I agree with an earlier post that said not to go to small. I got my son a Suz LT80 when he was 5. I bought it used, it was a 89 model. I don't know if they still come with the exhaust restrictor and carb restrictor or not. These devices kept power and speed down but are easily removed. I removed both of them from the beginning and used the throttle limit screw to keep it within his limits. Within two weeks i had removed the limit screw as well. Being an 80 cc 2 stroke it had plenty of power and was big enough to last a long time. He rode it until he was 11 and then I gave him my modded Mojave. That lt80 was tuff and went through a lot. It just kept going. Had enough power to climb some decent hills. He would jump on it some and the suspension did ok for only 2or3 inches of travel. Anyway, he didn't outgrow it in a year or two and when he first got it I had the options of the restrictors and limit screw to keep it at the proper level. I used to
ride it some myself and was quite impressed. Amazing how it seems to fit everyone from a 5 year old to a small adult. I finally had to put the first oversized piston in it just before I sold it to someone who would give it to the third kid in its life so far. I would recomend the LT80.

 

The breeze is a good quad but its classified as an adult quad. The breeze retails for $2999, that almost the same price as some entry level 200cc adult size quads.

If you go with a 90 the kid will out grow the quad before he wears it out. Remember its lawyers trying to tell you what age should ride these quads & its not based on their experience level.

In 6 months my kid is already riding my wifes Recon. He had never ridden a quad befor this year. He has only grown a couple of inches in height but his riding skills are greatly improved.

One thing for sure there are many many choices out there now.

 

JB,

I realize the mini-quads have a limited-use lifespan. This is the reason I think starting my son on the LT80 makes more sense than starting him on an LT50.

I have planned on an approximate 5-year service life for the LT80. Once he nears 10-years old, and depending on how he is doing, I'll put him on my Bayou 300 4x4.

I started my daughter on my Bayou 400 4x4 when she was 10-years old without any prior training at all. I have told the story of how she learned to ride the 400 several times in the past, so I won't repeat it here, besides which it is quite long. Anyway, after 3 years on the 400, I bought the 300 for her to ride.

My daughter is now 15. In five years she'll be in college and my son can move up to the 300. I've got it all planned out. Now as long as nothing throws a monkeywrench in the works, I'll be alright.

Army Man

 

DrRod,

I appreciate the input, and initially I did consider the Yamaha Breeze as a potential candidate quad for my son. And I did so for at least two of the reasons you cite, automatic transmission and shaft drive.

But the BIG problem I had had with the Breeze was the price. It is simply too expensive for what you get relative to several other entry-level quads that are available. It is one very expensive 125cc machine. When one can buy a Kawasaki Bayou 220 for the same, or even less, money than a Breeze, there is simply no point in considering a Breeze. The littlest Bayou will walk all over the Breeze in any contest of ability.

But both the Bayou 220 and the Breeze are too big for my soon to be 5-year old son. If he were 8 years old, then the Bayou 220 or the Breeze would probably fit him. But I would then get less time (only 2 or 3 years for a Bayou 220/Breeze, versus 4 or 5 years for an LT80) out of a more expensive machine ($3000 for a Bayou 220/Breeze versus $2500 for an LT80).

If my “5-year plan” goes better than those of the former Soviet Government, I’ll get 4 or 5 years out of the LT80. And at the end of that time I should have no problem transitioning him to my Bayou 300 4x4.

There is one other factor concerning mini-quads for children not addressed by any of the posts in this thread and that is, heredity. Put simply, if the parents are small statured, then the children will most likely also be small statured. This will lengthen the time that a quad like a Breeze would remain an economically and practically viable option. In my case, where I am rather tall (6’ 2”), and where my daughter was 5’6” (taller than many adult females) when she was 10 years old (at 15 she is now just over 5’8”), I can reasonably expect my son to follow the same growth pattern. So putting him on either my Bayou 300 or Bayou 400 (like I did my daughter) at age 10 should pose no problem.

For me the LT80 represents the mini-quad that will provide the longest service life, at the least cost, while retaining the highest resale value. I’ve been shopping the used market for one, but the prices are high even for 10-year old machines! So unless an incredible deal comes along, I’ll be buying a new LT80 next Spring.

Army Man

 

I highly recommend the LT80. I have 2 of them for my kids...ages 4 & 5 and they can handle some pretty rugged terrain on them. The LT is the only kids quad with a real rear brake(foot pedal), and it has electric start. the oldest LT we have is a 1990 model, and it has given us little to no problems. I just picked up '98 LT80 for my 4 year old son for 1/2 the cost of a new one, and it still had the **** on the tires!

you can also add aftermarket lights to the LT since it has a battery.

checkout my webpage to see pictures of the LT's

 

I bought a 50cc E-Ton (Impuls) for my 2 boys then 5 and 10 last year. Three days later I got a 90cc E-Ton (Impuls) for my 10 yr. old. That way they would not fight over them. ha

The 50cc and 90cc are very close in size. (Same size frame, bigger wheels and engine cc on the 90) About 6 months later both boys had increased their riding skills beyond belief. We rode about every day and had around 500+ miles on them. I had to replace the rear sway arm bushings and front/rear brakes on the 90. This is probably due to my now 11 yr. old agressive riding behavior. He liked to jump alot. I then bought a Blaster for my 11 yr. old and my 5 yr. old got the 90. They both do great on their quads. My 5 yr. old handles the 90 very well and still suprises me on what he can do.

I have been very happy with the E-Ton (It now has around 1200+ miles on it) They have started and ran great from the time I got them, even in cold weather. I would suggest the 90 cc. The 50 cc will climb some smaller hills but the 90 cc hill climbing abilities are awsome.

Good luck and have fun...

 

I have read all the posts here. I have two (big)boys, 9 and 13. My oldest rode my Big Bear well (until it was stolen). Please lock all your ATVs with hardened cables, ATV theives are very bold. Anyway, small adult ATVs are manual shift (possibly distracting to their attention while riding). I'm afraid the auto kids models will be outgrown too quick. I stopped and looked at the Polaris Sportsman 90. It was cute. About $2100. Neither my kids have been on the small ones. For those that have kids that have ridden both, which do they like better? Do they outgrow the small ones? The sales lady said a lot of adults ride them to get around also. Was that accurate or a sales job? I welcome any and all advice!! Thanks.

 

Jeff,

My kid had never ridden an ATV until April of this year. Last month he was riding his moms Recon. He has not grown that much (he is short for his age) but his skills are greatly improved.

Your kids will pick up riding very quickly. I sometimes ride his E-ton 90cc around the neighborhood but I feel like a clown on it since its small. Good power, I weigh over 200 pounds & it will pull me around the yard or on the fire roads, & easy trails.

Yes, your kids will out grow the quad however the resale market is very very good for kids quads.

In another month or two we will get another 4x4 quad & give him the Recon to ride.

 

Another note;

E-ton now makes the transmission & motor for the Polaris quads, so it appears that E-ton must be doing something right.

 

for kids the age of your kids(9&13), I would consider a bayou 220, or a yamaha breeze(is this the 100cc model?) or perhaps even the new honda 250ex. I think a kids quad might be a tad too small & they will feel cramped. being too big for a quad can be equally as dangerous as being too small for one.