Beginner Quad Rider Advice
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,562
Likes: 424
From: Long Island USA
Having gone this route after 30+ years of riding a motorized "bike", and bicycles before that, BE CAREFUL the first few times.
If you've riden dirt bikes and even bicycles, it's hard to get used to the fact that you can't lean and turn. All my life I got used to twisting the handlebars and leaning and moving side to side easily.
It's a real culture-shock to get on a 4-wheel ATV (a trike was even worse). Worse, if it has a solid rear axle (which most if not all have), it's a PAIN to turn. You basically have to lean out of the turn so you get the inside rear wheel to lose some traction. The first time I got on a 2-wheel-drive ATV I almost wound up in the ditch because I couldn't turn the darn thing.
Another point: If you are going to use it for ANYTHING utility-wise, get a 4x4. Not only is a 2-wheel drive ATV almost useless for traction (unless you are very experienced), a 4-wheel-drive will allow you to make tight turns without that "leaning out" thing because the front wheels will pull the front of the ATV in the direction you turn.
I used a 4-wheel Honda the last few years, I think it was only a 350, to pull big logs through the woods in Upstate NY using a chain. Darn thing just pulled like crazy. And with 4-wheel-drive, it was a pleasure to maneuver.
Just my $.02's
If you've riden dirt bikes and even bicycles, it's hard to get used to the fact that you can't lean and turn. All my life I got used to twisting the handlebars and leaning and moving side to side easily.
It's a real culture-shock to get on a 4-wheel ATV (a trike was even worse). Worse, if it has a solid rear axle (which most if not all have), it's a PAIN to turn. You basically have to lean out of the turn so you get the inside rear wheel to lose some traction. The first time I got on a 2-wheel-drive ATV I almost wound up in the ditch because I couldn't turn the darn thing.
Another point: If you are going to use it for ANYTHING utility-wise, get a 4x4. Not only is a 2-wheel drive ATV almost useless for traction (unless you are very experienced), a 4-wheel-drive will allow you to make tight turns without that "leaning out" thing because the front wheels will pull the front of the ATV in the direction you turn.
I used a 4-wheel Honda the last few years, I think it was only a 350, to pull big logs through the woods in Upstate NY using a chain. Darn thing just pulled like crazy. And with 4-wheel-drive, it was a pleasure to maneuver.
Just my $.02's
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