I've been looking at some 250cc chinese atv's, some are air cooled and others are water cooled. Is there an advantage to either cooling method? Also some are manual shift and others automatic. The automatic ones are convenient but also more expensive. Does either require more maintenance?

 

Never mind about the water versus air cooled based on some of the posts I've seen there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Looks like auto versus manual is a matter of preference to.

 

Really it all comes down to personal preferences. One my be better in one instance, but at a disadvantage in another.

 

Yep preference is all it is, I always try to go air cooled because there is let's stuff to maintain, and manual transmission because I am not comfortable with a belt. But that is just one take, and there are thousands of opinions on both of the subjects. Good luck and happy riding

 

The guy who sold Jetmoto.. didnt trust the water cooled engines from China.. But Jetmoto is gone.. All of mine are air cooled but they all run hot..For performance Id like my 250 and 200 to be water cooled.. but with parts for these thing a pita to find and buy.. Id go with air cooled.. Way more copies of the air cooled engines than the water cooled engines..

 

Thanks for the info, I was looking at a Tao Tao that was water cooled versus no name that was air cooled and there was about a $300 difference in price. I have a Tao Tao 150 that is air cooled and never had any issues. Then again i do not typically run wide open

 

As much as it scares me to recommend some one buy a specific "brand" from China.

I was involved with Jetmoto for a few years.

The Tao Tao brand is different.. (pronounced like cow cow but with a T instead of a C)

There is actually a TAO TAO factory in China.. the same cant be said for any of the others.. Tao Tao makes a lot of the parts in house, which lets them control the quality.. The place Jetmoto used only assembled parts from outside sources.. I think that buying a Tao Tao water cooled quad is a decent gamble.. If any of the "brands" are going to survive they are..