Question for sport quad riders

[Dogmeat]

It's probably that I just suck at riding this thing, but ...

How tall are you guys and how much do you weigh?

Reason I'm asking this is I think I'm just literally too big to ride this thing effectivley ... Every time I try to climb a hill, even a smaller one, it wheelies up on me and I keep thinking it's gonna tip backwards ... every time I try to hit a jump with it, I feel like I'm gonna go over the handlebars if I land any harder than I do already, and I'm barley jumping it all ..

I saw in the owners manual Yamaha (I got an 07' YFZ450) does not recommend anyone over 220-lbs riding this thing ... I'm well over that ... heh

It's not the weight, It's the height though ... I think my center of gravity is too high or something..

I put an LSR +3+1 steering step on it to try to make it more egronomic for me but now I can't whip the thing around the corners very well ...

I don't know, I'm just thinking that these things weren't really meant for anyone over about 5'10" and 180 pounds to ride ...

What do you all think?

 

[phatty]

sell the quad and get a real bike with only 2 wheels...
much more versatile, go more places, funner to ride, and less destructive on the environment too...

but sounds like you need to re valve and get your shocks set up for your weight. Makes a big difference...

 

[Dogmeat]

sell the quad and get a real bike with only 2 wheels...
much more versatile, go more places, funner to ride, and less destructive on the environment too...

but sounds like you need to re valve and get your shocks set up for your weight. Makes a big difference...

yeah thats what I'm thinking I should do honestly

 

[IMSICK]

maybe not what you are into dog.... but I have a Can-Am Renegade..... I'm 6'3" and 235ish. The thing feels great, wheelies no problem, jumps good and feels good in the air. I had a raptor, and I was in the same boat as you.... just didn`t feel right.

 

[Dogmeat]

maybe not what you are into dog.... but I have a Can-Am Renegade..... I'm 6'3" and 235ish. The thing feels great, wheelies no problem, jumps good and feels good in the air. I had a raptor, and I was in the same boat as you.... just didn`t feel right.

Yeah, I looked at one of those the other day at the dealership ... they look badass...

I think the best idea would be to get a dirt bike to go fast and a Renegade to off-road .... if I could afford it

I think I am gonna try to sell this YFZ ... It just sucks cuz Im an idiot and took out a loan for the full price of the thing so it's worth less than I owe on it

But, that's an extra $300 a month I can put into sled mods

 

[Chubbydog]

I had a Banshee with an extended swing arm, and it felt allot bigger than the YFZ450. I'd jump on my buddies 450 quad, and it felt like I was on my kids 4 wheeler. I did what Phatty mentioned, and just bought a bike. Much funner than the quad anyways. I get on that, and I feel like a kid again. I sat on the 520KTM 4 wheeler, and it felt allot nicer, but when I saw the price tag, I hurried and got off it. 10 grand for a 4 wheeler seems a little high to me.

 

[Gimpster]

You could look into stiffer springs and re-valving the shocks to suit your riding. The rating on the quad is for suspention capabilities it is set up for factory. You might be better suited if only spring replacement of a heavier variety were chosen. Probably cheaper than a new bike or quad. A cheap version to upgrade the springs would be a product made by Moose. Although they are designed mainly fur utility quads, they make a rubber spring spacer to stiffen springs. The spacers may be too small for the gap in your springs. I can measure how thick the ones I installed in my Honda, to keep the front from sagging with my lift kit while lifting a snow blade. They also work to increase spring tention.

----- Gimpster -----

 

[sledneck84]

I have a 2005 YFZ 450 and love it. I'm 6'4" and 210 lbs. It jumps,wheelies,corners like a Motha. I think there is a technique to it, but i don't know for sure, never had a problem riding anything. If ya wanna sell it let me know, got a buddy lookin to update.

 

[preston012088]

Honda 450R

Im 6'3 240 pounds. bought a new 450r last year. I just had the suspension revalved. It takes getting used to it to keep the front down on the hill. My problem was constantly bottoming out at the dunes. Ive got a big bore on it. You just need to lean a bit. looking at trying a turbo this year.

 

[Duddin]

The biggest thing you gotta remember is its nothing like a sled the technique is way different revalve and springs would help but just try to get comf with what the wheeler does and learn what it will take. I am always leaning as far forward as i can on mine to keep the front end down cause its a quadracer 500 with loads of motor work so i know how you feel but thats just the nature of it with the shorter wheel base and what not.

 

[Backcountry]

Im 6'4" and 300# and race my YFZ both MX and XC...the stock handle bars flat suck period no discussion they suck- anything is nearly better than those POS. That may help out alot to swap to some aftermarket bars....Plus a sled rides entirely different...you have to use considerable more body english to rally a 4 wheeler...

 

[JSCC]

Can-am Ds650. Perfect for guys over 5'11", And heavier folks.
It will not be as fast stock as your 450, but they can be made to run.
Or do what was mentioned earlier. I come from the Ds and bought a WR450. ilikeitalot!
I am not a large guy, but am 6'1".

 

[MACH]

6'6" 250lbs I rocked an 97 Suzuki LT450R last year. Funnest quad I have ridden to date. The raptor is another fun bike but overall the LTR is great.

I tried to ride a new KX250F the other day on the track and it was fun but I honestly thing I am to big to ride a bike. The power was fine but it just felt small.

 

[redlineguy]

Learn how to slip the clutch to control the wheelies.

I have a Raptor
a Brute Force 750
a KXF (Bike)
a KTM SXC 625

I am 6'2" and ride them all well. sometimes the hight will help you and sometimes it works the other way. Bottom line is if you like it ride it and you will get better with seat time.






.

 

[redlineguy]

PS. A friends Bro is 6'6" and over 300LBs and he has a Raptor and has had even smaler ATV's and that Big boy can ride so like I said before it's all about seat time










.

 

[Dogmeat]

I think re-valving the shocks might be a good idea ... Honestly they feel way too stiff as it is... bike is supposed to have like 10" of travel or so I don't think I've ever used more than 4" of it ...

maybe back the compression off a little bit and see how it handles in the rough stuff.... it seems to be set up more for a track from the factory.

 

[cmantle1]

Dogmeat are these things really fun? ove been looking at one for a little bit but think ill stick to a bike....

 

[Mafesto]

I know this will date me....
but do any of you have a 250R?

I bought one new in '87, and at that time, they were the 5hit!
Never should've got rid of it!

 

[Dogmeat]

Dogmeat are these things really fun? ove been looking at one for a little bit but think ill stick to a bike....

they probably are, I'm just terrible at riding mine ...

Riding on dirt is a lot harder than riding on the snow I think ... heh

 

[Duddin]

I know this will date me....
but do any of you have a 250R?

I bought one new in '87, and at that time, they were the 5hit!
Never should've got rid of it!

wow bought one new in 87 i was 2 years old but I bought an 88 when i was about 14 and used to race it all the time kicking myself in the butt for letting some azz hat tyr to fix the tranny in it 4 yrs ago and its still in pieces