Thanks for your input fellas. I have narrowed it down to the Polaris and Suzuki, and maybe even the Eton. I have done some checking and can get go fast parts for all of these machines if or when needed. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

 

Coyoteman,
We bought our youngest son a Polaris Scrambler 50 two years ago, and were quite disappointed with it. Starting was always a major hassle, sometimes taking up to an hour of tinkering with the ATV before it fired up. Quality was very poor, and even with a 50 lb rider it frequently had problems with bent tie rods, etc. My son also did not do well with the CVT transmission. He would watch his older brother ride, and just figured he could go as fast as his brother, so he would simply pin the throttle and steer. The CVT transmission would then shift out all the way, so he would end up going way way too fast for his neophyte skill level. After 4 months of headaches trying to get the Polaris 50 to run right, and replacing or straightening bent parts, we traded it for a Honda TRX 90. My son has ridden the TRX 90 for almost two years now, and has done much better on it. I hate the pull start, because I am always the one that has to start it (because my now 8 year old son is not strong enough to start it on his own), but at least it starts, usually on the first pull. I have liked the manual transmission/auto clutch combination much better than the CVT transmission, because when we first got the ATV we told our son that he had to keep it in first gear at all times. That worked great, because even if he pinned the throttle and rode around with the engine revved to the point that you would have thought the valves were going to float, he never got going too fast. Then we started letting him shift into second once in a while, and now that he has actually learned the science of "throttle control" he can use any gear he wants. In the meantime he has learned the art of shifting gears, and knows when to be in a low gear, and when to be in a higher gear. The TRX 90 is also quite capable for a mini ATV. We put a set of 20" paddles on it this last week, and took it to St. Anthony with us. My 8 year old son was able to ride his mini from Sand Hills Resort to the base of Thunder Hill, which is about nine miles of sand dunes. The TRX 90 has also been 100% reliable, with no problems at all, and all I have done for maintenance is clean the air filter once, change the oil once, and adjust the chain tension once (in almost two years use).

Good luck with whatever you choose. Its great to get out there with you kids and enjoy ATVing.

 

My brother in-law bought an Eton for his son and has had a lot of problems with it.

 

do not get the DS90. It is GARBAGE. I would buy the lt80 if I had to do it again. Lot of avaliable mods and built to last.

 

Most of the minis have tawian motors. Not the LT80

 

I think I would also have to vote for the Honda TRX 90. They are very reliable and stable.

 

I think the LT80 or the TRX90 are the best of the bunch. The 90 is a bigger quad and the four strokes cost a little more but are bullet proof. I still like the 80.

 

there was a report on all the minis in dirt wheels magazine last year. I think around 12 were evaluated. the lt80 was best overall. the kasea had the best shocks. some people have adapted the kasea shocks to the lt80. my sons first quad was a lt80. he held the thing pinned all the time for the last year he had it. no problems what so ever. the sticker on the gas tank bubbled and we just took it off.

 

this goes for all looking for a mini quad for a youngster, the hand controls are some thing to look at make sure the childs small hands can reach them. my minis controls are a little big and to a little to far apart from the grip. makes it hard to pull the lever and hold the bars at the same time. Just a thought.
Sam

 

Well fellas, I bought a used LT80 last night for $600 and it's actually in pretty good shape. I didn't get home with it last night until about 10:00 so me and my daughter got up at 5:30 this morning and went riding before I had to go to work. Needless to say she is pretty happy, hell I am too, I probably rode it as much as she did. Anyway, I appreciate all of your advice, thanks.