Hello all,
I am new to ATVs so I'm trying to do as much research about them before I buy. I have decided on what I want, but I am having trouble finding out if I should try an off brand for around $1200 or should I be safe and spend $2500 to $3000 on a Honda 90. So after all that babbling, my question are these off brands able to go in the sand? I've seen a comment in a forum saying to be careful because he took his off brand into sand and ended up getting alot of sand sucked into the engine. Has anyone else ran into this? Do they have enough power to go into the dunes and go up easy hills? Do the Hondas and other big names have those problems?
Thanks [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

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To help, can you tell us the name / model of the "off brand" you are talking about. When it comes to off-brand (and even major brand), each one has its pros / cons. Without knowing the exact name / model you are asking about, we don't know if it will or won't suck sand. Also, the off brand you are talking about, is it a 4 or 2 stroke unit???

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Well I am still educating myself on the different brands, so I am looking for information on which brand to get as well. I did find a brand called Jetmoto on eBay. It seems like a good bike. Has shaft drive, nerf bars, electric start, 4 stroke (I am pretty sure I want 4 stroke cuz I don't want to have any time during the year that I can't ride).
http://www.autobahnautobody.com/jetmotonw/110ccatv.htm
Noone seems to have heard of them from what I have been seeing on the forums. I am hearing alot about eton bikes and kazuma bikes also. Do you know of any off-brands that seem to perform well in sand or dirt trails alike? My son is big for his age so I think I will be upgrading his bike in 2 to 3 years anyways. He took very well to riding the first time we went (at the Psimo Beach dunes).
Thanks

 

You didnt say what size bike it is but I'll tell you most any 90,150cc 4 stroke will not climb dunes very well. And all I'll say about EBAY atv sellers is you get what you pay for in life(bikes,cars,bird dogs,etc). $7000 Quads break occasionally and a $1200 quad will too and parts will be hard to find for an off brand with only 1 dealer. I'd spend a little more for a bike with a few more dealers and parts availability. My $.02

 

Every brand out there of the little quads will need some mods to do a decent job in the sand. The little 2 strokes can be made to do great. Pic a brand that you know you can get mods for. Pipes, clutch kits, carbs, air filters, replacement parts, etc.... You will break stuff no matter what brand. It's how easy and cheap it is to get parts and reapair done that should make up your mind. We take or Eton in the sand all the time. A couple of little things have broken. I was able to fix them. I can't argue with that too much.