I called them and spoke with a sales rep. Maybe I got a bad rep but when I explained my issue and questioned him about the shocks they offer his response was I don't know a thing about the shocks so I can not help. Not the answer I was looking for. They have shocks with the same eye to eye length but if we don't know the spring diameter or how they are set up how can you place an order? If you get a better response let me know. Oh and by the way I asked if there was a tech I could speak with and he said they do not have techs on site.

 

I've looked into this and found that the cost of upgrading on my 150cc chinese quad would not make sense, since the cost is about 30% of the quads original price.

 

yea,aftermarket shocks are out of the question for me.Replacing the rear is no problem (as one of my previous post mentions). It is the fronts that are hard.You cant have springs any larger in diameter than the stock,the existing ones are already quite long which is good.You can move the bottom spring support down abit,but that doesnt change the fact that the spring is just too powerful for a kid or light weight adult like myself. The plan on friday,at work,is to gradually reduce the diameter of the actual suspension spring that the spring is made out of.I plan to reduce the diameter of the spring by 1/4. The only way I can see to do it fairly evenly is submerging the spring in an acid solution.Not too strong as I want to check the diameter every 2 hours to get an idea of a stop point.I want a nice slow erosion of the metal that I can monitor and give a "bounce" or compression test as I remove metal.Thats the plan-stay tuned

 

This is common for all chinese quads- no matter if it's an adult's or a child's atv. Chinese atv's are getting better over the years, but still leagues behind even the cheapest American / Japanese atv's-

If you are serious about providing a quality machine for your son to learn on, you should look into a polaris 90 or one of the other japanese made atv's- I know they are a bit more expensive, but you really get what you pay for in this case- a more stable atv with quality built parts- It's worth the investment if your son likes to ride- once you see the difference yourself, you'll wonder how he ever rode that chinese atv!

 

How is this in anyway responsive to the op. He didn't ask you are anyone else what brand atv he should buy.

 

Hmm- wasn't looking to hold a critical thinking class this morning but since your question smacks of inadequate reading comprehension skills, I guess schools in session.

The OP's primary concern is in regards to his son's progression, and he seems concerned that the Chinese atv his son is riding has reached its performance limits and is not able to sustain the riders skill level.

He's seeking advice on upgrading shocks, however, as one has already correctly stated above, chinese shocks are like "pogo sticks", this is because Chinese atv's are cheap, and are built using cheap, throw away parts.

(now pay attention here, steelhrd)

My answer attempts to inform the OP that Chinese atv's are simply not up to Japanese. American or Canadian standards. That instead of spending a couple hundred on upgraded shocks for a Chinese atv that his son will surely out grow in little time, he'd be better off selling the Chinese atv, and taking the money for the upgraded shocks to buy a much more stable, better built American, Japanese or Canadian children’s atv (Polaris 90, a DS 90 or any of the smaller Japanese atv's) which are all built with better engineered, higher quality parts (like cushy foam seats, suspensions, electrical and steering components.)

Nobody buys a Chinese atv because they want a quality atv- they buy a Chinese atv because they are cheap. They are cheap because they use cheap parts. If all you want is a temporary cheap thrill that will always feel sub-par, and for a child who you feel will not continue to enjoy atv'ing after he's out grown the chinese atv, then chinese atv's will work well for you. Otherwise, buy a better atv for your child to grow with and learn on.

class dismissed.

 

Beergut I have to agree. The more I think about upgrading anything on the Tao Tao I realize it's a waste. Unfortunately when we decided to get our son an atv I did not realize how riding would grow into an outstanding family event. My wife has since got her own, a Honda , and we are planning family ATV vacations. Man who knew. With that said the last thing I will let happen is to go away with an atv that can not support his skill or one that may break at any minute from poor quality. I've been looking into other makes. The dealer where I bought mine sells Kymcos. The salesman recommends the 90cc model which is an automatic with reverse and electric start. Apparently Kymcos quality is good enough that Honda had them manufacture scooters for them for years that were badged as Hondas I'm also looking at the Can Am DS90 and Polaris 90 . Auto,reverse and electric start are a must. If you have an opinion on those three or other suggestions please offer it. Thanks for the responses it helps.

 

I have friends who are very happy with the polaris 90- the atv is a bit heavier and more stable- it's matched well with the 90cc motor and his kids love it. It's not tippy at all, like the chinese 110 atv's are. If your son is more into the sportier atvs, the DS 90 is a sweet little and well built atv. I don't know anyone who own's one, but from what I've read- everyone seems to love'em.

I did a quick search on cl & ebay- you should be able to find a decent used ds90 or polaris 90 for around $900 - $1200, which is not a bad price considering what you're getting. I have no knowledge in regards to the Kymcos atvs...

Family atv trips are a blast! Last thing you want is an unreliable atv to cut the trip short.

 

 

no luck with the acid thinning out the springs-and I even used the baddest acid available (hydrofloric) This spring metal is not like others I have worked with.Anyway,took the disk grinder to the top and bottom surfaces of the spring to remove metal and the job is complete.Softer springs now than stock.Just have to paint them and reassemble.

There must be a spring supplier out there that can supply an easier solution(McMaster Carr?)Anyway,I`m ok with how they turned out for zero dollars spent.