quad vs bike

[RUFF_RYDER]

In ur eyes what do u think is funner to ride/race in the desert?
or which do u think can basically do better in the desert?
also which type of riders will crash more in the desert?

[Nick Sexton]

You can not compare quads and bike. one is not better than the other. thats why for example there is a Bike over all and quad over all in SCORE. i dont know how you ride, but i is more of a personal preferance, what do you feel more confortable on, four wheels or two? i am lucky enough to have tha ability to have both quads and motorcycles and i love riding both. personally i think you should ride a bike because it wont crush you money wise because bike dont require as many modifications, and motorcycle riders have more opportunities to race than quads guys.

[miguelitro]

its funny that we were all discussing this at the d38 race sunday. Being all bike guys we were talking about how much longer it will be til we are the 2nd class citizens and quads are the big dogs!
quads are outselling bikes 4 to 1 right now and the quad classes have been growing fast here locally.
i will allways stick to bikes, they allow me to go places quads just cant go! that said i have respect(well as much respect as a bike guy can have for a quad guy:p) for the racers out there on quads, you guys are seriously nuts and talented riders as well!
so my vote is a bike!!! a 650r if you are man enough:D
Mike

[Vtr_Racing]

Pretty broad question. I have done both, bikes and quads. Its more of a preference for me. Ride what you like just get out there and ride. Whatever it is. Quads seem to be selling more than the bikes are right now. I dont think quads will surpass them in racing popularity though. Most people who buy a bike are more inclined to race it than the quads.

[kats]

Both are fun ,I just sold my YFZ (Quad) and bought a KTM (Bike) I can tell you from first hand experience bikes are more comfortable but you cannot loose concentration for a moment, quads have a way to punish you in every whoop o rock that you go over, but for the fun factor both are different and both are lots of fun.
This discussion is been going on for a while and will be here for ever, my friends with bikes use to tell me to lose the training wheels (sarcasm), now I'm in liking my bike way more than my old quad!

[img]

[eplanajr]

Personally I like bikes the best. I feel much more in control of what I am doing on a bike.

[CraigChr]

I crashed all the time on two wheels- Once I got on 4, it all came together for me-

[kats]

I crashed all the time on two wheels- Once I got on 4, it all came together for me-

And thats why they call them strollers.....j/k :)

[RUFF_RYDER]

I crashed all the time on two wheels- Once I got on 4, it all came together for me-

dang that sucks, how were u crashing?

i love bikes and can ride them but i hate the fact that you can crash over the littlest things, rocks,whoops,bumps. while a quad will ushally ride over them.

and if im flying and i hit all the above im pretty muched screwed huh

[CraigChr]

strollers- that's a good one-

not sure what it was, I just sucked at riding them, crashing going up hills, going down hills, whoops, rocks, you name it- Always in the rear of the pack. I'mt he first one to admit it was me. I have more time on Honda XR's than I do on my quad and I would never consider racing on one. Maybe my balance sucks, maybe I was taught wrong...

I got a quad, and boom, I'm hanging with everyone... just the natural feeling for a quad I guess.

[offroadracer516]

Im 18 now ive rode an lt 80 for a few years a 300 for a few years and now ive had my 05 trx 450 sence it was bran new i feel more comfortible on a quad i will admit they beat you up pre running a lap at plaster city sucks the life out of you its all what you prefer

[Young&Fast]

dang that sucks, how were u crashing?

i love bikes and can ride them but i hate the fact that you can crash over the littlest things, rocks,whoops,bumps. while a quad will ushally ride over them.

and if im flying and i hit all the above im pretty muched screwed huh

No, i think its the opposite on a quad, they don't feel natural to me, but thats probably because i was on a mountain bike as soon as i could walk. On a bike your not screwed at all. I usually only crash at slow speeds in really technical stuff or taking a loose, flat corner too fast. But that said, if you don't look were you are going and just hold the throttle wide open and point the bike where you want to go you will eat it.

To make your decision easier, go bike, they are more fun. And if you really suck they do make training wheels:p

[RUFF_RYDER]

No, i think its the opposite on a quad, they don't feel natural to me, but thats probably because i was on a mountain bike as soon as i could walk. On a bike your not screwed at all. I usually only crash at slow speeds in really technical stuff or taking a loose, flat corner too fast. But that said, if you don't look were you are going and just hold the throttle wide open and point the bike where you want to go you will eat it.

To make your decision easier, go bike, they are more fun. And if you really suck they do make training wheels:p

I dont think i ever sucked at riding bikes but ive been riding quads the last 2 years and am thinking which will be all around better for the desert and the one i will least crash hard on.

Last few bikes ive rode was a drz125 and crf150 and it seemed every rock i hit that id fly 5 feet in the air or if id hit gravel the nose would bottom out. but i never crashed in those situations either cause luckly im 6'2 and caught my self with the bike.

[trackmaster]

i bought a quad to take chics to the dunes, otherwise its bikes for me.

[dezert_loko]

well i think its all in your ability to stay focused. i own both a bike and a quad. both 450rs and never fallen off of neither. i have never raced my bike because i race quads and let me tell you the punishment on a quad is much greater but it's worth every bit.

[RUFF_RYDER]

well i think its all in your ability to stay focused. i own both a bike and a quad. both 450rs and never fallen off of neither. i have never raced my bike because i race quads and let me tell you the punishment on a quad is much greater but it's worth every bit.

Its very hard for me to decide, alot of my friends have quads so that makes me want one more but whenever im on bikes i have lots of fun and its a real adrenaline in 3rd pinned threw sand

[dezert_loko]

i think you should go for a quad. if all your friends have quads then thats your choice. riding a bike with a bunch of quads just doesn't mix.

[kats]

Or get new friends that ride bikes :)

[amr126]

I have to say there in just two different catagories, plain and simple. It really depends on who your riding with. My brother has both and takes both out to the dezert (quadzilla vs. CR500) and both has their own qualities. Since most of his buddies are on quads, when me and him crawl on bikes it really takes the fun out of riding with them. Obviously the two vehicles run at different speeds, on different trails, and mixed group rides can become somewhat of a pain. Personally, I've been a biker since I was 6, so I lopsided obviously to bikes, but its really just preference.

[Vtr_Racing]

Alot of my friends I used to ride with back there were on bikes and we didnt have any trouble riding together. Used to pre run togther and it was a blast. Bikes take differnt lines than quads do and you just need to be aware of that. Doesnt take long before your used to it.

[RUFF_RYDER]

Well i never had a problem riding with quads and bikes, both do pretty well out in the desert..ive found sweeet deals on trx450s and a few bikes(kx450)

[amr126]

just wondering since I haven't ridden in the desert too much with quads, how do you guys do when the whoops get ugly? Everytime I've seen them at tracks hitten' whoop sections it wasn't a pretty sight. I not trying to come at this with a bias towards quads, just curious on how you more experienced quad riders hang with the bikes when the going gets rough? Once again, not trying to attack either side.

[wolverine]

I have many years experience on a quad, all types of riding including some mx racing and love it. They are hard to beat in the dunes. But when most of my riding was at mx tracks w/ my friends w/ bikes it was tough to keep up with them (they called it a donky cart). I gave them a good run but destroyed to 250R chassis in the process. So I now have a bike(CR250) for the track and quad(250R) for the dunes and limited track use. They both are extremely fun but I feel more confident on the quad. Although the more experience I get on the bike the more fun it becomes(I still wipe out alot). The bike doesn't seem to break as many parts as the quad.

[Nick Sexton]

just wondering since I haven't ridden in the desert too much with quads, how do you guys do when the whoops get ugly? Everytime I've seen them at tracks hitten' whoop sections it wasn't a pretty sight. I not trying to come at this with a bias towards quads, just curious on how you more experienced quad riders hang with the bikes when the going gets rough? Once again, not trying to attack either side.

Getting through some of the deeper whoops can be a challenge, we quadies are unable to take the high line that Motos can do, but when the whoops get tough i find a way around them or you just hold on as tight as possible and hope for the best. but quads are a whole lotta fun on those San Filipe whoops you know the one that are spread far appart and have long flat faces, going over those at like fith gear pinned is one the greatest feelings ever!!!

[Vtr_Racing]

just wondering since I haven't ridden in the desert too much with quads, how do you guys do when the whoops get ugly? Everytime I've seen them at tracks hitten' whoop sections it wasn't a pretty sight. I not trying to come at this with a bias towards quads, just curious on how you more experienced quad riders hang with the bikes when the going gets rough? Once again, not trying to attack either side.

Same way bike guys struggle in the silt!!! You just do it. If you bike is set up properly you can get on top of the whoops similar to the bikes and haul butt. Then, you miss one and your timing gets off and you have to start all over again.Once you find that sweetspot, lean back and go!!!!!!

[450grl]

Modifying a quad is more expensive than modifiying a bike.....you are buying 3 very expensive shocks as opposed to two not so expensive shocks - a-arms, wheels, tires - all these things you will need to be competitive in the desert races. I love quads - that is what I have raced for years......having both would be alot of fun, but from a money standpoint, bikes make more sense. Sounds like you have done both.....as far as crashing out in the desert? Quad or bike - it can be really, really bad, or it can be something you jump back up from.....the quad has a tendancy to follow and find you, and make sure it pounds you a bit more.....not sure if the bikes have that same homing device, but it seems they are easier to get away from. Hitting anything bad at speed is just going to be bad......

[jspark]

Go dirt bikes all the way.they have better suspension and its alot easier to find a jump you can hit in the desert.

[breadkrum]

as we all should know riding a bike in the desert takes more skill than riding on a quad.my thought is that beautiful woman like the lady above should ride a quad to keep that smile going.or unless your hanging around with your kids in the desert. you should have no reason not to be on a dirtbike. honda xr650r, i call that a real mans bike:

[racer_dude]

i will let my BACK speak for me...

I am a bike guy 1,000,000,000,000,000%

My best friend races quads and wants to turn pro. We have not stopped raggin on him since i met him 3 years ago, (twist vs. thumb. 2 vs. 4 kinda crap) SO i finally decide to go play around with him at a moto track on his race quad (which every single quadder person i meet calls a "bike" for some stupid reason) and go play around, needless to say it wasnt my first day manhandling 4 tires around. Had a little fun but couldnt beleive the rough ride.

So I take it to the next step, race my P.O.S. bone stock raptor at the 6 hour endurace at glen helen last weekend. What a mistake that was!!! we finished, me and my other friend brad (stictly bikes) 4th in open expert =) MY DAMN BACK has been hurting all week long!!!!!!!!!!! I know this wasnt the optimal quad to ride, but it is what any Joe blow off the street would be racing just stepping into the scene.

I have done the 24hours of glen helen on a bike, and was less tired and beat up after with a total of 6 hours on the bike. I compare about 3 hours on a quad to be about 10 on a bike at race speeds.

If you have $7,000 to spend to go racing tomorrow, a quad will not leave you with a smile like a bike will, but it will leave you with a sore butt, back, and arms. If you have around $12,000 burning a hole in your pocket, for one you could buy a quad with nice arms, shocks, axle, nerfs, bars and other goodies, or you could just give it to me and make me happy and i will race my bike under your name...

quads had their place at glamis with me untill............... i brought my bike and realized how much smoother the ride was.

[knuckles]

no disrespect but.... the only time i ever ride a quad is when the sun goes down. we had helmet lights for a while, but the night time and dirtbikes dont mix to well. (though i have been known to duct tape a maglite on the front fender...long time ago and didnt turn out well)
anyway as for the other question, i have crashed pretty big on both. and in my opinion the bike is easier to ditch, and the quad is worse in a crash because of fact that they weigh alot more than a bike and can and will crush you if you are in front of it when you crash... i.e. roll it or go over the bars. my bike has only come back to hit me twice. luck too i guess. but my vote is for the bike

[knuckles]

oh and just to clarify i have a kx 250, not a four stroke desert racer. the lights they put on those things, light up the night just fine and i respect the hell outa those guys for doin what they do. that would be gnarly as hell getting passed by a TT at night

[Combo]

I crashed all the time on two wheels- Once I got on 4, it all came together for me-

Same with me. Grew up on two wheels. Switched to four. Getting older and tired of crashing.:D

Riding a bike and quads are totally different. Its like apples and oranges.

Its always a plus when you stop out in the middle of no where and you still have somewhere to sit and rest:D !!