Opinions needed please

[chris200x]

I'm in the market for a newer quad for my 13 year old son. He's a pretty decent rider and always keeps up with the group. often riding circles around his old man. :D

He rode one of his buddies blasters this past weekend and fell in love with it.. 240 kit and all the works... and he handles my 350x just fine. but dad thinks he'll quickly outgrow and get bored with a blaster. and was leaning more towards a 400ex perhaps. I've got about 1500-2000 to spend so I'd like some input from you 4wheeler guys on what you think would be best. pros, cons, even some pics if you guys would like to post them. I'm just looking for ideas or opinions.

he's been riding a 2001 kawasaki lakota sport (300 auto) the past two years and pretty much rode the wheels off the thing.. what would be the next best thing for him?

and since I'm posting,, does anyone have anything for sale in my price range somewhere near NEPA? I may even be willing to trade in my 350x for the right ride. :)

[code200k]

dont get him a blasturd.i would say a 400ex or warrior or better yet a trike lol...

[skippy]

chris.. the 400ex is a great choice for him.. you should be able to pick up a decent one around here fro $1500-2000. it can grow with him and his wallet! the blaster is very cramped! the other choice may be a cheap 300ex.. you always see them in craigs list for $1000.. they are solid, and more room then the blaster! but he wont out grow the 400ex, and its very solid! when we riding again???

[The Goat]

400ex for the win...

[dirtbiken]

400ex is a great quad and would be a nice bike for him. But ever think about getting him a warrior or a shee? there sweett. I wouldnt get a blaster.

[oldskool83]

400ex, its simple air cooled engine should last him fine. theres a nice yellow one down the road from me, next to a warrior and a z400.

[TeamGeek6]

SOunds like the issue is "bored' and "ccs in the engine"

Wrong way to go. I can have a blast on a 110 with no suspension, cause I go find the nastiest terrain around and go run through it. Tree down? No problem, over it goes. On that no-suspension piece of crap Honda 110, I blew the "group" off the trail, rode through things they couldnt with their quads.

Find him some good woods terrain and teach him how to REALLY ride.

Fun on an ATV is terrain, not hardware.

[oldskool83]

what does your son want, if he likes trikes give him the 350x, steal his lakota, sell or and or trade it for what you want next.

[chris200x]

already sold the lakota :( I'm leaning towards a 400ex if I can find a decent one for a good price.

Skippy, If I can ever get my X started I'll go riding. I got the itch bad!

[trikes4life]

the one 400ex is a great bike, since the 450r came out theres 400ex's all over for a good price 1200-2400 range. but the 400ex lacks one thing the warrior has and its reverse. but the new 400ex's have reverse and the warrior has been around since 87. which way you go he'll have fun time.

[LT80]

Well it's good to see ppl with enough common sence to rag on blasters. <G> But a Warrior? Does he have a boat and need a anchor?? LOL
I leave my 250R home to have fun on my 300ex. The 400 is a great machine also.
To each his own, but at 13, it'd be a 300 for my kid (and it was).

[chris200x]

Thanks for all the replies guys, He maybe young, but has riddin almost every machine mentioned so far in this thread. 300ex's. warriors ,raptors even a 450.. and has done quite well on all of them. I think he just liked that blaster because it was worked. I've never personally ridden one with a 240 kit, but I'm assuming they're quite peppy. I never considered the not having reverse on the hondas. I know how much of a PITA it is with my 350x having to get off and push it back out of a mudhole. lol!!! I think he'd be happy withj a warrior or a 400ex. decisions, decisions... a few pics (just cause I'm bored lol)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/july5thride025.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/41809051.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/3044_1030592339567_1668141770_10869.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/3044_1030755423644_1668141770_10898.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/chrisr200x/3044_1030757023684_1668141770_10899.jpg

[aldochina]

no warriors!!

[LT80]

Nice pics. His physical size points toward the 300ex (which has reverse).
IMO, it don't matter how well he rides anything else, it's about a proper sized machine to the rider. It makes riding fun when you throw the machine around. Not the other way around. :)

[atctim]

Chris - I agree with most here - the boy needs a 400EX. They can be had pretty cheap and are great bikes. He should not out-grow a 400EX - really ever......

[code200k]

if he wants a blasturd i just got one needs top end. will sell cheap

[trikes4life]

im 23 and i still love riding the 300ex

[oldskool83]

so whats the verdict? you decide for him yet?

[LT80]

im 23 and i still love riding the 300ex

52...5-10"...250#...I love my 300ex. I leave my 250R home to have fun with the 300.

[krazykane]

get him a 86 87 250x same as the 300ex but half the price and you can mod it when needed .then you can buy something with the money saved or mod the 250x with the savings .and they have reverse

[Walkerallen]

just go balls out and get him a honda 450r

[oldskool83]

i got extra 300ex stuff if ya wanna build him one.

[Mr_RPM]

i LOVED my 400ex. stage 2 cam, 11:1 piston, full pipe, ported and polished, removed choke valve. she was a 450 killer. then i crashed it and broke my back. lol i wish i still had her.

STAY FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR from warriors and raptor 350s. BIGGEST PILES OF JUNK EVER! all they do is break and have electrical problems. i know this first hand with my own experience. i owned 2warriors and neighbors owned 1 warrior and a raptor 350. all junk!
get the 400ex, best quad you can buy him at this point.

notice my warrior is in the barn on crates GETTING WORKED ON, at that point i was on my 2nd stator and the 1 way clutch broke. so i couldn't even crank it over to diagnose the electrical bullcrap. that warrior aged me and my father ALOT. lol

[jimb0]

id get him a raptor 450

[Mr_RPM]

id get him a raptor 450

no such thing, raptor 80, 250, 350, 660, 700. thats it
your thinking of a yfz450? or a raptor 350?

[oldskool83]

he prob thinking yfz450...id never want one of the, ive seen 3 motors with pistons upside down, i think a ratpr 350 is gonna be better chassis wise then a warrior.

mainly if juinor wants a nice quads have him start working for one, i forget his age but after once i was 14 my toys were on me, no more i want pitty party crys haha.

but if you want a 300ex i got nuff parts i can sell ya cheap and between me and jason you could have a good quad for him

[Greiver430x]

Didnt he ride my 450 at patucky Chris by him a kawi 450, they got reverse lol. If you got the cash I would go 400ex of z/kfx.dvx400 both great bikes imo. He would do great with either.

[krazykane]

so what do you think you are going with for him

[dirtjunkie85]

warriors are kinda turds. the 400ex would be a good choice for your price range but if you can get the z-400 or even an older raptor 660 i would say they would be great too. i think that he will out grow a 300ex much quicker than the blaster, 300ex's are not near a quick. but the way your talking he's been riding full size bikes with stout motors already so he shouldn't have a problem with any of these rides.
the 400ex is the most bulletproof though.

[Jonson nike]

Your pet needs to heed your warnings. Dire consequences are sure to come if you sway from the original plan. Oh, and you should be a writer.