Hi, I've been all over the internet trying to find reviews for a lower priced ATV for my son and I'm not having a lot of luck, so I hope you can help me.

Since he's going to outgrow it eventually, I don't want to spend a ton of money on a new ATV, but I'm also nervous about buying a used one since I'm not particularly handy and his dad is three states away.

Can anyone tell me if this is a decent machine and a decent price? Will it require much maintenance?

http://www.saferwholesale.com/90cc-Kids-ATV-p/90cc%20lg%204%20stroke.htm

 

Your link didn't work for some reason. Most of the non-name brand quads are Chinese rip offs that will leave you frustrated at best. Needing constant maintenance and repairs. If you can find a used Honda 90 it would be a great starter quad. Moving up from there would be one of the major makers 250cc class ATVs like the Honda Recon. Hope this helps.

 

I'll second the advice to just stay away from the no-name Chinese brands. Unless you want to be constantly working on them they just are not worth the seemingly low price.

You don't say how old your son is or what kind of ATV experience he may or not have. Knowing that will help recommend a good ATV for him. For value on a bike that you know he will eventually outgrow, look for an at least 2 year old name brand. Some of the tried and true kids models like the Honda 90 or the Suzuki LT80 go back to the mid 90's yet are still going strong. We had a Suzuki LT50 that I bought for $950. Two boys rode it for 2-1/2 years and I sold it for $900. Our LT80 went through my younger two - Bought it for $1,100 and sold it for $900 after 4 years. Short story there is that the actual cost of the ATV's worked out to a couple of hundred bucks plus fuel, oil and some tires - pretty cheap for a name brand ATV. You can buy a cheap off-brand 90cc ATV for $600 to $800, but after just a few months you'd be lucky to get $200 for it. Makes buying the cheap bikes a false economy.

If you son is older and/or more experienced, Honda Recon or Suzuki Ozark are great bikes. For a little more sport both are available in sport versions - Honda 250 and Suzuki Z250. Kawi makes a 250 ute that has been around forever so many older ones can be found at a good price. It's a little old school but solid. Yamaha has the best performance teenager bike out there in the 250 - It's a clutch operated, well suspended sport quad that will take him a long time to outgrow - if ever. Yamaha also makes a 125 in the same frame. Both of those have only been out for a couple of years so used ones will be harder to find a deal on.

 

If you copy /paste the link into your browser you can see the machine. That one is bad news I am afraid. Pretty much any of the Chinese cheapies are going to need a good once over tightening bolts, adjusting brake cables, changing oil, etc before they are truely ready to ride. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then look for a nice used LT80 or TRX90. Easy to find one ready to ride, and aside from changing the oil and refilling the fuel, these generally require little maintenance.