Dirtbike or ATV ???????????????

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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 11:12 PM
  #16  
Super FX4's Avatar
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Originally Posted by 06yz250f
i'd go with a fourwheeler unless there's some nice trails available.

if you get a dirtbike, for your size i'd get a 450f add a heavier flywheel, change your sprockets and a set of handguards and you'd be set.

2 stroke will be no fun in the woods just putting around and you will foul out sparkplugs quickly if you don't know how to ride one.

the drz400 and 650 are ok bikes, i'd look into a early yz450f for around the same price and you will have a much better bike. maintenance isn't bad on them at all. mine was easier to work on then than my xr250, and was no more often than it either.

maintenance is all relative to what you get. i did oil changes every two rides (by choice), valves maybe once every 6 months (once again by choice), bike never had an issue and felt just as good with a 100+ hours on it as it did new.
2 strokes are better in the woods and I have not fouled a plug since I have had my bike. (14hrs on it)

For KingRanchCoy, I would go no smaller than a 350-400cc. I was riding a Honda Rancher 3504x4 when I was about 12-14 and It felt 'dogish' to me.
 
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Old Mar 23, 2011 | 11:59 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Super FX4
2 strokes are better in the woods and I have not fouled a plug since I have had my bike. (14hrs on it)
that's your opinion that their better in the woods, for putting around a 4 stroke will be easier. a 2 stroke wants to be ridden, a 4 stroke is more friendly to your average user and IMO a more versatile bike. for what he's describing a 4 stroke will be better.

i never fouled one either but if you don't know how to ride one in the woods you can be changing them all day long. i had a friend where i had to pull his 5 or 6 times in one day of riding, finally just switched bikes with him so i wouldn't have to do it again.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 01:31 AM
  #18  
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Get both haha I got a 07 Yamaha grizzly 700 and a 07 Yamaha yz450f I love em both im power hungry so I like things that have some power. I started out with the bike than got talked into getting a quad started modding it and its like my truck now deep money pit. It depends on how you ride and such but it sounds like a quad would be a good choice for you plus they are more practical for working on property and such. No matter what you choose nothing less than a 400...
 

Last edited by noregrets; Mar 24, 2011 at 01:35 AM.
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 10:37 AM
  #19  
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Gotta keep in mind his budget. For $2000, I would either get a used Foreman/Fourtrax, or 400ex. The 400ex will be a lot funner to ride but the Utility bikes could be used for work if needed.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 01:21 PM
  #20  
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After searching CL i now found a 84 f150 4x4 for cheaper than these atv and dirtbikes. Damn i dont know what to do. Would be nice to have a old 4x4 to go driving around on the trails also.

http://sanangelo.craigslist.org/cto/2282506759.html

Thinking about offering him 1000 cash
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 01:59 PM
  #21  
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^Dog included?

I have a Yamaha Kodiak 400 with the syncro-transmission (F-N-R) and on the fly 4x4. Absolutely LOVE it!

I agree that for your size, anything smaller than a 400 will be asking for trouble.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 02:12 PM
  #22  
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I would choose a utility ATV over a dirtbike. For me, a 250cc Honda Recon is more than enough for what I use it for. Plus they never break down. My buddy still has a 1988 Honda 250 and hasn't had a bit of trouble with it.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 04:26 PM
  #23  
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A 2 stroke dirt bike would be much simpler than a 4 stroke & probably lighter to.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 04:43 PM
  #24  
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Shoot, you could have bought our old 1984 Suzuki QuadSport 230! But we sold it about 5 years ago...

It still ran perfectly fine, just needed to have the carb rebuilt.

I find it funny that it was so old that they hadn't even started the naming scheme for ATVs yet.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2011 | 05:44 PM
  #25  
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I live on ten acres also and like you are surrounded by much more. I think an ATV will be your best option you will get a ton of use out of it around the place. I have always owned Polaris, currently have two and have had great luck with them but with your $2000 spending range just look for something well taken care of and adult ridden with a minimum of 300cc.

Another option is a lifted golf cart. You'd be suprised what they will go through too. It will do about 80% of what an ATV will. Plus building one is a fun project! Her is mine and I have about $2500 in it!



Also you will ride up on a ton of wildlife and opposed to a noisy ATV.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 04:20 AM
  #26  
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Virtually all of my bikes have been 2 strokes & the one that wasn't was a pos!!! Constantly breaking down & expensive to repair. I rode for over 10 yrs & never fouled a plug up!! In any case the question was which would be simpler/cheaper to maintain & the 2 stroke is, no valves or timing chains etc!! Generally much easier to work on & the power is delivered faster making it a lot more fun to ride but they can be noisier.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 10:09 AM
  #27  
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In most cases I would bash getting an ATV but since you live on 10 acres and have much more easily available to you I would say ATV. You can hold more stuff like guns, gear, recovery, etc and can be used for just about anything. I think a dirtbike would be more fun but the ATV sounds more practical.

Also another option is a side by side! Those are so fun!

D
 
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 10:13 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by f150fella08
yamaha grizzly. or settle for a kodiak 400/450.

either one is as dangerous as the other.

example, i flipped my yamaha grizzly 660 because i had it in 4wd and gave it a little to much gas up a hill and it turned over on me.

Ah that also brings up another point. I 100% believe ATV's are more dangerous. It is harder to bail if you get into a situation and if you do somehow flip, you have a greater chance of being crushed by an 600 pound beast. Whereas a dirtbike, if you get into trouble you can easily bail and I think you have more control on a dirtbike.

I have been riding for a long time, nothing ever serious but I have had many dirtbike and many quads and I always manage to hurt myself on the quad.

Either way good luck on your decision and stay safe.

D
 
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 10:31 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by D's984x4
Ah that also brings up another point. I 100% believe ATV's are more dangerous. It is harder to bail if you get into a situation and if you do somehow flip, you have a greater chance of being crushed by an 600 pound beast. Whereas a dirtbike, if you get into trouble you can easily bail and I think you have more control on a dirtbike.

I have been riding for a long time, nothing ever serious but I have had many dirtbike and many quads and I always manage to hurt myself on the quad.

Either way good luck on your decision and stay safe.

D
x2 I prefer dirt bikes because they are easier to jump from when things go bad and they handle better on hard terrain. Also, you can't lean a quad when you are going across a slope.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 12:09 PM
  #30  
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I'm a little biased after 35 years of riding, but if you have to ask 'dirt bike or quad?' you don't deserve to ride a dirt bike, lol.



Ok, Ok, just kidding. Sort of.
 
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