Off road quads

[Polarbear]

I'm getting browbeaten by the missus and daughter into getting a quad for playing off road.

Having a look through ebay they all seem very fancy on road stuff, or tiny engine size.

What should I look for in an off road, Make, type, engine size? I don't know sod all about them.

My friends who do bike off roading have WR's and the like so I want something that can at least stay the distance with them.

[Tonka]

We have a guy who occasionally comes out with us on a quad (I've no idea, but I'll find out!! ). If he struggles to keep up ever it's mainly because he rides on a 'wonk' for much of the time, with one side in a 4x4 rut and the other on the middle ground. It's really only the road sections that there is any clear 'keeping up scenario' and we don't tend to race along the roads on the bikes, so not sure it's ever been an issue.

Most trouble we have is two extremely skinny sunken lanes where he has to go round the road - you can barely kick a bike in them let alone fit a quad!!

I've been told we think it's a Honda 450 Foreman - a work horse rather than a sportquad as they are more economical and practical for his needs!
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'The core of a man's spirit comes from new experiences'
Suzuki SV650S (Clean); Yamaha XT250 Serow (Dirty)

[Slacker24seve...]

[G]

What sort of riding are you expecting them to be doing and what's your budget?
Do you want it to be road legal?
How fast do you mates ride?

Though, I'd still suggest two wheels are better in almost all situations .

[Paxovasa]

I advise you to be looking at buying a agricultural quad rather than a sport quad. They may not have the same amount of fun factor, but they will get you to where you want to go.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Polarbear]

[G]

'Green lanes' normally means byways, for which you have to be road legal to ride; taxed, tested and all riders insured and licensed. If you're not, you'll kill an awful lot of sweet purdy catz!

If they're not having to 'keep up' (I wouldn't have bought a WR to go slowly) then you've got a bit of a wider choice; as the utility quads can often overcome some fairly impressive obstacles still.

I'd try and stay with Japenese/well known brand if possible, but some of the more expensive Chinese ones are ok I believe - however as with bikes, believe a ten year older Japenese one will pretty much always be better.

Anyway, think you'll need to work out if you want a 'utility' or 'sport' model. Utility will probably see them get in to less trouble, as it doesn't go as quickly and may have 4x4 etc; but will have a lot more weight to land on them when it does go wrong and may make technical stuff a lot harder for the same speed.
Sports ones are more likely to be fully manual, but a lot bigger 'performance envelope' for them to explore. Also should be easier to unstick, even if they may be more likely to get stuck compared to a 4x4.

[G and J recovery]

if its off road you like , go for a yam banshee
very fast, and can clear doubles and triples,
your friends will struggle to keep up,
but spares are not cheap
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glen