starting to sell for. If you get a good one you can get your money back out of it fairly easy if she doesn't like it.
Jusdrmn, has she ever been on a bike before, just what is her riding ability? What ever you get her try and get something light that's EZ to move around on not some big heavy beast. ![[Burnout]](graemlins/burnout.gif)
THE ONLY THING THAT SHE HAS RIDDEN IS A BLASTER. (THANKS JOHN @ OUTBACK) WE TOOK HER TO EL MIRAGE (NOT THE SAME AS GLAMIS) AND SHE HATED IT. SHE HAD NO RIDING EXPERIENCE BEFORE THAT, IN FACT SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT MEAN'T TO SHIFT GEARS. THE BIKE WASN'T IN THAT GREAT OF CONDITION, BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR A LONG TIME. THE GEAR BOX WAS OVER FILLED AND IT SPIT GEAR OIL ALL OVER HER AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. SHE RAN OUT OF GAS AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN AND IN THE PROCESS HAD ROCKS THROWN UP IN HER FACE. IT WAS NOT A GOOD FIRST TIME RIDING EXPERIENCE. THE NEXT TIME WE GO IT IS A MUST THAT SHE HAS A GOOD TIME SO THAT SHE WILL WANT TO GO BACK. SHE ALLREADY HAS A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE ABOUT GLAMIS BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE HAS HEARD, AND IS AFRAID THAT SHE WILL GET RUN OVER BY SOME DRUNK A#S H#@E. SO, I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT SO THAT SHE WON'T PUT UP A FIGHT EVERY TIME THAT I WANT TO GO.
Bring her to a Gathering and let her go on a ride with GlamisChick in the Polaris Ranger!
That'll convince ANYONE, Seriously!
Vor
That'll convince ANYONE, Seriously!
Vor
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