We take our kids to the OR dunes a LOT. If you check my pics page, I have photos of the (now) 7, 9, and 11 year olds at Florence on the stock LT80s and the TRX90 (not stock - has pipe and paddles). The little guy started riding the 90 when he was 5 (tahuya 04 pic) and is pretty darn good on it now. The girls ride the LT80s still (even though the 11 year old should be on the 90) because they don't want to shift.

They get around ok with aired down tires and watching for the less steep way around. We are looking at adding power to the LT80s.

BTW, we got the 2002 honda in 2003 for 1700 from a guy who needed cash. It has been passed down and ridden hard and still runs great! The 80s we bought new (gulp). It was worth it especially after I took a bath on a couple of POS 2004 kazuma 110s.

We don't worry about being loyal to one brand - we want what works best....currently,
honda trx450r (daddy)
preddy (momma)
blaster (14 year old)
250ex (spare)
2 zuki lt80s (9 & 11 year olds)
honda 90 (7 year old)
so, 3 hondas, 2 zukis, polaris, yammi - its all good [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]


Take home message: get what fits the kid's experience, size, expertise! and will go where you wanna go (uh oh, momma and poppas tune running through brain....)

 

Have you done any of the simple mods to the Yamaha 50 yet?

Off the showroom floor it is an absolute dog. But with an hours time and $100 for a new CDI this thing is a whole new bike.

Go back and find the thread titled "04 - 05 Yamaha Raptor 50". This thread has several simple things you can do to the carb. Stock it only opens halfway. Once you fix this and put in a new CDI that raises the RPM's, your kids will be smiling again.

 

We will have to try CDI mod to the little Raptor. Here is another quad to throw in the pot. We went looking last night and found the Can-Am 90. Of course they are out of stock right now until the 2007 models come in this month, but we have heard a lot about these this last year. Any input? I know there was some trouble with the old Bombardier 90, but this is totally new, right? We are still planning on buying the used LT80 if it is clean, but that would be for my daughter in a few months after she has mastered the Raptor 50. Thanks for all the good info, keep it coming!

 

I really suggest trying the mods to the Raptor 50 for a 5 year old before jumping him clear up to a 90 cc bike. The Mods will double the speed of the Raptor and the 50 still has full running boards to protect those little legs.

Am I reading that last part right? Buying an LT 80 for a 4-year-old girl?????[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] After a "few months" of "mastering the 50".

WOW.....

 

If you want a nice 50cc 2 stroke quad that will et him around the dunes without being roosted all the time look at the Unison Desert cat 50. I have a DC90 for my 8yo and it screams. The 50 has tons of power for a 2 stroke. Put paddles on it and go. It is not a small frame 50 either. The quality , fit and finish is just as good if not better than the top 5 so reliability is there with the best of them. It is the same company thet makes the Predator 50 and 90.