My son was 11 when I bought my Recon. I took him out the first several times teaching him the right way to ride it (by the way, take an atv safety course if you are new to the sport, they are easy to operate but hard to ride right!). He never had any problems learning to ride it. I just had a hard time getting him off it! I rode it very hard in all kinds of tough terrain and it never let me down. I once found myself sliding sideways odown a very steep hill,I thought I was dead. But the Recon didn't roll over on me and I rode it on down the hill to the disbelief of my brother who was waiting to call the ambulance. The Recon is powerful, safe and above all, fun. It wins all the shootouts. Buy the $20 hitch and it is more than equal to any task. My local dealer is selling them for $3300 and I am about to buy another, unless I wait for the 250EX which is the same engine & trans in a full sport package. Enjoy and be safe!