For my son's 7th birthday, I'm seriously considering getting him a quad. He has driven his cousins 50cc once with his uncle walking next to him and that is the only experience he's had driving them but he absolutely loves it! What would be a good 50cc starter quad for him? I know all brands are similar but I'm wondering if there is a certain brand that may be more stable or have one or two better safety features.

Thanks in advance.

 

How big is your son?I understand that he is inexperienced at driving but the 50s come in two different sizes.Also what type of terrain will you be riding.Sand, mud and hills require a more powerful engine than just riding in a field or most trails.If you do some searching this has been gone over many times before.Personally I'm a big E-ton Viper fan.They are loaded with features.There are several other good brands as well.Do you have any good local dealers near you?

 

Hey New2atv, welcome to the forums...

check out this thread..

here is another link

I think if you look through the kids quads section you going to get 100's of different opinions and preferences. I think you basically going to have issues with what ever brand you buy but hopefully they will all minor be ones... My daughter rides a Polaris sportsman 90, we picked it because it was the right size for her as far as her body size, it has the full floorboards, electric start, kick backup, multiple ways to limit the speed.. Were quite happy with it, the only thing I wish it had was daytime running lights front and back, as it already has a back break light.. We did have a problem out on the trail once when it fouled a plug, but now we carry an extra one with us...

 

Features I like:
*cvt - constantly variable transmission (like Polaris, scratches Yamaha and Honda)(scratches Suzuki/Kawasaki 50's)
*brake light - good for dads that follow too close shouting advice
*electric start - scratches Honda too (pullstart)
*backup kick - just a good idea
*adjustable cdi/no rev limiter - Eton has an adjustable cdi to bypass factory limiters. I know if you jump to a 100, you don't have to worry about it. This can save you money if you ever start modding it.
*rear foot brake - wish I had one. Kasea/LRX are the only ones I know of. (Well, Hyosung does but I'm leary about aftermarket support)
*independent front suspension - why would you buy anything else? (scratches Yamaha) Keep in mind some 50cc mini's don't even have a front suspension (like the kazuma meercat).
*rear tether kill switch-followed my kid on my quad with a retractable dog leash. If she got out of line, I could yank it and kill the engine. Beats running!

Good luck!

 

My son is about 50" tall and 85 pounds. He'll mainly be riding around our yard or on trails. I'm sure he'll ride around in the snow and some mud if it's front of him. There is about a half a dozen or so dealers in a 100 mile radius of me. But like a lot of dealers out there, they're either overpriced or the sales people are jerks.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img] I know I'll have to take him around and have him sit on some to see what fits him best. I'm just not sure what's available for options on kids' quads which is why I'm asking in this forum since you guys (or gals) have experience with them.

Thanks for your input.

 

You need a full-sized mini.

Also, if you can turn a wrench, you should consider mail order. You'll save money!

 

Wow sounds like you've got a big boy on your hands.You might want to take a look at the Viper 70cc model or even a 90 if you think he will learn quickly.They have the adjustable cdi boxes to slow them down as well as the throttle limiter.At the very least you will want a full sized 50 and you can upgrade the piston and cylinder to 70ccs later when he needs it if you are more comfterable with a 50 for now.

 

Yes he is a big boy. When people meet him for the first time they think he's 9, and he's only 6 right now. I know he could handle a 90cc but I wanted to start off with something smaller while he gets used to the feel of a quad and how to properly drive it. I think he'll learn pretty quick what and what not to do, I just want to make sure he's mature enough to make the right decision if there is a problem. The more I think about it, if I can limit the speed on a 90cc, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to get him a 90cc and just limit what he can do.

 

If you live where the cpsc guidelines are not enforced, you'd be better off buying and limiting a 90.

 

if he is like you describe I would consider a honda trx 90 shifter w/auto clutch. or eton 90 automatic.

they learn quickly, my son is 3 and he rides a kfx 50. he has had it since he was 2. now I can't even restrict the throttle. he knows where the tool kit is.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]