Any suggestions?

[caldera]

I'm thinking about buying a new quad when income tax comes in. I have a 1984 Honda atc 200x that I rebuilt that has a few quirks, but I'm not getting rid of it!!!! I also have a 1997 yamaha 250 timberwolf which is a good restoration project I've been tinkering with. Someone gave me a '97 kawasaki bayou 220 that went underwater for hurricane Ike, but it sat up too long, so it's beyond saving. I've decided to get a new dependable quad, but I'm not sure which one to go with. I've narrowed it down to three quads, the Honda Fourtrax Recon 250, Yamaha Big Bear 250, or a new Kawasaki Bayou 250. Anyone have any opinions on these three. The only thing I don't like about the kawasaki is the lack of a decent brush guard on the front end. Anyone have suggestions on these quads

[smokinwrench]

I am sure the recon 250 is the same as a 250ex with different plastic. We have a 07 250ex for my boy that is just an awesome machine. Starts runs perfect, handles good, not to big or small. He is 10 and fits it very well and I also enjoy riding it and not to small for me either.

[TravEX]

Stuck with Honda. From what I've seen, those Recons are bullet proof.

[SYKO]

I know first hand what the big bear 250 can do, its tough! my neighbors kid punishes his to the extreme! big jumps, big water holes, you name it. WOT for miles whatever. And its faster then the recon, another freind has one and gets smoked by the big bear 250

[The Goat]

if this is the same engine that is in the beartracker...it is literally the toughest engine...PERIOD...that all honda...all yammi...anything.

I used to keep mine pinned...FOREVER I drove 13 miles on the asphault pinned. I swamped it a couple of times....flushed it out with diesel, good to go.

I sucked up about a gallon of water through my intake....1 gallon of water, 1.5 quarts of oil, drove it home, flushed it, ran perfect. That thing was easily the toughest bike I've ever encountered.

the mikuni carbs are a little twitchy after you swamp them a few times, but that's it.

get a set of 22in bearclaws on the rear...hit a hole pinned in 2nd...DONE

[caldera]

I'm really torn between the Yamaha Big Bear and the Honda TRXrecon. That '97 Timberwolf I have went underwater for hurricane rita and I've cleaned it up and it still runs like a dream, but I used to have a 1986 Honda 125 Fourtrax that was given to me and that thing was tough even though it needed a top end rebuild. It would go to smoking right when you started it up and it fouled out plugs like crazy, but other than that, I couldn't kill it. I gave it away myself b/c I didn't want to spend the money fixing a small 20+ year old quad that had no suspension. Just about every atv I've owned has been given to me and I've fixed up, this would be the first one I actually purchase.

[damageinc2785]

why a 250?

[Greiver430x]

I know the kawis are fun little trail quads, my friend had two brand new ones. They are faster than you would think and can take some punishment.

[cr480r]

why a 250?

my thoughts exactly...

[TravEX]

I guess he has a price range in mind, and figures a 250 fits it?

[caldera]

That's exactly why I'm thinking 250.....$$$$$$$. I don't hunt, so I don't need a huge 400 four wheel drive and I just trail ride from time to time. It's mainly something for around the house to pull a little utility trailer, but I also want something that will handle the trails like a beast.