K2rider
Southern Cal
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Joined: 12/05/2004
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As the title say, I'm looking to upgrade my wife's quad for next season and want some input. This is her 4th year of riding and she rides the bone stock Suzuki LTZ250 listed below. She is 40 years old, isn't a dare-devil and never will be. She is totally comfortable riding in the back of the pack. We ride mostly in the deserts of SoCal (Ocotillo Wells and Superstition). We go to Glamis once a year and the quad is gutless on the hills. We also do 10-12 days of trail riding in Mammoth and Colorado each year.
I have asked her several times in the past if she wanted a new (ie. "better") quad and she always says she's fine with what she has. However, we just returned from Colorado and rode alot of off-camber trails that she had to go really slow on to stay in control. I once again explained the benefits of a better quad (suspension, power, etc..) and she is starting to see the light.
I'm pretty sure I can't go wrong with any of the 400's. I think the 450's might be more than she needs/wants or will ever actually use. Anybody have a model they would buy again in a heartbeat or would stay away from? It will also be left stock w/ *maybe* the exception of a new pipe.
2005 GMC Duramax 4x4 CC SB
2007 Rage'n FS2600
2008 Husqvarna TXC450
2008 Suzuki LTZ400 - Wife
2005 KTM 85SX - Son
2007 Honda CRF150R - Daughter
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BigJon05
Ripon
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Joined: 02/08/2005
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Ditch the sport quad and get her a 4x4. We all ride sport quads, sand and dirt and I got my wife an outlander max xt 650. Rides way plusher than any sport quad (even my ds650) and is hella fast. Plus its a 2 seater.
05 Eclipse Attitude 26'FSAK
03 F350 PSD longbed, 6" lift BFG 35
08 Polaris RZR
07 Can-am Outlander 650 MAX XT
2 Can-am DS650 00/01
1 TTR 90
1 Redcat 110
1 Unison 50
1 Honda XR50
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Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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Joined: 03/04/2002
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We've been happy with our Sportsman 500s, however if I were to get the wife one again I'd probably look more at something like a Wolverine or the newer Renegade 500. If the Wolverine were not FT 4WD it would be at the top of my list.
Forced Family Fun... They'll thank you later for it!
Have you checked out the new RV.net Blogs?
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sdhudson
Reno, NV
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Joined: 08/01/2006
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I think you're right, you can't go wrong with any of the 400's. I love my Honda 400ex. It is still bone stock and runs all over the sand and does the trails great and cruises with the kids just fine. I'm about her age and would say I probably ride middle of the pack or better. The only question is will she be comfortable with a regular clutch vs the automatic clutch they have on the Suzuki 250. Good Luck shopping and lucky lady if this ends up as part of her Christmas.
Denise
* This post was
edited 12/03/07 05:11pm by sdhudson *
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax/Allison
2007 Weekend Warrior LE3105
2003 Yamaha YZ 250
2005 Yamaha Raptor 660
2005 Honda TRX 400
2005 Polaris Predator 90
2007 Yamaha TTR 50
2005 Suzuki LT-A 50
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Macs Dad
SoCal
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Joined: 04/04/2006
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K2rider wrote: She is 40 years old, .
Oh man, you just let the hole world know how old your wife is. You might want to look at a really really nice quad for her now. 
07 Weekend Warrior SL2805
05 Chevy 2500 HD Crew Cab 6.0/410 Gasser
05 Honda 400 EX
07 Twister 150 GT
03 Honda CR 125
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StubbornOne
Escondido, CA
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Joined: 02/23/2005
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My wife has a Honda 400EX and loves it. She is a very non-aggressive rider and likes to hang back and ride at her pace, yet it has enough power that I can have some fun on it also. Very reliable, change the oil, add gas and go.
2007 Kawasaki KFX 90
2007 Honda TRX 90
2005 400 EX
2006 KTM 450XC
2007 WW LE3105
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bluedog1
SoCal
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Joined: 12/12/2005
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your 32 year old wife would love the Raptor 700 EFI... The 450's are a good choice, maybe the Raptor 350. The only part I don't like about the 4x4's is the fact he goes to Glamis but that is only once a year.
Better to have the power and not need it then to need it and not have it.
Stay away for the Kawasaki lakota 300. It has an auto clucth and reverse but a very hard suspension.
Get her a quad you can all enjoy, it looks like you all have bikes except for her.
2007.5 Chevy 2500 D/A CC Short Bed
2008 WW FSWL 32 Billet Edition
2008 700 Raptor EFI
2006 WR450 CA plated
2005 YZ125
2005 Polaris 90
2003 Kawasaki Lakota 300
1997 Jeep TJ (My Rhino)
1 wife, 2 kids a dog and 2 birds.
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bcoakley
Bishop, CA.
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Joined: 10/28/2006
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Y Guy is mistaken, the Yamaha Wolverine 450 is not full time 4WD, it is 4WD on the fly, just like the larger utility ATV's such as the Grizzly 700, which I also have. I absolutely love riding the 450, it is a blast. Has good power (not the high performance 450 of the YFZ 450), no shifting, shaft drive, looks like a sport quad. We have the white with black and grey camo graphics. Honestly, I think it's more fun to ride than the Grizz. Hope you find something she will enjoy.
2005 Ford F250 6.0 Super Duty
2007 Cyclone 3795
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 Special Edition
2006 Yamaha Wolverine 450
2005 Yamaha TTR 125
2004 Yamaha WR450
2001 Honda 70
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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Let your wife pick out what she wants.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
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yzfrider
ca
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Joined: 09/15/2007
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Stay away for the Kawasaki lakota 300. It has an auto clucth and reverse but a very hard suspension.
Suspension can be adjusted. Not nec. a kawi fan, but auto clutch and reverse, for a non aggresive rider, would seem like nice features.
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