2008 can am ds 250. Buy it???

[HeWasRidinDirty]

My wife has a Honda rancher 420 4x4. We got it new in 07. Its been flawless. Nary a problem. But its heavy, rides rough, it's hard to steer and handle, and she doesn't like shifting even tho it has thumb shifters. After our last outing I've been thinking that she needs something more practical. She is a flat ground rider. And she doesn't like going fast. So with that said, my buddy offered up a 2008 ds250.

 It was his granddaughters and never ridden hard. It started right up and ran fine. The trans/clutches seemed all good. There are some little brackets that kind da hold the front fenders up and I think the headlights too. Those are funky and the headlights kinda flop around. He said a tree branch fell on it and messed those up. The plastic and seat are in good shape. Needs a good cleaning tho. Anyway he wants $700 for it. Has an extra set of nice  rear knobbies too. Idk much about can-am stuff. I know if it was a Honda it would probably be up around $3,000. But it isn't. 

Whatcha think?

[MarkinAR]

Eh, depends.  DS250 was a bit high on seating posture, a bit low on ground clearance and a bit narrow.  Can be a bit tippy.  The motor in those is also a Taiwan Honda clone.  Properly maintained they seem to have held together ok, but they aren't really a true Can Am.  $700 seems cheap enough that you could probably get back out from under it if she doesn't like it.  Hope she's pretty small though, those are really more of a 12 year old kid's ATV.

[HeWasRidinDirty]

3 hours ago, MarkinAR said:

Eh, depends.  DS250 was a bit high on seating posture, a bit low on ground clearance and a bit narrow.  Can be a bit tippy.  The motor in those is also a Taiwan Honda clone.  Properly maintained they seem to have held together ok, but they aren't really a true Can Am.  $700 seems cheap enough that you could probably get back out from under it if she doesn't like it.  Hope she's pretty small though, those are really more of a 12 year old kid's ATV.

Thanks, Well, it is only a 250. With me on it (205lbs) it seemed like it would only do about 35/40 mph. I didn't hold it wot for very long. Didn't really wind it out as she probably won't do either. But the automatic with no shifting is definitley a plus. Add in the light weight (as compared to the Honda @ 600lbs! ), better,softer suspension I think it will be a good fit for her. I'm just not sure on the reliability of these BRP machines. I already called my buddy and told him that I would give him the 700. I tried to get it for 600 hehe.

 

I'm sure with some aftermarket parts I could widen the stance a bit to make less tippy, no? And my buddy has had it since new, so I know it was taken care of. 

 

 

[MarkinAR]

Its not a BRP, it's a Taiwan Honda clone. Still a decent little motor though. They built it as a cheap entry level ATV. Not bad at all, just not a Honda. the power to weight ratio on the 420 is astronomically higher. Belt drive though is a plus as it's extremely simple. Just keep an eye on the belt bc it gets water in the housing and slips the belt sometimes. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of  

[HeWasRidinDirty]

1 hour ago, MarkinAR said:

Its not a BRP, it's a Taiwan Honda clone. Still a decent little motor though. They built it as a cheap entry level ATV. Not bad at all, just not a Honda. the power to weight ratio on the 420 is astronomically higher. Belt drive though is a plus as it's extremely simple. Just keep an eye on the belt bc it gets water in the housing and slips the belt sometimes. Not a big deal, just something to be aware of  

Alrighty. Great info. Of course the first things that  I will do when I get it home (tomorrow i think) is change the oil, probably flush the gas tank and I'll most likely replace the belt. I guess I gotta change oil in the trans too, huh?