Naw a kid that big needs to start off on something like a Honda 250ex or a Suzuki Quadsport 250. If your buying new, I recomand the Suzuki Quadsport 250 since it has the manual clutch it will teach him how to use a clutch which he will need to know if he wants to ride sport in the future not to mention he will want more power and there are more mods available for the 250's . Myself I'm 16 (6'2", 220) I ride a Raptor and I started when I was like 13-14 riding warriors and quadracers.

 

I would be in the same boat with my oldest boy, he is turning 8 Feb. the 4th. He is nearly 5' tall and just over 100 pounds. Simply going by the age guide lines, I don't think he would enjoy, much less be comfortable on, a small ATV. On the other hand, my 6 year old, he is about par for the course and when the time comes, if he is still on the normal growth rate, I wouldn't hesitate to get him a smaller qaud. Right now, neither of them are mature enough to operate a qaud on their own, although they love to drive the ones we just bought. Sure, they say no passengers, but I think with me on the back, it provides him with the opportunity to learn to operate these things in a safe and controlled manner.

I will probably start them out on a small dirt bike, as I did (except I got to start when I was 6).

 

I first started riding an lt80 back when i just turned 12 years old and I was 5'2" 110, my two younger brothers were both 10 and 8. Point is I rode that thing until I was 14 and was 5'7" 125IBS then my parents bought us Honda 350 4x4ES's. Riding the lt80 was still fun and the 350 was alittle scary at first but it was good. My younger brother who was 12 got to have his own 350 and it was a couple years early for him but we never had any problems. Youngest got to keep the lt80 till he was 13 then went to a 250ex. At 19th birthday 6'4" 180, I got a used 03' z400 and never had any problems learning clutch or test driving em so I dont see why you would have to put your kid on something with a clutch so he learns it young for later on...regardless of when you learn it, its not difficult at all. Now for an early 20th b-day present Im gettin a 06' 450r with pulse charger exhaust in another month [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] All Im saying is that your kid/s will do fine on a 80/90cc quad until they are around 13-15 yearsold then you can bump them up...just my opinion but what do I know, I only have experienced this.

 

i was 15-16 on a blaster and i felt like an idiot. i couldnt imagine a 90cc. like someone else said its really good to get the kids input. if they dont feel safe they wont be having fun. if they are bored they arent having fun. its hard in the begining. ur gonna get bumps and scratches riding, its all part of the fun. how well a kid deals with this is a big factor in their eagerness to ride.

 

We welded foot pegs on a Suzuki LT80 for my brother when he was 4 or 5. He was on a Blaster by the time he was 7, and I was on a Suzuki 250 racer from 11-13. Then we go out of quads for a few years. By the time I got back into them last summer, the only bike that felt like it fit correctly is the DS650. Moving kids to larger quads should depend on their riding ability, and maturity level. Not their age or height....I have a 5 year old, and a 3 year old. Both are starting on an 80 or 90 this summer, and then we will go from there.

 

5' 2" and 110 lbs on a 90cc machine? That's nothing. My 15 year old is 6' 3", weighs 180 and wears a size 15 shoe. Now picture that on a mini. The manufacturers need to reconsider their age recommendations.

I think it was the last issue of ATV Sport that did a write up on the age limits on ATV's. I'll double check and re-post later.

 

I will also add I believe it should be up to the parent. BUT, the parent should be responsible for anything that happens to or from, the child riding. This whole problem has accured because people would not take responsiblity for their actions. A kid should never be given any quad and turned loose to learn to ride on their own!! I don't believe a kid should ever ride double with another kid. Peer presure can be a life changing thing. I started both of my sons off early, but both could ride bikes without training wheels by the time they were 3. They have progresed from a Yamaha Badger to an LT80, then we modded the time out of it, and then on to the quads in my sig. My oldest son is 12, while my youngest is 9. We have been "cleared" to race at our local tracks. (even though we haven't yet) Not all kids are ready for this kind of progression. I have a good friend that has a very large son still riding a raptor 80. He just can't seem to "get it" when it comes time to make quick decisions. While its good for some laughs, it would not be good to put him on something with alot more power.

It boils down to you and your son. Are you willing to put him on something bigger? Is he ready for that? (even if he is a beginer, YOU should know if he can handle it) Is there anywhere you can ride if you do?
Where in Indiana are you anyways?

 

The restrictions are stupid. However there are ways around them. I'm thinking of buying one for my stepson who is nearly 5' and over 100 lbs at 9 years old. He's supposed to be on a 50. He looks like a freaking clown on one. A 90 fits him nicely though.

Dont' take your son with you when you go to buy it. The dealer won't be able to sell it to you because he will lose his license if he gets caught.

However you can take him to another dealership, have him sit on some machines, then go buy the bike somewhere else.