I have a problem....a good problem. My son wants to get into atvs. He is almost 7.
I want to get something 1, GOOD, 2 semi cheap, 3 something he will not outgrow in 9 months.

Is 50cc going to be enough to keep him happy for a while?

Also, if anyone knows of a store or location in mid/eastern PA that sells ATVs, that would be great as I keep seeing the shipping costs.

Thank you all for your input.

 

Ok, here we go. Personally, I would suggest a 90 cc quad, they almost all come with a throttle limiting screw for parental control. The power band on some of the 50cc quads is just enough to get them moving and little else. Secondly, don't put too much emphasis on the cheap part, like all other things you get what you pay for, especially something with moving parts and a motor. I would go with a Honda TRX90. That being said, my 8 y/o daughter has a Kasea Skyhawk 90 and so far it has been a great little quad and I am impressed by the build quality also, but hindsight I wish I had the Honda 90. If you do go taiwanese, stick to E-ton, Kasea, or Dinli. I wouldn't touch some of those otheer brands.

 

I am certainly not an expert, but we bought the Yamoto LX 50 for our 8 year old and it is plently big and fast. He is about 52 inches tall and weighs 59 pounds. To me it seems like he is flying and we make him keep it in 1st and have it throddled down. He has gotten it up on two wheels in a sharp turn. His cousin who is 12 also rides it. He is too tall but it still goes very fast with him.

 

For flat hard-pack, a 50 will probably be fine. For soft surfaces or hills, get as big an engine as the kid will safely fit on.

 

The Yamoto 50 is an automatic, it doesn't have a first gear. It's fine for my 6 yr old, but my 9 yr old is way too big for it. We bought it as a starter quad as we still have one more little one to put on it.

If you're looking for a longer term quad, go with a 90.

 

There are several facets to a youth ATV purchase.

First - are you going to properly supervise the child? And that does not mean watching for the first 20 minutes and noting nothings happened and going back inside to watch football. It means every minute of operation. Every minute. Proper Saftey Gear is a must. And a proper riding area is required.

Before you purchase a youth ATV be sure your not buying something the youth can only look at and not be able to ride.

First - be aware that under 10 are not allowed to ride anywhere on State property in PA and under 16 cannot cross any public road without a safety certificate and adult supervision.

The issues of child development and whos child is ready and whos child is not has been beaten to death in this forum and everyone has to decide for themselves what is right and wrong for their child - but also staying within the state laws and atv regulations. If your unhappy with those laws arguing with me will do nothing to either prove your right or I'm wrong - instead, join a large ATV organization and contact your law-makers. I can't change the laws. If I could, they would be different.

Your concern over outgrowing the machine is appropriete - but only to a inverse degree. The biggist problem is not in being to big for the ATV but rather not being big enough. Minnesota has standard "proper fit" requirements for youth riders. . These may help you decide which is correct for your child.

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<H2>Why children are at risk operating OHVs</H2>
Children cannot maintain position or control without increased risk of falling or being thrown from the machine because:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) states that a variety of factors converge to place children at risk as operators of OHVs including:

You will find a ton of historic posts in the forums here. Read them carefully. Talk with your ATV dealer.

ATV riding can be a GREAT family recreation but can also be your worst nightmare. I get the accident reports and they are very very sobering.
I have had 3 youth killed on ATV's within 10 miles of my home over the last 3 years. It does happen. Choose wisely.