How relaible is the predator 90 quad? I was thinking of getting my 2 boys one and would like to know if there are any problems with them? Thanks to all that can help.

 

.

If mud / water is their passion, then get a 4 stroke. Many of the 4 strokes have sealed stator and sealed tranny systems. Many of the 2 strokes have open stator and open CVT systems. When water gets above their running boards (or even splashes above the running boards), they will have stator and CVT problems in very little time. The Polaris is the most "sensitive" for too much water / crud above the running boards.

If wondering, my son has a Predator 90. He does lots of "around the house" and minor trail rides. Nothing too agreesive across the hard bumps and he does NO jumping. For the same riding conditions, I don't think we'd buy a Polaris 90 again. Stator problems, poor brakes (especially when they get wet) and they need much more TLC - compred to other 2 stroke brands. Next time around, I'd get an '06 Honda TRX90. Electric start, sealed electrical, sealed rear drum brakes, foot brake, etc. If they had reverse grear, it would be a desired "trail riding" mini in my family.

Hope this helps....

.

 

Well that answered my questions. The Honda was my first choice anyway and I guess now my only choice. We will due some small water crossings and I due not need any troubles. Thanks for the advise. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

.

Sounds like you'll be doing "around the house" and general trail riding like my family.


For these riding conditions, may I also suggest:

- Install a skid plate. Your local welder guy or technical trade school (high school or college) can create a skid plate or your can buy one at Hebco Distributing @ http://www.hebcodistributing.com/pages/youthpag.html If wondering, a skid plate stops the front end accidentally digging into things. More importantly, it stops water / crud from splashing upwards into the engine. To me, all minis should have factory skid plates - just like many adult ATVs.

- If needed, install a push bar on the rear. The push bar is great for loading / unloading onto a trailer and used to pull the mini out of a "stuck" situation. We have a pull bar (bumper) on the rear of our mini. It also provide better rear fender support as well. Glad we installed one.

- If driving in public areas, ensure you install DRLs (Daytime Running Lights). If the mini doesn't come with DRLs, simply install 2 x MR11 (10 watt) auto fog lights on the front and connect to the battery using an inline fuse and manual off/on switch. We installed DRLs on our mini and they work great. Great for dusty trails and for being seen in daytime dark bush conditions. To me, all minis must come with DRLs (and racers can remove them for the tracks).

- Install a Spring Loaded chain tensioner. A Spring Loaded Chain Tensioner keeps the chain tension firm in any position and thus, reduces chain/sprocket wear and eliminates its chain from coming off. If your chosen brand of mini doesn't comes with a Spring Loaded chain tensioner, simply buy a universal chain tensioner and get your local welder buy (or tech trade school) students to "make it fit". Installing a Spring Loaded chain tenserion on our mini is one of the best mods we did to it.

- Make the front wider. Yes, its front is most critical. We installed 2 x 1.5" Spacers on the front of our mini. Since then, my son hasn't tipped / rolled his mini, and it slides much better in the tight technical trails. If your riders are into extreme trail riding or racing, then install 3" wider A-Arms instead. Some install dual A-Arms but for general trail riding, single wider A-Arms work pretty good. Or if on a budget for trail riding, get 1.5" wheel spacers for the front.

- Also, do try different lbs of air pressure in its tires. Most minis recommend 3.5 lbs. For our trail riding conditions, we use 4.5 lbs of air in the rear and 3.5 lbs in the front. This makes the rear tires a little harder but it makes the mini "slide" instead of digging in, and tipping. Especially when spinning up a hill.

- If the mini NEVER goes above 20 mph (like most technical trails), may I suggest a larger rear sprocket &/or smaller front sprocket. Check for clearence before buying replacement sprockets. If a chain needs to be replaced, you may want to re-tune with custom size sprockets as well. If wondering, having "power spockets" instead of stock size sprockets allows the mini to have more "momentium" power up/down the little hills. I'm very pleased we have custom size sprockets on our mini. For us, this was a great modification. Note: If replacing the chain, install an HD O-Ring rated chain. These chains take much more "water / crud" abuse then stock chains.

- If water / crud riding, do install a grease zerk in its main Swing Arm bar. Many of the minis don't come with a grease zerk. Thus, their swing arm bushings wear out and its chain becomes missaligned. If your mini doesn't come with one, I'd recommend you install a "push on" grease zerk. If push on isn't possible (due to thin Swing Arm bar steel thickness), weld a concave nut on the outside of the Swing Arm bar, drill hole into the center of this nut, re-thread the nut and screw the grease zerk into it. If uncomfortable in this area, I'm sure your local welder guy or technical school student can help with this inexpensive mod as well.

- To keep water / crud out of the shocks, install shock covers. If wondering, shock covers make the shocks last much longer and are much easier to clean. For a few pictures, surf: http://www.shockpros.com/newsite/shockhome.cfm


Hope these "customize trail" mods (for any brand of mini you pick) helps as well.

.

 

They can't wait to start riding. I have had many quads in my lifetime and it's time to get the whole family into riding. I have a Kawasaki 220 in which they have be practicing on till they get there own. 2 Honda TRX90's it is. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Hi Bansheecraze32,
I bought my 9 year old a 06 TRX90 and he loves it. We have him riding in fields, anice little race track with 1 minute 45 second laps times. The TRX is very stable(widest and longest in class) and the stock suspension is good. we've set up a few jumps on the track that he hits every lap. They are about 10-12" jumps that he hits in 3rd full throttle and gets 12-15" of air and about 9-12 feet distance. I keep asking him if the jumps are too rough on shocks(botttoming out) and he says they are fine and the landings are soft, so there is more room in the shocks. He's put on about 25 hours on it in the 6 or 7 weeks we've had it and not one problem, loose bolts or chain. The BIGGEST Honda flaw is NO disc brakes and NO reverse. The drums (pads)wear down pretty quick if race track type driving is done. I know there are aftermarket disc brake kits for the TRX90 and it might be a good option(especially with 2 competeing brothers). I took the thing into the woods and fared very well. awesome trail atv. The polaris has more ground clearance, but driving smart I did not bottom out so I was satisfied.
I do not know how all the CVT drives. I drove a 2005 Alpha Sports Kolt 90 with a cvt and HATED every thing about it. The vibration from the cvt leaves your body vibrating for a long time after you get off. I do not know where the Alpha stands against the off names(would like to know if you all out there know out of curiosity) but that was a 2 stroke and I dragged the kid(12 yr old, 115lbs) against the TRX(both stock) and stayed even off the line and slighly ahead as i hit fourth(I'm 37, 160lbs). The Alpha rear shock does not move!!! It drove like my 80's ATC with no suspension, and the Alpha brakes(drums) required twice as much distance to stop at mid to high range speeds.
As long as the kids do not mind shifting the Honda is great.

Hey Banshee, have you tried the Crow Hill Motorsports Park in Templeton,MA? I bought my TRX90 from Sky Cycle in Fitchburg(great people) and they told me about it and was wondering about the skill level of the kids track. If so let me know how it is. Also the aftermarket trx90 parts are availible thru Robbs racing in New Hampshire here is the web link if interested in the disc brakes or other mods.
http://www.robbsracingengines.com/TRX90PAGE
Good Luck
Raz

 

Never been there? Is it a motocross track or open area? I have rode in Templeton and it is the best for riding. Do you ride at all or just your boy? Let me know maybe we could ride together someday in the summer.

 

Hi banshhe,
I have not been there, but here is the web site for the park
http://www.crowhillmx.com/index.html
Unfortunately i am partially handicap and cannot ride. The only riding i do is in the yard just to check if all is ok on the atv. I would hate for something to be wrong because I didn't check the atv prior to riding, which is why I went with the Honda for the reliability.
I hope to go up to the track once or twice a month once I get a trailer. If you go some time soon, please post about the track and if you get the TRX90 how that performed.

Raz

 

It looks like dirt bikes only to me. Have you heard of quads racing there?