I have a dilema that perhaps you wise women of TT can help me with.

Background - I ride, my 13 year old son rides, and my 9 year old daughter rides, bikes that is.

Dilema - My wife has ridden bikes a little and is quite capable, but has decided that she would prefer a quad. My reluctance is that a quad will be at least twice as expensive as an appropriate bike for her, and I'll have to get another trailer to haul everything. The trailer I have will handle the bikes, but not a quad.

Her logic - Our daughter likes to ride her bike, but has always said that she wants a quad. She rides slow and cautious. I never make her do something that she REALLY doesn't want to attempt, but I will on occasion push her a little. She is very proud of herself when she succeeds, but crushed when she doesn't. I always ride near her, and that is sometimes not much fun for me. My wife thinks that she can go slowly with my daughter and let the boys have some fun. And, when my daughter outgrows her current bike (probably at the end of this season) get a quad too.

I understand the logic. I don't disagree with it, but really wish that I could get the whole family "out there" for a whole lot less money than a new quad and trailer will cost.

I think by writing this I may have answered my own question, but what do you ladies have to say? Thanks for the help.

I cant speak for the ladies, but my buddies wife rides a quad.

He got her a Mojave 250 a few years back, for a while it was a learning
experience since it was a manual shift. The same time he got a KLR 250
and his 2 teen boys KX 125's. Good day for Kawi finance when he walked it.

Some people don't have the patience or desire to become a
better bike rider, they just want to be out with the family on the trail.

I don't think they make the Mojave 250 anymore, but its a fun machine
and has the reliable 250 motor from the KLR. Maybe pick up a lightly
used smaller quad like it, should be some deals out there. Then you can resell
it for less of a depreciation hit if she doesn't like it or use it.

My vote is that if your wife wants a quad, get her a quad. You don't have to buy the most expensive one out there (or even a new one) but if that's what she really wants why wouldn't you get one for her?

I think her logic (regarding your daughter) is pretty good and if it keeps the whole family together, what more could you ask for? As far as the trailer, IMHO that's the least expensive part of the equation (unless we're talking toy haulers) and the easiest to remedy. Good luck!

Is the issue you have with your wife ridding a quad the fact that the quad takes up more room on the trailer, or simply the fact that it’s a quad?

If the latter is the case, then get over it. Let her ride what she’s comfortable on/with and enjoy the time you get to spend as a family. The odds are that if she is comfortable then she will be more likely to go with you. Now to your first point (room on the trailer…); You obviously did not apply this logic when you went for the second kid – right… what I mean is that I highly doubt that as you were enjoying your wife’s company you ever thought but wait this means that we will have to get a bigger car/minivan/truck, or teach the kids to eat smaller portions so that we can all fit into the existing vehicle;)

Aspencop, I have 2 bikes that the family rides but my daughter decided she would rather ride a quad. I just got her a Suziki LT250. She loves it! My older daughter was always unsure on the bikes and no longer wanted to ride with us especially after she had a nasty crash. She got on the quad after a lot of coaxing and came back with a smile on her face a mile wide....AND a want to ride again. I know how you feel....quads are heavy(and expensive) but it is keeping the family together. I have a truck and am now towing a trailer again.

Kim

My only thought on this is that she won't be able to ride everywhere that the rest of you are riding (single-track trails). Also tell her that it's better exercise to ride a dirt bike! (That would motivate me anyway).

What is the goal? To ride together or to save space. If it is to save space just go by yourself, it is much easier. Get the wife what she wants. If you need a bigger trailer, get a bigger trailer. Do whatever it takes to keep your family together and having fun. If you were forced to ride something you didn't like it wouldn't be fun at all for you and you would quit going. She will do the same thing. Sounds like you already know the answers, you really don't need our help.

FakeRacing said:

It's not that it's a quad, although I do have some safety concerns with my daughter on the quad, but with all the appropriate equipment and supervision, she'll be fine.

Thanks for restating what I guess I already knew......... I appreciate the help, and the humor. I'm off to shop for ATV's and a new trailer, now where is that damn credit card anyway?!

Glad I could be of some help;) I picked up a Harbor Freight Trailer (will hold 2 bikes and a quad for $219, slapped down a sheet of expanded metal for $75 and now have a nice little trailer that can be folded in half and stored in my side yard when not in use:) When I need something bigger I use my friends enclosed trailer ( I donated some artwork for it and use it when I need it...

As a volunteer patrol member at a motorcycle park I would say no to the quad. Most of our accidents involving quads have much more extensive injuries then motorcycle related accidents. People think the quads are safer and do not respect them so they go faster with little trail experience. People do not understand what can happen when a quad gets out of control, flips over or rolls over which can happen on any incline. There is no reason the family can not ride together on bikes.

Brian, sounds like you aren't realizing how good you've got it. Wife wants to ride with you and the family. You're truly blessed. Now go find a quad and a trailer and quit whining. Me, I'm working on getting my wife out of the house to go with the rest of the family riding....

Brian, sounds like you aren't realizing how good you've got it. Wife wants to ride with you and the family. You're truly blessed. Now go find a quad and a trailer and quit whining. Me, I'm working on getting my wife out of the house to go with the rest of the family riding....

Thumpercoach, The quad VS bike issue is as old as the dirt we ride on - so I will refrain from providing my current preference on this one. The fact is that you can get seriously hurt on a quad or a bike if you fail to respect the machine and get the proper training. Risk is an inherent part of any sport (offroad is no exception) so lets simply respect that fact, and let each person make their own decision on what to ride.

Thumpercoach said:

What you say would be true for my son but not for my wife. She would always be cautious where he would not. Two different animals!

Geez...look at all the LADIES helping out!!

You guys kill me....

twoblackbelts said:

Yeah your alot of help ( i mean hot air) At least we tried to help the situation instead of posting drivel.

twoblackbelts said:

YOU'RE here, aren't you?

TBB are you saying that this forum is not an equal opportunity forum - that woman are only eligible to post in specially designated areas, and likewise men are to keep their opinions isolated to designated areas… at the very least your post would suggests, that men are not welcome in areas of the site which are focused on woman’s issues. Was that your intent?

Thanks for all the input. Alot of good food for thought, most of which I had considered at some point myself. And for those wondering, I was really looking for the woman's perspective on this issue.

Here's what has happened in the last few days:

Had a long "heart to heart" with my wife, and we agreed that the ATV for her was the right thing to do. So I got busy and went internet shoppin'.

I'm leaving today to go to Denver to pick up the new trailer (7' X 12') with side and rear loading. It will carry my wife's new Polaris Sportsman 500 side ways in the front, and have room for my DRZ400 and my son's TTR125L length wise in the back. While hunting around for everything, I stumbled across a hardly used '03 Sportsman 90 that I bought for my daughter. It will fit length wise between the two motorcycles. Boy was she suprised!! As I think I mentioned before, she has been riding bikes, but has always wanted an ATV. She is the cautious type, and will feel better on 4 wheels.

Well, I took the plunge in a big way. You ladies were right and gave me just the little kick in the pants I needed to get moving. I am now planning a trip to Moab over spring break where we all can be involved together! Thanks again

wow!! what fun!! congratulations!!