Can't decide what to get

[Savage]

Can't decide if I "need" a 4 wheeler (preferably a 4WD one) or another DS. Right now I really want a quad, but maybe that's just because of the weather. I've never owned a 4 wheeler so that's another reason why I want one. I'm just wondering if it would suck to have a nice quad, only to be able to load it up and ride it on the trails.

I just took my 200 DS out for a very short trip (just to keep it lubed and such) and felt it would be cool to get a bigger one for longer/comfier trips.

Anyone have any advice? Thanks

[will_kc]

Hey Savage,

We have a 3-wheeler 110cc, 2wd quad 110cc, 2wd work quad 250cc. Kansas law allows you to ride gravel roads as long as your licensed for a car, have basic lighting, keep off the paved roads, paved road easements and follow rules in the small towns. We rode 45+ miles of gravel one weekend down here. I don't know about Missouri law.

IMHO, if you get a quad, get a working bike. Nothing like being able to pull a trailer with it.....

[troy]

Kansas law allows you to ride gravel roads as long as your licensed for a car, have basic lighting, keep off the paved roads, paved road easements and follow rules in the small towns.

Really?! Wow. I did not know this. I am surprised I have not seen more quads on KS gravel.

Savage, you want one of each, but you already knew that. I am kind of in the same boat. I have a trail-worthy dualsport bike. For 150+ mile gravel rides, I'd really like a 650+ class, more comfy dualsport. Something really comfy like a V-strom or even a KaTooM 950 would be lovely. On the other hand, I would not mind owning a quad--something I can take my little girl and/or wife on fun rides through the forest. For me, I'd definitely want a 4WD quad. I'd be more apt to do slower type riding on gnarly trails in the forest. I have friends, though, who get their kicks riding their 2WD racing quads through high-speed motocross style stuff. Depends on what you want to do.

You make a good point--how often would you REALLY use the quad? Maybe a lot, maybe almost never. I know for me personally, the reality is, the quad would sit in the garage for month on end while I'm hoping to find time to make a trip to the forest with the family. In the meantime, the motorcycle gets ridden all the time. If you live off a KS gravel road and have interesting places to ride nearby, maybe you'd get your use out of the quad. For me, it would be a minimum 2 hour drive to enjoy a quad.

Speaking of this, my mother-in-law has mentioned to me twice now that she'd love to go ATV riding in the forest. This is the same lady who gave me the icy glare of death when I announced I was going to teach her daughter how to ride a motorcycle. Pregnancy put an end to that ambition anyway. So I'm trying to figure out how to buy/rent/borrow a few ATVs to make an Arkansas trip this fall with the family. I can show them some great trails down there for memories that will last a lifetime. My brother KC has a couple quads...I'm SURE he'd let me borrow them...right, bro?

[ajayhawkfan]

I have both a large comfortable dual sport and a 400 4WD quad. 9 months of the year the 4wheeler is at a farm and I use it for work and hunting. After hunting season I bring it to KC and put a blade on the front and push driveways and sidewalks. Where the roads are snow packed I will pull my nieces and nephews on a tobaggon through the neighborhood. It can be a lot of fun at times but for the most part it is needed to do work.

For me, the 4wheeler is a tool while the bike is a toy.

[will_kc]

Here is a link to the question about riding ATVs in kansas... it's just an Attorney General's a opine... Notice all the cross references to proper registration, operation, etc.... It probably would be good to print this and carry it on the ATV when you get pulled over by "Deputy Summer Teeth"....

http://ksag.washburnlaw.edu/opinions/1994/1994-102.htm

[Savage]

The boss has a 4WD 350 Yamaha and it has plenty of power for me. I'm done with my power hungry days - got into trouble and ended up in a wheelchair.
Sometimes the auto trannies suck when you want to wind them out in 1st and 2nd though.

I took my 200 Lifan DS out with my cousins and their big quads to School creek last year. I made it through all the rocky and muddy areas they did but the quads roll over them like a big comfy waverunner. I got a heck of a workout on my bike, but riding the quads was like riding a couch. lol

[troy]

Btw, I don't personally know much about quads, but have several friends with late model units. They seem to think the 4-wheel independent suspension is the only way to go. However, I'm pretty sure that you have to go with a pretty big, expensive unit to get that feature. It would make a big difference in uneven, rocky terrain for obvious reasons.

If I were buying one, I would opt for the automatic. I think the Honda's have an automatic feature that with the push of a button allows you to shift if you so desire. I've ridden a 500cc automatic Honda 4wd unit, and it was sweet. So easy to ride. I'd want the automatic so my mother-in-law, wife, friend, etc. could ride without much learning curve. I found the automatic shifting worked perfectly--I had no desire to shift at a different point than what the auto did.

So you have one of those Lifan bikes? Chinese made? Any photos?

[Savage]

How about I start another thread for pics and flaming.

[troy]

How about I start another thread for pics and flaming.

Hey, at least you got a bike. I know plenty of people who tell me "I'd like to do that dualsporting thing"...but they don't go get a bike.

[xr-nut]

quads suck! i have hated them my whole life! why? because the people who ride them are idoits and are going to get all our riding areas closed down because, well you all know how they act at perry or milford.

NOW that being said, i did buy a brand new ARTICAT 400LE last year for my wife(wink, wink), no really-she was too afraid of the dirt bike we bought her so we sold it and got the 4wheeler. guess what, she's afraid of it too! so, me and the boys ride it around the farm, pull trailers, pull boomed weed sprayers, etc. believe it or not, it really is prett handy. Now this is the first time i have admitted this(hello my name is joe and im a quadaholic!) but it is fun to ride.

I went on a tuesday to perry with my neighbor on our quads after a weeks worth of rain, no one else was there. within the first 10 minutes we had them stuck! thankfully the articat LE comes from the factory with the 2.5K winch. we spent the next 4 hours seeing who could get stuck worse and then winch out. I know, i have now contributed to the horrible deep ruts at perry from all the quads. im ashamed. im a hypocrit, blah blah blah blah.

ive used it on hunting trips, deer-prairie dog and fishing. bought a windshield and heated grips and pull the kids in the snow on their sleds. enough, i know.

[troy]

This is a warning from the RideForum.NET site administrator: Any post that encourages the use of quads will be subject to deletion and the member's account may be banned permanently.

JUST KIDDING!

[Savage]

LOL
Sounds like you're just missing a snowplow for it.

I might see if I can check out a Lifan 400cc 4WD ATV with IRS.

From what I've seen the Lifan 400 looks very similar to this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-hHFRsz ... re=related

[xr-nut]

the only suggestion i might offer, is that the ARTICAT comes with a 2 YEAR factory warranty, its american made and the dealer support is wide spread. i am in no way affiliated with articat, its affiliates or subsidiaries~!

now, no more 4-wheeler talk- t roy might just kick us off!!!!!!!


btw-i have a tractor for plowing snow, but i hear from my a-cat dealer that the $450 a-cat plow is wonderful on pavement/sidewalks.

[Savage]

If I could afford an a-cat I would have one by now - or a polaris or yamaha. I'd also have an xr650. Maybe someday!

[safiri]

Here is a link to the question about riding ATVs in kansas... it's just an Attorney General's a opine... Notice all the cross references to proper registration, operation, etc.... It probably would be good to print this and carry it on the ATV when you get pulled over by "Deputy Summer Teeth"....

http://ksag.washburnlaw.edu/opinions/1994/1994-102.htm

Take a look at the date on that opinion ... 1994

I believe that in 1996 the legislature passed a bill that defined ATVs as "non-highway".
See http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-leg ... l/bills.do

From statute 8-198:
(i) Any person who, on July 1, 1996, is the owner of an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in K.S.A. 8-126, and amendments thereto, shall not be required to file an application for a nonhighway certificate of title under the provisions of this section for such all-terrain vehicle, unless the person transfers an interest in such all-terrain vehicle.

From 8-126
(bb) "All-terrain vehicle" means any motorized nonhighway vehicle 48 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of 1,000 pounds or less, traveling on three or more low-pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator. As used in this subsection, low-pressure tire means any pneumatic tire six inches or more in width, designed for use on wheels with rim diameter of 12 inches or less, and utilizing an operating pressure of 10 pounds per square inch or less as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

I know the info above isn't complete. You may want to do some more research before you challenge the local popo.

[safiri]

And perhaps what I wrote above is wrong ...

http://www.kfb.org/government/atvwhitepdq.htm

Not sure I would want to rely on the opinion of an AG that left office back in the 90s.

[ajayhawkfan]

the only suggestion i might offer, is that the ARTICAT comes with a 2 YEAR factory warranty, its american made and the dealer support is wide spread. i am in no way affiliated with articat, its affiliates or subsidiaries~!

now, no more 4-wheeler talk- t roy might just kick us off!!!!!!!


btw-i have a tractor for plowing snow, but i hear from my a-cat dealer that the $450 a-cat plow is wonderful on pavement/sidewalks.

That looks familiar:

[ajayhawkfan]

On a day like today I am glad to have me 4wheeler to clear the snow on my driveway and sidewalks.

[safiri]

Hey Savage,

We have a 3-wheeler 110cc, 2wd quad 110cc, 2wd work quad 250cc. Kansas law allows you to ride gravel roads as long as your licensed for a car, have basic lighting, keep off the paved roads, paved road easements and follow rules in the small towns. We rode 45+ miles of gravel one weekend down here. I don't know about Missouri law.

IMHO, if you get a quad, get a working bike. Nothing like being able to pull a trailer with it.....

Doing some searching I came across this ... fresh from the 2007 KS legislature:

**NOTICE**
SEE "2007 ENROLLED BILLS"
SENATE BILL 8 FOR DETAILED STATUTE CHANGES
EFFECTIVE APRIL 26, 2007


8-15,100
Chapter 8.--AUTOMOBILES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Article 15.--UNIFORM ACT REGULATING TRAFFIC; RULES OF THE ROAD
8-15,100. Operation of all-terrain vehicles; where; when; exceptions. (a) Except as
provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate an all-terrain vehicle: (1) On
any interstate highway, federal highway or state highway; or (2) within the corporate limits of a city of
the first class.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), all-terrain vehicles owned and operated by a
county noxious weed department, or all-terrain vehicles owned and operated by persons contracting
with a county noxious weed department or the Kansas department of transportation may be allowed to
operate such all-terrain vehicles upon the right-of-way of any federal highway or state highway for the
purpose of eradicating noxious weeds and such all-terrain vehicles may be operated incidentally upon
such federal highway or state highway.
(c) No all-terrain vehicle shall be operated on any public highway, street or road between sunset
and sunrise unless equipped with lights as required by law for motorcycles.
(d) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the uniform act regulating traffic on highways.
History: L. 1996, ch. 220, § 2; July 1.

Would appear that old AG opinion is still valid. Go to it!

[The Harm]

the only suggestion i might offer, is that the ARTICAT comes with a 2 YEAR factory warranty, its american made and the dealer support is wide spread. i am in no way affiliated with articat, its affiliates or subsidiaries~!

now, no more 4-wheeler talk- t roy might just kick us off!!!!!!!


btw-i have a tractor for plowing snow, but i hear from my a-cat dealer that the $450 a-cat plow is wonderful on pavement/sidewalks.

I believe that Artic Cat uses Kawasaki Motors