I have recently looked at 2 different brands, CPI and Qlink. I own a honda. I am looking for a quad that is reliable and safe for my 11 year old son. I need to convince my wife. My son is responsible, so that is not even the issue with her. Any help will be appreciated.

 

At least you have the Honda so you can tow the "off-brand" machine home, when it lets you down out on the trail! Everyone I know who has bought an off-brand, lived to regret it.

Get him a 250EX, Blaster, or Recon....better yet the new Raptor 250.

 

Here is what our 11 year old son rides:


The Raptor 250 is a great learner quad. It has two inches more suspension travel than the Honda 250EX, weighs 47 lbs less, and cost $100 less. It has an inch more suspension travel than the Suzuki Z-250, weighs 56 lbs less, and cost the same. Power is very smooth and tractable. The brakes are straight off of a YFZ 450 (they work very good), and the lever reach and pressure needed on the levers is appropriate for younger riders.

I would also suggest staying away from the off brand Chinese ATVs. I have yet to talk to anyone that has owned one that hasn't spent more time wrenching on it than they spend riding it. Or maybe I should say spent more time looking for parts for it. No one can find parts for those things, so they are basically disposable ATVs. You buy them for nothing, and use them until they quit running (which isn't too long), and then you throw them away.

 

id go with the raptor 250 myself and save the pain of having to wrench on the offbrand all the time.

 

I just purchased new quads for the family (new to the sport). I did a lot of online research at many different brands. I ended up spending 3 times the amout for Honda's that I could of purchase off-brand quads for. The reason is the same as everyone here is saying. Reliability and service. I'm a believer that name brand is the only way to go. And they will still be worth something a few years down the road when it's time to sell and upgrade.

 

my friend that i ride with every weekend bought an
off brand everything came assembled wrong it
took two months for for the new parts to come
and he still has to fix it everytime he rides

 

i bought my son a 07 hawkeye 300 and its been pretty reliable and he loves it

 

Where are you? that is a great picture.

I just purchased a 90 Outlaw for my 10 year old. I was going to buy a 50cc off shore brand, but after I read about welds, gas leaks etc..I managed to get an 07 Outlaw for $1,500.00. Two times the amount of the 50 cc ($500) and 10 times the amount of less worry. My son has never rode an ATV so I went with the 90cc I thought that it was to big when I bought it, but when he rode it he proved me wrong, thank goodness. Maturity level had a big factor, I'm sure he can handle bigger but I am at a comfort level.

 

That picture is taken in Warner Valley, which is the far southwest corner of Utah. The ridgeline in the background is actually in Arizona.

DV

 

That whole 11 to 15 age range is tough. Most kids are really on the edge of being to big for the 90's, yet not quite legal in many places on a 250. Since your son is responsible, I would go by what physically is a good fit for him now yet still gives him room to grow. If there is a question, just look around for a used TRX 90 or LT 80. Both have been around for a while and clean units can be had for 1k or less. When he outgrows that you won't lose much off the purchase price resale wise as long as you keep the maintenance up.