I have been looking for a replacement for my 50cc Lem for my 11 year old grandson. I have seen the 2018 Yamaha 90 cc model coming in at $4500 Canadian after all the taxes and fees. There is also a 2016 Suzuki 90 cc model, brand new at $3600 Canadian. Seems to me the Suzuki at considerable savings over the Yamaha should do even though it is 2 years old. The Yamaha recommends that for 90 cc a child should be 12. I also looked at the Can-Am 70 cc but there was some negative views on the 70. Chinese models are a lot cheaper but again a lot of negative reviews.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

 

The boy will not be on a 90cc bike for very long, so save some money unless that bike can be a hand-me-down for another grandchild. I do like Yamaha reliability but I'd be surprised if that 90cc engine was even made by Yamaha. I do not know but a few years back it was well known the lower CC engines, 125CC and maybe one or two more, were outsourced by Yamaha and built by someone else.

If it were me, go with the more reasonably priced Suzuki.

 

I'd go with the Suzuki too unless someone comes up with a good reason not to buy it. I wouldn't be surprised if the engines were both outsourced to a single company, maybe in Taiwan but that's still way better than a Chinese engine IMO.

 

Thanks RedRocket204 and Big Frank. That is very helpful.

 

Many of those smaller drive trains were built by a company in Tiwan called Kymco and were very reliable. Today Kymco is a major in the atv/utv market. As stated your kid will outgrow that size machine quickly. I would go with the least expensive option until he can get into a fullsize machine.

 

Thanks Kymco 450i. I hope he doesn't grow out of it too fast.

 

A used kid's ATV is another option. One of my friends bought a used Yamaha 80 and 100. When his kids outgrew them he sold them for nearly what he paid for them. On a new one you'll have a lot of depreciation when it's time to sell it because it's used and however many years old.

 

Thanks again Big Frank. I am reluctant going used as I got burnt on the Lem. With a good dealer it probably might work out.