just wondering if anyone regrets buying one over the other? full vs. semi. im wanting to buy either a predator 90 or a trx 90,im not so concerned which atv is better than the other. i know they are very differant atv's. it will be rode in a combonation of dirt and sand in oklahoma. my son has a sunl mini 90 now but he wants something bigger. he has some experience with a semi auto he had a crf 50 untill someone stole it. either atv should last him i think a couple of years as he only turned 7. thanks for your opinion.

 

Just my opinion, but the younger newbies generally struggle enough with the throttle, steering, braking. Throwing shifting in only makes things more difficult for them. I'm not saying they can't get it down (some quickly), but I wouldn't buy a semi auto for a kid under 8-10 years of age depending on experience, brains and coordination. Only you know your kid.

From an engine point of view, I believe the semi autos are more durable. Replacing belts, clutch, rollers and springs in a cvt is common.

 

Good Point. RL. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I bought my son, who is 8 now, a TRX 90 last year. He started out driving it around in second gear with the throttle limit screw turned in.
He has Asperger's Disorder and much to my g/f's dismay I bought it.

Now he has mastered shifting through all the gears in short time.

Actually he drives the thing really well.

 

well i was leaning towards the pred 90 but after further reading to many problems with the stator getting wet. we will be riding near water. so ill be getting the honda. thanks for youre replies.

 

Well first off, please don't be offended by my comments. I want to ask if you have studied the local laws to make sure you are not putting yourself in a situation with size versus age in your state.
Assuming there is no problems there, then the arguments that Raptorlegs offers are extremely valid ones. One of the BIGGEST mistakes parents make, is the assumption that a) their kid is exceptional b)he can ride his current machine at it's maximum, and c) he is ready for it.
Again, ask yourself a couple of questions. Are they following your instructions about wearing safety gear etc? Are they operating it in a responsible manner? Are they emotionally able to progress to a bigger machine?
The truth is statistically, kids that young have issues with attention span, and making good judgement calls when under stress. Panic is common. The answer is that there is a lot more involved than just being able to hang on and stab the throttle.
Think about how they would react when something unexpected like a dog jumps in front of them. Or what about meeting a dirt bike coming down the trail the other way in a blind corner... These are real world situations that DO happen every day. Unfortunately we have the statistics that prove that too...
RLegs is right. Only you know your child.. so make sure you do a good assessment of their skills and if the answer is they have to wait a while before upgrading, then you must make the hard choices. No matter how much they whine, you are the parent. Just remember that ATVs are for having fun and sharing time with your kids. They are as much for you as they are for the kids. Riding is to be a fun exercise, not one filled with pain and worry. SPEED has nothing to do with having fun. Kids can have just as much fun putting around as they do blasting around...
Lastly there are several reasons for upgrading that are valid... just make sure you understand the whole picture before you make any rash decisions.
Good luck with your choice.

 

im not offened by anything you said. these are all valid points!! true he is only 7, but with him having a crf50 and the sunl 90 he can handle them fairly well. the sunl has been a great learning tool to get the basics down. but in oklahoma you cant avoid being in sand, thats why my post. i bought the trx 90 today after reading to many problems with the stator getting wet on the predator. we went riding today at the river bed and im really impressed with the trx. it got wet plenty and no problems. we try to ride in open areas with not to many people and keep him between me and the wife. ill post some pics when i can . thanks.

 

I bought my daughter a semi-auto...I regret it, but do understand the safety concerns and I don't disagree with others that bought the semi-auto. I think the Polaris' semi-auto are much better than my Redcat. Regardless, it is a personal choice. That could be for many reasons. SEADAWG

 

Congrats on the purchase doubled! The area we ride our atvs on is private land that is owned by my girlfriend, along with her sister and mom and it's 230 acres of trees and wide open, rolling grass hills. There are the occasional low spots that collect water and get muddy but nothing my son's TRX 90 can't navigate. In fact, he will look for a path around the water and mud as he is somewhat of a "clean freak" when it comes to his 90.

The only problem I have with it is no reverse but he has yet to get it in a situation where he could not get off and push it.

 

Polaris...............semi-auto?